Our GW is plucking her down feathers

[junglenutcracker]

It’s the first time we notice her doing this. She has been pulling out a lot of down feathers today, mostly on her chest. We try to distract her but she goes right back to doing it.

She’s been scratching a bit more than usual lately.

She’s not touching her feathers though...just the down feathers. Is this a “down feather” moult thing? She’s also been in a bad mood all day...not playing with her toys and not wanting to play ball with me (which she usually loves). She’s eating fine and all, though...

She has a few pin feathers popping up here and there, mostly in her nape and rump area. Could it be the dryness of the air? We’ve got a humidifier going and she gets at least one mist a day.

Hope she’s not starting to feather pluck...

 

[chris-md]

Now, my Parker is plucking right now as well, make no mistake. But I've noticed more down feathers than usual as well. He doesn't pluck those, and he shed 2 tail feathers recently. I'm thinking our babies are molting.

 

[junglenutcracker]

Now, my Parker is plucking right now as well, make no mistake. But I've noticed more down feathers than usual as well. He doesn't pluck those, and he shed 2 tail feathers recently. I'm thinking our babies are molting.

Well, maybe it’s molting time - her last molt was back in July so it could be just that, I hope!

BTW, your Parker is beautiful!
We had a RS but unfortunately lost him just a year ago. Looking at your photo brings back fond memories.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I've seen all my fids with down feathers in/around their beak, but none of them pluck.

It's certainly possible that your GW could be starting to molt, and her bad mood might be another indicator to this since she must be pretty itchy.

 

[junglenutcracker]

I've seen all my fids with down feathers in/around their beak, but none of them pluck.

It's certainly possible that your GW could be starting to molt, and her bad mood might be another indicator to this since she must be pretty itchy.

You are probably right JW. Got home last night and she was sitting on her cage door and had a partly “fuzz” covered beak and a little hat made of a small clump of down feathers.