Lost 4 tail feathers in one day

[neoow]

Alfie lost four tail feathers over the course of the day - he was in his secondary/working from home cage in the office with me all day and I found them at the bottom when I went to take him out.

It's unusual for him to drop this many tail feathers in one day- though I have noticed he has a few new ones growing out.

I've checked them over and they don't appear to be damaged- there's no blood- they look like they have just fallen out naturally.

I'm undoubtedly just worrying over nothing- he has had a stressful week with his beak (will post about that separately as it's a long story) but is it fair to say these look like they have just moulted out instead of being yanked out?

 

[SRSeedBurners]

Those look like well used, ready for retirement tail feathers.   Ratty, hollowed out shafts.   Sheesh....Alfie needs to get some new ones in for that dapper look.

[neoow]

He's got some new ones on the way! They're just a bit short at the moment! 😂

I was just surprised that he dropped so many in one day from his tail. I was fairly certain they had fallen out but then I doubted myself because it has been a stressful week for him with his beak saga. 

I was quite sad to see the one with the grey stripe had fallen out- I liked that one as he hasn't had one with that much grey on it before. I keep the larger feathers in a big far, so made sure to put that one front and centre. 😄

[Acappella]

I can understand your worry, but they look like old feathers to me.  He'll be back to his dapper self in no time.

[Luvparrots]

Molting perhaps???

[neoow]

Yes I think so- although he never seems to have a 'big' moult- it seems to just be a continuous process where he loses a feather here and there throughout the year.

Either way- he's fine and I think I was just super stressed after the beak issues so worried over nothing. 😂

[KevinD]

He just is just buying a new suit. Even Humans do it. Donate the old, and in with the new

[Inara]

HRH Inara used to do this about one feather at a time, no big deal. Then about three years ago, within a couple of days all of her tail feathers would be out. Freaked me out the first time, took her to her Avian Vet, but all was well on her business end. She now does this once a year. Her Vet and I surmised that she gets impatient with the itch or discomfort as they are molting out, so she just gives them an assist.  In fact, she has a little bare butt as I type this..... 

[neoow]

19 hours ago, Inara said:

HRH Inara used to do this about one feather at a time, no big deal. Then about three years ago, within a couple of days all of her tail feathers would be out. Freaked me out the first time, took her to her Avian Vet, but all was well on her business end. She now does this once a year. Her Vet and I surmised that she gets impatient with the itch or discomfort as they are molting out, so she just gives them an assist.  In fact, she has a little bare butt as I type this..... 

Yeah I can imagine losing all the feathers at once would be pretty shocking! I panicked with just these four! Thankfully though, all is good is Alfie's world and I was being paranoid. 😄