Molting or plucking?

[StarryEyedGirl]

Hi guys, so I have a black capped conure who's a little over a year old and I'm not sure if he's going through his first molting or if he's plucking his feathers. His eating is very good, he's well hydrated but he's been a little moody lately. He's preening like crazy and he doesn't seem to be stressed out or anything. I noticed a few days ago that it looks like feathers are missing underneath, looks almost like small bald spots. And there's little tiny feathers everywhere and some medium size ones. Please if you have any information or any recommendations as to what I can do or what he's going through I'd greatly appreciate it! This is also the first time he's had features missing and feathers all over the place. He is still playing with his toys and interacting with my boyfriend and I. He eats a pellet based diet. Occasionally he gets seed. He gets fresh peeled apples and baby carrots for snacks. I also have multivitamin drops that go in his food as recommended by his vet.

 

[torrap]

I am sorry, I don't know much about conures, but I think molting season should be coming to the end by now.
Also, I don't see spots with missing feathers on my birds when they molt. I do see feathers all over their cages though.
I hope it's not plucking, but I understand your concern.
Hope someone here can help you more.
Try to offer more showers and activities....these could never hurt.

 

[weco]

Sounds like molting, but is you're just picking up the feathers, you might want to get a bigger bag as your little friend has over 2,000 feathers he'll be replacing.....

Did your vet tell you why he/she recommended vitamin supplements?

Good luck.....

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

He's preening like crazy. I have never seen him actually pull them out. When he's dry I don't see any of the spots but when he's wet after playing in his bath I notice it really bad. The vet recommended vitamins because when I got him he was underweight and was very sluggish. The vet said it'd be good for him. He's gained weight and the vet said at his check up he's a good weight. But that multivitamins are good to give every other day. I hope he's just molting. Everything else with him is normal.

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

/www.parrotforums.com/members/starryeyedgirl-albums-harley-picture13999-before-bath-time.jpg

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

I have no idea how to post pictures on here otherwise I'd post pictures.

 

[torrap]

Here is a link:
http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

Here is a link:
http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

Thanks! I really appreciate it!

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

http://www.parrotforums.com/members/starryeyedgirl-albums-harley-picture13999-before-bath-time.jpg

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

I think because I'm using my phone it's being a pain. I'll post pictures of him as soon as I can.

 

[torrap]

I could see his picture from your post, but I couldn't see anything wrong with him.
He looks cute.....
Also, if he is preening a lot, that is a good indication of him molting.
Try to feel his head and see if there are some pinned feathers. They will feel almost like pins.
If you do find these feathers anywhere on his body or head, that means he is molting.

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

When I rub his head and neck he does have little pin feathers poking out. He also has them on his back and chest. Now if that's the case and he is molting, how long does that usually take? Or does it differ for every bird?

 

[StarryEyedGirl]

And thank you, he's a trouble maker. Always wants to be with me on my shoulder, yells at me when I run the vacuum but yells at me again when I'm out of his site. His new thing is no trying to get to whatever food I'm eating (especially apples and peanut butter...). When he bites me a little too hard and I scold him he just looks at me as if to says 'how can you be mad at this face? I'm so darn cute momma!' haha. He's definitely got quite the personality.