Question about feathers.

[pmaholm]

Hey all, we've found a few feathers from Refund in the past week. I was wondering is there any way to tell by looking at the feather if it's been plucked or has come out due to a molt/on its own? We've also noticed Refund is beginning to get a ton of pins on his chest and head. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

-Patrick

[Abernathy]

Pins are good, they mean his feathers are growing back in. Since he's getting so many pins right now, I would guess that the couple of feathers you found probably came out due to molting. Kaytee makes a product calles "Molt Ease" it may help comfort poor Refund. http://www.kaytee.com/products/search/?pid=05854

Hope he's not too uncomfortable.

[nims]

Hi,

 

Pins can be painful for them I would also suggest bathing frequently and aloe vera to help ease the itching.

 

Nims

[Sallas]

I have to agree with the pins being visable, I would think that the feathers you are finding are from moulting.

[pmaholm]

Thanks all, We've been giving them both aloe baths. They still seem to hate it but tolerate it.

[BMustee]

How old is Refund now? Elmo is a year and a half and has gone through two molts now.

 

It does sound like it's just molting he's going through. Many birds that pluck also will damage feathers, so if all his feathers are in good condition there is nothing to worry about.

[pmaholm]

I can't remember off hand exactly how old he is but I do know he's pushing 20.

 

-Patrick

[BMustee]

Oh Geesh! I was thinking he was a baby! LOL!!!

[pmaholm]

LOL Nah, he had his first molt many moons ago.

[Suzzique]

I agree that it sounds more like a molt then plucking. Alex has never plucked but when he was very young he did clip a good number of them. That's when I got the palm oil, bee pollen and flax seed. He has not clipped any of his feathers sense then. Right now the house is covered in down and feathers from both birds. I can't wait for him to molt out the baby flights that were clipped. He will have so much more control then!B)

[Janfromboone]

Tobie is molting now, and I had the same question. If he hasn't chewed the feather, I can see a small (tiny) bulb like widening that tappers to a point on the tip of the shaft. You have to look close. If it's a larger feather, he likes to chew it up, but you can see it in the smaller feathers. I didn't notice this in his flight feather that he molted and it wasn't chewed.

[pmaholm]

Ugh! Refund has plucked nearly all of his pins in one night. We've received the Red Palm Oil, I'm going to start them on it tonight. It's just so frustrating because he left them along for almost a week then went on a plucking binge. I may mix the oil in with a little rice and veggies. with some flax seed too.

 

any suggestions?

 

-Patrick

[Suzzique]

Just no more than a 1/4 teaspoon a day. You can mix the palm oil with anything. Also do you bath Refund? Aloe juice sprayed on after a bath really helps. It helps the feathers and skin stay soft.

 

Alex gets bee pollen as well. I don't remember what it does but it is really good for them as well. I just sprinkle a pinch on top of his food. He loves it.

 

I hope this helps!