Over Preening?

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys,

I'm worried Jasper is over-preening. I noticed the back of his neck was thinning out quite a bit. I got a good look at it today. He's not plucking...the feathers are there...but he seems to be picking off the little green feathers from the main shaft? (don't know what it's called) He always seems to be itchy around that area.

These aren't great pictures since they're not showing right down to his skin but it'll give a general idea. (It gets worse, very sparse)

 

[clark_conure]

To be honest I've kind of been watching this post since no one responded yet, I have no information on this, it's new to me.

Your bird is very pretty, I can feel how you feel with this, and your worry. I'd do the obvious, consult an avian vet.

My aunt was a breeder and she would lament about a male cockatiel being aggressive and pulling out feathers of his mate but doing this himself I have to imagine it has to be some kind of mite or allergic reaction maybe.

Since it's so localized, to one area I don't see it as a stress or behavioral abnormality. Maybe there's an insect bite on the skin? Is he sensitive if you scratch him there?

 

[tashawithanekkie]

Mister Duke has/does this, only it was way worse. He even had the dandruffy stuff like I see in your pic. His cheeks were pretty much gray, as well as a gray collar and up onto his head. It always seemed like he was extra itchy in those areas.

Two things that seemed to help were trimming his nails, and lots of showers. Like really soaking showers. It's really tough to get his head wet to the skin so I kind of massage the water into the fluff there (when he'll let me, that is.) His cheeks and neck are filling back in now.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge and experience chimes in soon -- I'm still such a new parront, I hope it's not allergies or mites.

 

[SailBoat]

The area on the back of the neck seems above the area that a beak could work. Also, the feather from the top of the head down the neck do not look like they are in their best condition, nor the area under the beak (lower neck).

Now that said, Jasper is a species that my knowledge base regarding feather appearance it not at the top of the pile. So, someone that has a like species needs to define what is 'normal.'

The back of the neck could be accessed by a foot claw. The Post above has likely targeted a very good possibility: "Maybe there's an insect bite on the skin? Is he sensitive if you scratch him there?"

Check deeply in that area, looking at the condition skin in that area.

With hope, one of the experts of this beautiful green Parrot species wiii step-up and address what a normal feather in this area looks like?

 

[chris-md]

I'm betting mojo molt. I had the same thought as Steven, some of those patches are just unreachable by the beak. If the photography is accurate, it's patchy all the way to the top of his head.

 

[LordTriggs]

I agree with others that ti may be a bug bite or something. Although I did notice on the third picture he has some pin feathers so it could very well be molting

 

[katie_fleming]

Thanks for all the replies. I need to try and get a better picture because the ones above don't really show the rest of the problem.

I don't know the right words but I'll try to explain with a leaf picture haha

https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&...ab..5.4.566.0t_YeksyTWI#imgrc=AvYjT5-itggJEM:

The stem of the leaf (or his feater) is still there. He hasn't pulled it out of the skin. But where the individual leaves are (the green hairs/feathers) are missing quite a bit.

Because it's around the back of his neck and the front it makes me worried he's biting them off. I see him scratching quite a bit around this area, but I also see him working at it with his beak quite a bit. Even around the back of his neck, he can reach there easily.

I didn't detect any bug bites but I will look again tonight. He does have some dry skin (flaking seen in some pictures) since the winter. Humidity was a struggle this winter even with running a humidifier 24/7.

Hopefully that explanation is a bit more clear. He's missing so much Also as a note he just had a full checkup 3 months ago and everything was good except his calcium was low.

 

[clark_conure]

There are bird aloe vera sprays on the market and if it's a human product that's as they claim all natural then you could rub that on the area an might help him out. I did some looking around and it's not the best to put in an area their beak can get to, but the back of the neck with a tiny bit on a q-tip or a finger might give him some relief....Just don't let him eat any, it's not toxic but according at least one post it's not good for the oils to get in their respiratory tract. Same thing as you squirting it in your mouth, but your bird won't know any better.

 

[katie_fleming]

I managed to snap some good pictures, I lifted up his feathers to show you. The little black things feel like soft fuzzy hairs or something, I'm not sure. They're visible in a few areas around his neck but he would only let me take these pictures. You can see where it looks like he's bitten off part of his feathers I think....just the shaft of the feather, none of the little green hairs.

 

[clark_conure]

It kind of looks like a couple day old scab....it could still be an insect bite.

if you scratch it does he go nuts with pain or does he like it? That's kind of the determining factor if you need to hit the vet tomorrow or if it's basically over and back to normal. Getting worse or better.

 

[SailBoat]

The feather condition in that area presents as if the feather(s) had been 'Barbered.' That said, it is near impossible that area is within the reach of the Beak. Normally, this area is something that a mate or another Parrot would cause. Yes, I know that in your case that is not possible, but that would be the normal explanation in a multi-parrot household.

It is possible that over-scratching could cause this kind of feather damage. Plus could cause the skill damage.

Now, the hair that you are seeing is in fact hair! It has a totally different function from our hair or that of a dog or cat. They are used to determine the placement of the feathers in the general area.

There is a product on the Market called Soother Topical Spray that 'may' bring some relief.

That is about as far as I can take this. As you know, my knowledge base is developed around Amazons! I understand the pain that visiting your Avian Vet is for you. Consider sending this latest group of photos to that Clinic.

 

[katie_fleming]

Oh I forgot to add, the little black specs aren't on his skin. They're like little fluffs.

 

[SailBoat]

Oh I forgot to add, the little black specs aren't on his skin. They're like little fluffs.

So, they are just laying on the skin in that area, right? Kind of like a tiny dust bunny?

If so, that would imply that the skin is not damaged, which is good news!

I would still send the photo's to your Avian Vet with the disclaimer regarding the dust bunnies.

 

[coopedup]

im only chiming in because the original pics you posted are pretty much what Wrangler looks like. His neck/head is thin to the point of being able to tell where his ears are. He's in the middle? of a pretty good molt so it doesnt give me any concern. Best of luck with Jasper, I wish I had something more definitive for you than just opinion

 

[Keatz]

Hi, Katie,

Oscar's feathers are looking like that at the moment. He's also thinned out around the sides of his head, and the feathers on his body have thinned out too.
He's looking very scruffy. I think there is some over-preening involved, but he's also molting at the moment. He looks the same this time every year and his feathers grow back in spring (I'm in Australia).
I think if you look at a lot of birds' feathers up close, you'll see a lot of damage from preening and everyday wear and tear. I think that's one of the reasons they molt -- so that their tattered, thinned out old feathers are replaced with lush new ones.

 

[katie_fleming]

Thanks everyone! I already wrote the vet (thanks for the suggestion) with the photos but I'll mention the dust bunnies (hehe) when they reply. He wasn't agitated at all when I was poking around it was more like, "hey! would you leave my neck the heck alone and stop scruffing up my feathers!!?"

He didn't really molt much this year and I haven't seen any feathers on the bottom of his cage. Maybe I'll compare in about a month and see if there's any changes.

Thanks for the replies, you guys are great

 

[Anansi]

Hey, Katie. Looks like a combination of things to me. During particularly heavy molts, sometimes the back of the head can thin out like that. Happened once to Maya, and I was thankful it was at the back of her head since I'd have been worried about plucking if it had occurred elsewhere. (Steven is right. No way his beak is reaching back there.)

This isn't to say that he couldn't just be scratching vehemently at that area with his foot, but just letting you know there is a normal explanation for it.

All this said, I do think there is some over-preening going on with some of his other feathers.

I'm interested to hear what Jasper's vet thinks of the pics.

 

[katie_fleming]

(Very late reply just got back from vacation!)

I heard back from my vet. She said:

[FONT=&quot]It's always hard to conclude anything from pictures, but I agree that I doubt he was able to overpreen in that area. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Is the dry skin only in that area ? Increasing the number of showers can always help, also, giving red palm oil ( ideally organic and fairtrade) a few drops on food every day can help, as vit A and E plays a crucial role in skin health and can really help. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I would try that first and if there is no improvement within 1-2 month or if it gets worse, bring him in ! [/FONT]


Would appreciate some thoughts about the palm oil. I remember I bought it for him before when they suspected he might be slightly deficient but I didn't give it to him for very long.

I also noticed that Jasper has about 15 pin feathers at least all around the affected area, but around his chin area I don't see any. He scratches constantly.

Any advice based on the above would be great. Thanks

 

[SailBoat]

Red Palm Oil is a good additive and can have positive effects when faced with feather issues of all types.

Regarding general body irritation as stated in an earlier Post above: "There is a product on the (US) Market called Soother Topical Spray that 'may' bring some relief." Web Search it and then look for what maybe available in your area. Our CAV carries it and their price is very competitive with Web Based Suppliers. Worth asking your AV about it.

 

[katie_fleming]

Thanks, I will do some searches!

As for Red palm oil, would this one be ok?

https://well.ca/products/nutiva-organic-red-palm-oil_77017.html

The parrot site I buy from also sells this one

http://parrotdiseperch.com/west/gusto-red-palm-oil-8669

Thanks!

Edit: It seems that the Harrison's soother spray has been discontinued Amazon/ebay are out. Darn!

I found this: http://www.petsmart.ca/bird/grooming/ultracare-bird-bath-bird-spray-14075.html?cgid=400019

Sounds like the same thing. Might be difficult to get since they don't ship and they're not in Quebec. Would have to wait until I see my parents again to get it....or get them to ship it to me...hmm....if it looks good I'll try and get this one.