Hi there, we have had 2 Love birds for about 7 years now and the male seems to be losing feathers, we havnt seen the female picking the feathers but he seems to be the only one with the problem. Its winter here in South Africa, not sure if it would be the time of year but still strange. Would it be recommened to separate them but keep them close together in separate cages ?
Hi,
Birds lose feathers throughout the year, and usually go through a heavy molt once or twice a year. A molt can be triggered by warmer temperatures, and since we use heaters in the winter, it’s not unusual for an inside bird to molt as a result of the warm air from heaters. A bird should not have exposed areas of skin or areas where they only have the grey downy feathers. Either would be a sign of feather plucking – either by that bird or the mate. If any part of the head or neck are bald, this is usually from the mate picking on it. If there are no bare areas or downy areas, then the feather loss is more likely from a winter molt and will be resolved soon. Unless there is any fighting going on where the feathers are being ripped out by the mate, then I would not separate them. You might want to view the below webinar on common feather disorders.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
