Why Is My Cockatiel Dropping Feathers? Our Vet Explains 10 Probably Causes
Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are enjoyable pets to dwell with. They benefit from the firm of human companions, and so they normally have a cuddle for his or her favourite particular person, which may brighten up a protracted day. They’re comical and outgoing and will be glorious whistlers. Nonetheless, like all pets, they’re actually an endeavor, and will be demanding each financially and socially. They require the suitable weight loss plan, residing situations, entry to healthcare, and time dedication from you.
Cockatiels will be actually rewarding pets, and they’re usually good with children too, but it surely’s vital to know what your dedication entails earlier than you tackle certainly one of these feathered mates. Should you’re new to proudly owning birds, it’d shock you to see your cockatiel lose their feathers. It might have a pure and regular purpose, or it may very well be an issue that requires consideration. Learn on to study the ten probably causes that your cockatiel is perhaps shedding their feathers.
The ten Potential Causes Why a Cockatiel Loses Feathers
1. Molting
Cockatiels seasonally undergo a course of referred to as molting. It occurs about a couple of times a 12 months, at which period, your chicken will lose their outdated and broken feathers to make room for newer ones that may serve them higher. This can be a pure course of that’s regular and wholesome for birds.
In North America and far of the Northern Hemisphere, wholesome grownup cockatiels would molt closely throughout February, and will generally additionally molt once more to a average diploma round September.
It requires a substantial amount of power for a cockatiel to molt, so you could discover that your birdie spends most of their time resting in the course of the course of. Making certain your chicken is on a superb high quality, balanced weight loss plan, will enhance the possibilities {that a} molt will happen with none issues. As such, it’s value discussing your pet’s weight loss plan along with your veterinarian throughout this era, at the very least for the primary few instances they molt of their life.
Do take word although {that a} cockatiel shouldn’t go bald or develop bald spots as they molt. Molting is a traditional physiological course of and your chicken shouldn’t seem unwell and shouldn’t lose the flexibility to fly throughout this time. They may, nevertheless, doubtless spend extra time preening themselves. As such, you’d doubtless observe them taking extra baths (in water) throughout this time.
You’ll additionally be capable of discover many new “pin feathers” in your plumage as your cockatiel molts; these are the replacements of their molted feathers and have a shaft which has a darkish blue core. They’re also referred to as blood-feathers. These are new, quickly rising feathers and shouldn’t be plucked out as they may bleed profusely. A wholesome molting parrot doesn’t take away their blood feathers.
2. Self-Mutilation
Maybe essentially the most regarding type of feather loss is when a pet chicken begins to pluck their very own feathers out. This can be a comparatively complicated psychological dysfunction which requires the enter of a veterinarian, ideally one who focuses on pet birds or unique pets.
One of many methods to determine in case your parrot is simply plucking out a feather as a part of regular preening or compulsively attempting to self-mutilate themselves is by inspecting your parrot and looking out on the high quality of their feathers, particularly these on their backs and plumage.
A parrot that’s inflicting self-harm could present the next indicators:
- The feathers are sometimes of a distinct size – They are often trimmed all the best way right down to their pores and skin, simply the guidelines, or could seem “eaten”, with only a frayed shaft left in your cockatiel’s physique.
- “Moth” look – Your cockatiel could seem much like in case your favourite sweater was attacked by moths. That is described as an unkempt, matted look with bald patches round their physique.
- Screaming – Some cockatiels will pull their feathers out and sometimes vocalize painfully as they achieve this.
The full listing of attainable causes that result in self-mutilation could be very in depth and subsequently, serving to you higher perceive why your parrot is shedding their feathers resulting from self-mutilation is one thing solely a veterinarian can do.
A short listing of such prospects is as follows:
- Predator Stress from Different Pets – examples embrace cats, canines, and ferrets
- Compulsive Habits Dysfunction
- Boredom
- Sexual Frustration – can occur when parrots are inappropriately cuddled
- Lack of Preening Coaching – usually seen in hand-raised parrots or these which are weaned too early
3. Bullying from One other Cockatiel
In multiple-cockatiel households, one particular person could show territorial dominance over one other and bully them by plucking out their feathers. In most situations, the aggressor usually prefers to perch up larger than the bullied particular person. They might even be seen chasing and attacking the opposite cockatiel.
Such incidences require separating the 2 birds and in addition making certain they’re positioned out of sight of one another – with the ability to see their aggressor can set off some birds to start self-mutilation.
4. There Are Underlying Well being Issues
Generally a chicken’s feathers will be affected if they’re coping with an underlying well being drawback.
Examples of such well being issues embrace the next:
- Bacterial infections of the pores and skin
- Fungal infections of the pores and skin
- Viral infections of the pores and skin
- Sure yeast infections
- Liver ailments
- Kidney failure
- Sure cancers
- Sure respiratory system problems/ailments
- Parasites of the pores and skin and feathers (very uncommon)
- Inside parasites – Giardiasis is of key significance for cockatiels particularly
Should you suspect an underlying well being situation with reference to your parrot’s feather loss, schedule a checkup appointment along with your veterinarian promptly. Maybe apparently, many of those ailments don’t instantly assault the feathers however result in stress (which in flip usually results in self-mutilation in parrots).
5. Barbering
At instances, members of a flock preen one another a lot that it could result in a rise in feather loss. Nonetheless, that is usually distinguished from bullying by the very fact there doesn’t appear to be a component of aggression concerned. Whether or not or not this warrants intervention is one thing that may solely be assessed on a case-by-case foundation. As a normal rule although, the event of bald spots warrants intervention.
6. Malnutrition or Inappropriate Diet
Feather plucking will also be attributable to dietary deficiencies or an inappropriate weight loss plan. Particularly, a cockatiel that’s not provided ample protein of their weight loss plan could resort to both overeating (resulting in an overweight pet) or plucking their very own feathers (as they’re a supply of protein), or each a fats and a bald chicken!
Although cockatiels naturally match the ecological function of granivores (seed eaters), their life as pets doesn’t afford them the mileage that their wild counterparts are capable of attain by flying for a lot of miles on a regular basis in the hunt for meals. As such, pet cockatiels on a seed-only weight loss plan usually rapidly find yourself overweight, as seeds are very calorie-dense.
As well as, the weight loss plan of untamed cockatiels has a really excessive variance; wild cockatiels could have a dietary profile of over 60–70 sorts of seeds. That is usually inconceivable to copy for pet birds. As such, pet birds on a seed-only weight loss plan are additionally susceptible to dietary deficiencies.
A pellet-based base that’s supplemented with acceptable parts of greens, protein sources, and a really small fraction of fruits is taken into account the final best choice for pet parrots, together with cockatiels. We do, nevertheless, suggest that you just attain out to your veterinarian to resolve on a weight loss plan plan that most accurately fits your pet.
7. Irritants
Many widespread home items and merchandise that we use on our pores and skin or palms will be an irritant for a parrot’s pores and skin and feathers.
This may result in feather loss in certainly one of two methods:
- The product itself causes harm to the feathers and pores and skin, and the feathers fall out
- The product irritates your chicken, and so they resort to extreme grooming, and by proxy they take away their very own feathers at an extreme fee.
Examples of such merchandise embrace:
Ointments not supposed for birds (that you just apply by yourself pores and skin)
Hand lotion or cream
Important oils
8. Parrot Tonics
Many merchandise manufactured as “magnificence merchandise” for parrots will not be regulated, and these tonics can irritate a cockatiel’s feathers and pores and skin when utilized on them.
9. Improper Trimming of Flight Feathers
Flight feathers which are incorrectly trimmed will also be an irritant to your chicken. They might attempt to overpreen and take away such feathers in an effort to “repair” their wings themselves. As such, it’s greatest to have your chicken’s flight feathers trimmed or clipped by your veterinarian.
10. Cage Accidents
Lastly, your cockatiel is perhaps shedding feathers resulting from their cage being inappropriate for them. In a cage that’s too small, a cockatiel’s makes an attempt at flight is perhaps met with their feathers colliding with the cage bars, ornaments, and perches – which may harm their flight feathers.
Likewise, a cage with bar spacing that’s too large could lead to your pet’s feathers (notably these of their wings) getting injured in the event that they get caught between two widely-spaced bars. The bar spacing in a cockatiel’s cage must be ½ to ⅝ of an inch. Horizontal bars are most popular to vertical ones, as these enable your pet to simply climb round their enclosure safely.
Absolutely the minimal measurement for a single cockatiel’s cage is 20″x 20″x 24″. Nonetheless, when positioned in a cage this small, a cockatiel wouldn’t get sufficient train and as such, this must be checked out as a “bed room” of kinds. Your chicken would undoubtedly want train exterior of their cage if it’s not massive sufficient for them to correctly train in.
Conclusion
All pet cockatiels naturally molt a couple of times a 12 months as wholesome adults. Throughout this era, the speed at which they lose feathers is elevated however doesn’t result in a pet with bald patches. Typically talking, should you discover modifications in your cockatiel’s conduct, look, and demeanor, or observe bald spots in your pet, it’s time to have them regarded over by a vet.
Featured Picture Credit score: AnnJane, Shutterstock