Molting Issues??

[PrettyPax]

Hey everyone,

I'm pretty sure that my baby is going through her first major molt. She's lost tons of down feathers, a few wing and tail feathers, and her skin is pretty itchy. Pax just turned a year old and I've never seen her go through a molt as dramatic as this. What I'm concerned about are some bald/pink patches on her neck and breast. Is this related to molting, or perhaps connected to feather plucking? She's already chewed some of the feathers on the top of the blade of her wing. I should mention that she was at the vet last month and he didn't seem overly concerned. However, the pink/bald patches seem relatively new. She eats fine, plays, shreds, talks up a storm.

Sorry If I'm rambling, but I'm still a fretful new mother and I don't know what to think.

[Dave007]

Bald spots aren't unusual during a molt. Some areas are more itchy then other areas and the bird picks or scratches that area creating a bald or irritated pink area. Some birds chew on some feathers at times when they're young and right now is no time to make judgements concerning chewing or plucking. More than likely it's all temporary. A molt, especially a large one can be irritating to a bird because more feathers from more parts of the body are falling out. Spray some cooling water on your bird and if the spots get inflamed, pick up some aloe vera gel at the drug store and put some dabs on those areas.

[Char]

Whisper is molting heavily right now too. She had a bald spot too but I knew it was in a place she could not reach. It soon filled back in and I can't even find it now. I wouldn't worry about it.

[PrettyPax]

Thank you Dave and Char for putting my mind at ease. It's safe to say I know next to nothing about molting and I was't terribly enlightened by my visit to the vet. Your expertise is much appreciated.