Molting or sick?

[KDK241]

I just got my 2 parakeets from the Humane Society about a month ago. I brought them to the vet a couple of weeks ago, and they both got clean bills of health. They have both adjusted very well and are active and happy. 3 days ago I started trying to convert them from an all seed diet, to pellets by offering them seeds 3 times a day for about an hour and then pellets the rest of the day. My female (Sabrina) took to it no problem and will eat pellets just fine. My male (Marley) is a bit more stubborn and will still only eat seed. The day after I started doing this, I noticed some of Marley's feathers laying around when I cleaned the cage. I have been watching him carefully and he is not pulling them out. It has been some body feathers and also some tail and wing feathers, but not as many. Yesterday he was looking a bit ruffled but he was still acting normal. I didn't really get worried until today, he seems like he is sleeping a little bit more than normal, and he keeps avoiding the female. He is still looking kind of ruffled but is eating normally (I was worried so I kept seed in the cage). He hasn't lost any weight at all and he did go play for a few minutes, but he is not as vocal as usual either. He hasn't been sneezing, his poop is normal, and she is just fine and acting completely normal. I just wanted to know if I'm being paranoid, or if it is possible he could be getting sick? Is this unusual when a bird is molting? Thanks for any help!! I'm just worried about my babies! Katie

[auntyelmo]

hi,, doesnt really sound like anything wrong with them,, but to be on the safe side try leaving some see and some pellets in the cage all day, and see which they preffer... you can also try giving them some fresh fruit,, like apple.... hope this helps.
Chrisy

[4HAND]

Many here do not advocate a pellet only diet for budgies,but opt for a quality seed with lots of fresh foods instead.I don't think the feather loss is anything to worry about.The stress of a new home coupled with moulting does warrant some extra TLC.Offer Marley and Sabrina something warm to eat.Make sure the cage is in a spot that is warm and not too busy.You can even partially cover the cage for awhile.Of course if things don't improve soon call your vet.
Tena

[birdlady49]

The female might be acting aggressive. She might be adding to the pulled feather issue. Can you separate them for a while to see how the male responds? If suddenly he's peppier and is eating etc., then the female might be the culprit.

[KDK241]

Thank you! I woke up this morning and he still looks a bit scruffy but he is back to normal. I have 2 food dishes in the cage, one with pellets and one with seeds and they are eating out of both of them. I have been trying to get them to eat fruits and veggies but that hasn't happened yet. I just wanted to say thanks. I think the vet telling me that they can get respiratoy infections easier right now made me paranoid. I still have 3 sides of the cage covered and a heater on in the room they are in though, just to be sure. Thanks again! Katie

[Monica]

Sometimes birds go through a rough molt and it takes a lot out of them... Smurf, my male budgie, sometimes goes bald on the front of his head, then he's got all these new prickly feathers coming in!

Of course, he could also be sick... how's he doing now?

[KDK241]

He's doing great! He was molting, he has the prickly feathers coming in now....looks goofy, but I think his being so quiet was just a ploy to get bird seed back...as soon as I put it in there he was perfectly fine again. Now I am going to have to figure something new out to get him to eat at least SOMETHING healthy. They are not hand tamed so that makes it even harder. The female will eat the pellets no problem when there is no seed but he won't touch them. I have even tried different kinds of pellets....oh well, just happy that he's ok and I was worried for nothing!

[Monica]

Well, try putting the pellets through a food processor until it's just tiny crumbles!!! He might be more willing to try it then!