Is it normal for cockatiels to loose feathers

Sometimes if the feather is nearly grown out, the blood supply is less and it might clot, but the broken feather should still be removed. This is just an issue with wing and tail feathers — body feathers do not have the large shafts or as much blood flow to them. Now sometimes it helps a bird to groom their pin feathers around the head. Pin feathers are feathers that have not been released from their protective coating. It is wax like and pin feathers appear like small white spikes.

A single bird has trouble grooming the pin feathers on the head, so you can gently roll them between your fingers and the waxy coating falls away. If the pin feathers is still a bit too new, the bird will react because they can feel it.

Cockatiels are known for their distinct feather color and pattern. For many owners, the loss of feathers can be worrying when trying to figure out why. Especially as cockatiels are normally household pets and companions. So why is your cockatiel losing its feathers? Contents 1 What is molting? Related posts:. Are Parrots Legal In India? Can Parrots Get Ringworm? I don't feel lucky.

Get your chance to win a prize! When molting, birds will be less active, napping more often, and they will be cranky. Your bird will appreciate bathing or water misting baths to help soften and loosen the hard keratin coating on new feathers.

Birds will also appreciate some gentle scratches from you on their heads, necks and crests because they are unable to reach these areas to preen off keratin. If your bird doesn't like to be pet, you may notice her rubbing her head up against toys or using her foot to scratch these areas. Molting is a stressful time for your bird and stress can impair the immune system, making it easier for your bird to get sick. Serve your bird nutritious foods that are high in vitamin A, like sweet potatoes and carrots, to enhance the immune system.

Birds also have a greater need for calcium and protein when molting. Dairy products are not the best foods for birds because birds lack the enzyme needed to digest them. Supplement your cockatiel's diet with leafy dark green vegetables that are high in calcium, such as kale, parsley, cilantro, beet greens, turnip greens, endive, chard, mustard greens, watercress, broccoli leaves and stalks for calcium as well as scrambled eggs, cooked chicken and lean meats for protein. Research and Abnormal Molting Although not noticeable, cockatiels are actually in a continuous state of molt 12 months a year.

Scientists at the University of California have based this on a pattern of losing specific wing feathers throughout the year. Regardless of species, birds do not lose all of their feathers at the exact same time during 1 single molt. If they did, they would be naked, cold, their skin would be unprotected and they would not be able to fly. Wing and tail feathers are replaced gradually at various times of the year and heavier molting takes place times a year, when the weather is warmer, Spring and Autumn and after breeding.

Additional heavy molts and heavy molting all year long are all considered abnormal and they can be caused by stress, poor nutrition or medical problems. Delayed molting and failure to molt at least once a year are also abnormal conditions. These 2 types of molting problems have a medical basis that could stem from pituitary or thyroid gland problems and hormone deficiencies. If your bird has any abnormal condition, please consult an avian vet.

Feather Colors: Last but not least, the brilliant colors of feathers that initially draw so many people to admire and love parrots are produced by feather structure, color pigments or a combination of both. Structural colors are produced by feathers that have certain types of cell and oil layers.

These feathers are able to refract light from the color spectrum of light. They are friendly and very pleasant. They are gentle and the kind of bird that you can introduce to your friends or to children. You will not worry about it being aggressive or anything. It is a perfect kind of bird to have as a pet. There are some things that we worry about with our birds. But do not worry! When a cockatiel loses its feathers, it is a natural process for them. It is not dangerous to your bird; you have nothing to worry about it.

While we are on it, though, let us discuss the reasons why these birds lose their feathers. Your bird might also be losing feathers more than the normal. We are going to learn about that today. Let us take a closer look. As mentioned, molting of feathers by the cockatiels is a normal thing to happen. It is part of a natural change for them. Like human fingernails, the main reason why cockatiels lose their feathers is because they will be considered as dead organic parts.

When our fingernails grow, we cut them so that they will be replaced by new ones. Like the bird, their natural process is to shed the feathers and replace them with new ones.

When the feathers need changing, these cockatiels will shed their feathers. This transition is more usual when there is a change of season.

This is the natural course. However, there is a molting that is severe. When a cockatiel is ill, has malnutrition, and is depressed, they will be more likely to lose their feathers heavier than the usual.

If you will experience this with your bird, it is time to call your vet. Have your bird looked at. If your bird is really molting, then losing its tail feathers might be expected. Other bird owners reported that when their cockatiel is molting, they lose their feathers in their tail as the last one. But losing tail feathers might not be because of molting.

Other birds lose their feathers because they break them. This could be because of your bird being so young and is just clumsy. They could fall and break their tail feathers. But this can also be a cause of heavy molting.

As mentioned, if the bird is ongoing molting, losing feathers are normal.