Ask Lafeber

Question:

August 23, 2021

Female cockatiel


Good morning I’ve got a female cockatiel and just wanting to know why on the next that she is shedding and how long does it really to grow back to normal


Answer:

Hi Nikita,

If she is missing a lot of feathers around her neck, then she is plucking out her own feathers. Or if she has a mate or companion, it may be plucking her feathers. While molting feathers is normal, she should never have any bald spots, or places where she only has the downy feathers. This always means the bird is plucking or being plucked. Also called feather destructive behavior, there could be a medical cause, behavioral cause or both. It’s always best to start with a Vet check to rule out or diagnose a medical issue.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

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