Over preening or stress bars?

[Hopefulworld]

We have had our Green Cheek Conure for almost 3 years now, and we’re noticing that his flight feathers (which we let grow in after being clipped) are getting black marks, and his back feathers look chewed. Are these stress marks or is he overpreening? He has a good balanced diet, is taken out of the cage regularly and played with all the time. He is social and loving and adventurous, and is healthy in all other areas.

 

[noodles123]

the linear angles looks more like stress bars to me (although not entirely, as there are no visible "bars" )- I could be wrong though. How long has it been going on and when did he go the an avian vet last? All birds should have bloodwork etc..

 

[Laurasea]

Careful with blood work on conure, conure can have a syndrome that their blood won’t clot. We’ve had two conure that died after a blood draw, was it this syndrome no dint know...


Flight feathers have that black contour color as normal. The other feather seem barbed?

 

[noodles123]

Careful with blood work on conure, conure can have a syndrome that their blood won’t clot. We’ve had two conure that died after a blood draw, was it this syndrome no dint know...


Flight feathers have that black contour color as normal. The other feather seem barbed?

Haven't heard of that, aside from liver issues etc preventing clotting. I honestly am not a conure expert, but parakeets etc can get it done. Generally, healthy birds clot fine (even small ones) if the blood is drawn properly.
Did a CAV perform the test? Not denying what you said-- just seems odd! Sorry for your loss..that is very sad.

 

[Hopefulworld]

Looks more like stress bars to me (although not entirely)- I could be wrong though. How long has it been going on and when did he go the an avian vet last? All birds should have bloodwork etc..

He hasn't been able to visit the vet for his yearly check up since he was due to visit not long after COVID-19 shut everything down, and the only avian vet in my city has yet to reopen for checkups and nail filling.

 

[noodles123]

have you tried calling to see if they can arrange a curb-side drop-off? They are an essential service, technically. Did he go to a solid avian vet before, or was it an exotics or dog/cat vet?
Do you see him messing with his feathers? It could be barbering , but normally that is more localized (which is why I suggested that it could be something else). I am not saying I know what it is-- I am not certain at all.

 

[Jen5200]

It looks a bit like barbering or overpreening to me - like bits of the feathers have been nibbled off. I would suggest a vet visit once it is possible, to rule out anything going on medically.

 

[noodles123]

2 against 1, so I'd wait a bit and then go with the majority (I wasn't certain, nor am I) . I thought it looked oddly jagged/linear and too widely distributed to be over-preening (by bird's never looked that way due to her over=preening in the past) BUT, like I said, I am not sure. I would still say that the vet would be best when you can (maybe they even would do a phone consult).

 

[Hopefulworld]

have you tried calling to see if they can arrange a curb-side drop-off? They are an essential service, technically. Did he go to a solid avian vet before, or was it an exotics or dog/cat vet?
Do you see him messing with his feathers? It could be barbering , but normally that is more localized (which is why I suggested that it could be something else). I am not saying I know what it is-- I am not certain at all.

We only have one avian (real avian) vet, and they are about 40 minutes away. My mother would have to drive, and does not feel comfortable leaving him alone as he gets nervous when handled by other people without any of his family members around (We learned this while on vacation and some friends babysat (She also siad they werent open for full on visits.. its a small clinic so not sure if they fell under the essential service). He wouldnt let them get near him, but if we were there he was very friendly). I'll definitely check! As for feathers, he is not missing any nor does he pluck. The pictures I shoved are only on his back side (includign wings) but it does not happen on his stomach. Not quite sure how to distinguish stress bars from overpreening, and not sure what would stress him as we've tried to be very attentive. Just want to make sure he is okay

 

[noodles123]

well stick with the real avian vet when they do open and keep researching. It can be hard to tell. normally stress bars have almost lines that they produce along the individual feathers, which is why I thought this could be that, due to the linear look...but 2 others disagree and I am not a stress-bar expert, so don't take my word for it.

These are stress bars-- when the break off, this is what they look like (above)...see how it leaves that angular look on the left?

If you never noticed lines or anything, then it is less likely to be bars and more likely to be overpreening.
That having been said, you can technically have both at the same time.

Again though, I am not a stress-bar expert (my bird overpreended and had them when I got her, but her patterns looked nothing like yours).

 

[Hopefulworld]

Thanks for the hep either way! It's definitly been helpful! Will bring him to the vet as soon as we can!!