Should I be concerned? 6mo. B&G. lots of fluffy feathers in cage

[NightProwess]

Hey guys.
Trying not to freak out any...
I came home from shooting a birthday party (photographer) and noticed a lot of fluffy downy feathers on the bottom of River's cage...

Now I know she has a TON of pin feathers. could it be cause she's molting?
She was born at the end of July. So she's just 6 months old.

She seems like a very happy girl. Pretty quiet. Eats well. drinks plenty of water. plays with her toys. Gets lots of love from the family. Even if I'm not home, someone is and she's let out of her cage to play on the playtop.

Just worried about seeing all these feathers. I pulled them out, took a picture.
I'll check tomorrow, see if I see a bunch more.
I haven't seen her plucking, and haven't noticed any bald spots, but I'll have to check after I get home from college classes. I leave at 7am and get home around 4ish.

I'll keep checking back for responses.
Please let me know what yall think.
Concerned about my baby

 

[Bundiibird]

Looks like moulting to me. My Alex has just about finished moulting and I would have to vac each day just to collect the fluffy down feathers.

 

[MikeyTN]

She's just going through her molting stage so there's nothing to be worried about. My macaws are going through it right now as well.

 

[Mattroma]

I know your concern all to well. I had my Mac a few days when I came home and found feathers all over the place. Freaked out and checked him over to make sure I didn't see any bald spots. Now when I see the feathers I don't worry about plucking, just the extra vacuming I need to do each day.

 

[NightProwess]

ok. Good. I'll still keep a close eye on her. I asked my family to keep at eye out while I'm at college and work. Just to make sure.
I know I'm probably just paranoid, but when I saw all those feathers, my heart just dropped.
She really is a happy girl, if she was to be plucking... I wouldn't know the reason behind it.

I'll keep an eye on her, but thank you all.
You've helped ease a worried soul lol.
I'll check her soon as I get home from my classes.

 

[NightProwess]

Here's some pics of her tummy and legs. There wasn't but a couple feathers on the bottom of her cage when I came home but when she was plating around I snapped some pics on my phone.
What do y'all think?

 

[NightProwess]

...anyone?

 

[Buzz2537]

Hahnna is seven months and last month I too got concerned because I saw like you all the feathers, now her color are coming through. Hahnna is a Hahn's but I am sure it is the same, molting.

 

[Mekaisto]

I can't really say for sure from the pictures, but she doesn't look entirely normal, especially around the legs. This may be normal for your bird though.

Plucking isn't always due to boredom, it can be due to quite a few things such as heavy metal poisoning (from nibbling on unsafe metals), vitamin deficiency or genetics.

If she's growing a lot of new pin feathers though, it may just be moulting. I knew a macaw once that got so itchy when he was moulting that he over-preened, and ripped a few feathers out.

Hopefully there's nothing wrong, if you get very worried, the bald patches increase in size or if she starts showing any other signs of malaise, take her to a vet.

 

[NightProwess]

She is in an older cage, but I haven't seen any places where the powder coating has worn off. I give her the sunshine factor daily maintaince. (what the vet recommended I give her when I first brought her home).
I haven't seen her parents at all...so as far as genetics, I'm not sure.
She does have some yellowish orange pin feathers coming in by the naked spots on her legs. you can see them poking through the skin.

Ill check her cage over really good, make sure I don't see any places where the paint has chipped.
Once I move (probably this coming fall) I'll be buying her a new cage. I'm going to leave this cage here at my parents so I'll be able to bring her when I come home on the weekends or on holidays. I'll be moving closer to the 4yr university I'll be attending. its about 2hrs from home.

I'm really hoping its just a molt. but if it does't get better, I'll definitely be taking her to the vet.

 

[NightProwess]

here's some more pictures of her legs and tummy

you can see some pin feathers on her legs that are coming through the skin

If I smooth out the feathers it doesn't look like that, but thats how they were when I took her out for some playtime. She does have yellow pin feathers beneath there also.

are those pics any better to tell anything?
(just figured out how to post pics like this...been doing the attachments and they're full. =S )

She's playing and eating well. She drinks plenty of water.
Should I add a little apple cider vinegar to her water? we have some. we give it to the chickens in their water about once a week. (I live on a farm lol)


Thanks everyone

 

[JerseyWendy]

I think she's going through a heavy molt. How often do you bathe her? I'd give her a good wetting no less than twice a week.

 

[NightProwess]

I think she's going through a heavy molt. How often do you bathe her? I'd give her a good wetting no less than twice a week.

with it being so cold I've been hesitant on the bathing. I've given her 5 since she's come home. But if the bathing will help her with it I'll definitely take her in the shower a couple time a week.
Should I just let her get slightly misted? or a good heavy mist that will "soak" her feathers? and should I get any aloe vera extract at all to add mist her with? I've seen on some posts where people get the misting spray for their birdies.

Thank you for the response.

 

[lucy1]

I feel your concern- I was the same with Milo. I have previously only worked with older birds so my hand reared baby has been quite a learning curve for me! I couldn't believe my baby would be mounting already so young, but wow what a moult it was... I was embarrassed to be seen with him- he looked like a neglected rescue with patchy feathers, but he was full of spiky pin feathers underneath.

As Wendy said, bathing helps. A good soaking would be ideal, but a mist is better than nothing. I know some people swear by aloe vera but I have never used, or seen the need for adding gunk to feathers you've just cleaned. Just let her dry out and give her a hand with the head pins she can't reach.

I failed miserably the one time I tried to post pics from this stupid phone and Milo broke my laptop, but will post some pics either tomorrow or fri for you to show you what Milo was like to hopefully reassure you

 

[JerseyWendy]

You said you were worried about the cold? All my guys (and gal) get soaked to the bone at least once a week, and we keep the indoor temps at 67 degrees. I don't use any aloe, plain old water. And I don't blow dry either.

Let's not talk about the outside temps, as I feel I've moved to Antarctica lately. :30:

 

[BruceV]

Let's not talk about the outside temps, as I feel I've moved to Antarctica lately. :30:

I hear that! Today's high was a balmy 15 degrees. We haven't been above freezing since the 14th and it looks like we won't be again for at least another week and a half.

 

[NightProwess]

yea, it has been freezing outside. School and Work both canceled cause roads are ice and you can't get off the mountain.

We keep the indoor temp about 70-72 degrees.
So that should be plenty warm, eh?
Last time I warmed my room with a little electronic heater so it would be nice and toasty.

 

[Mekaisto]

If there are pin feathers coming through normally, she should be fine

As long as you don't see any ripped out blood feathers on the bottom of the cage, she probably isn't plucking.

 

[lucy1]

Hope these pics reassure you - Milo was just the same as River, he looked a real mess! He also had bald patches on his legs like in your pictures.

It's just a massive moult to get rid of all those scuffed up baby feathers - once she gets the new feathers through she'll look stunning

 

[NightProwess]

love that first picture! River loves laying on her back in my lap like that also and playing with her little feet. =)
thank you for posting those.
Very reassuring .