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Moulting already??


Azzie

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Cleo is now just over 9 months old, and appears to be moulting already. She is losing a small number of feathers from her head and neck. She is not plucking them out - I see them fall out when she scratches or shakes herself, and when I am playing with her. I have noticed a large number of pin feathers growing through as well, all around her face, head and neck. Short little spiky ones on her head, around her beak and ears, and large fat ones on her neck.

 

I thought they didn't start their first moult when they were around 18 months old, or might this be something else? She is her usual happy self, playing, eating, destroying and lots of whistling and vocal practice.

She does seem a little more itchy than usual, but I would say that is due to the keratin coating of the pin feathers coming off - you can see the flakes on her back after a wee scratch.

 

Any ideas?

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Harvey's about the same age and it's the same in my house! He has pin feathers all around his head, extending to his back and he has pulled a few greys feathers out and chewed them to bits!

 

I was totally reassured by everyone on here in my hour of panic last month - it is a moult and those feathers are falling so that those itchy pins can come through.

 

Harvey has been soothed by regular showering and regular aloe gel sprays - seems to have helped immensely. So calm down - I know EXACTLY how you are feeling and don't worry!! ;)<br><br>Post edited by: JillyBeanz, at: 2009/10/13 13:33

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Cheers for that! I just wasn't expecting her to moult at this age, having been informed by our experts here on the forum that it won't happen until around 18 months.

 

It was just an EEEP moment when she shook herself vigorously and 4 grey feathers gently drifted to the ground lol.

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Almost like you guys are psychic! Got up this morning, checked the cage, and found 2 small red feathers on the bottom of the cage, plus another small amount of grey ones. I think the reason I panicked initially is because Cleo seems to enjoy picking up the moulted feathers to groom and play with them, so when I first saw this small pile of mangled shredded feathers, my first thought was oh please no...she's plucking. But I've watched her like a hawk, and there is no plucking, plus I can see them fall out when she shakes.

 

Thank you all for the reassurances and your own updates on what the babies are doing!

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Darwin is almost 10 months old and is smack in the middle of her first moult! I freaked out too, but was reassured that it's perfectly normal! Give it a few weeks, your little Cleo will look like a jigsaw puzzle with all the dark feathers coming in.

And I do also recommend extra showers - it seems to be helping her too!

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I am now reading this topic as a "moulting expert"!!!

 

Honestly - one month ago and I thought Havey was plucking too - there were more last night! I am becoming very accustomed to finding them at the moment - and they keep him quiet for ages!!! :)

 

I know, we'll all save them, you can send them to me and I'll make the world's first, multi-national, multi-cultural, PARROT DUVET!!! :laugh:<br><br>Post edited by: JillyBeanz, at: 2009/10/14 10:57

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