Ellie is definitely plucking =(

[KDK241]

And I have no idea why. I think it started when I was really busy and didn't have that much time to spend with them a couple months ago but I thought she was having a rough molt. I have seperated her from the other tiels to make sure it wasn't anyone picking on her but it's not, it's her. Every day there are a couple more pin feathers stuck on the cage bars or the wall with blood. She is now bald on both legs, under both wings, her vent to the top of her tail and now she has a bald spot on her back between her wings. She is letting some pin feathers come in. I have taken her to the vet twice and she comes back with a clean bill of health. Her diet hasn't changed and I've been making sure to spend extra time with her. She has plenty of toys that she plays with and gets regular baths. I just don't know what is going on!

[Milletman]

I saw this in Bird Talk Magazine, and it fits the description of your bird's feather loss. I know you had a vet look at your baby, but if it is a parasite, it may be hard to diagnose according to the article:

"That said, I suspect that your new cockatiel with the feather loss under the wings might be suffering from giardiasis. Giardia is a one-celled protozoal parasite that inhabits the first part of the small intestines and can cause weight loss, loose stool, enteritis and interestingly, itchiness and feather picking.

While we don’t know for sure why this organism causes itching and feather picking, we do know that the majority of cockatiels with Giardia often demonstrate feather loss under the wings, and along the thighs, and sometimes the lower abdomen, shoulders and back.

Some birds with Giardia are never seen pulling out feathers, yet, there is noticeable feather loss from the thighs and/or the underside of the wings. Sometimes, it takes multiple tests to accurately diagnose giardiasis. It may require fixing feces in a special preservative for staining at a specialty lab in order to correctly diagnose it.

The best treatment is with a drug called ronidazole that is available from compounding pharmacists or as an imported medication from certain retailers. In your case, if Giardia is diagnosed or strongly suspected, your veterinarian may recommend treatment with ronidazole (it works much better than the traditional medication, metronidazole), and converting your birds to a water bottle to prevent re-infestation. Since all three birds are housed together, your avian vet will probably recommend treating all of your pet birds, since this is a contagious disease."

Please keep us posted on what you find out!

[KDK241]

Thank you for that! I will definitely call the vet and ask her about it.

[Angelsmum]

After medical issues have been ruled out I would be thinking does the bird have access to direct sunlight (a window filters out the good stuff) or broad spectrum lighting. I am starting to read so much on how this is needed, especially with illness and pluckers (cockatiels are not generally pluckers like some other species can be, but there are some out there) Vitamin D from the sun is needed by any warm blooded living thing. I can't remember what the depression like illness in people is called who are affected with little access to it in winter months but the same can happen with our animals and birds. Vitamin D also aids calcium absorption. Brewers yeast (from the health food shop) is chock full of B vitamins and excellent sprinkled on pets, birds and human food to aid with stress. Pure aloe juice or gel in water and sprayed on can relieve itching skin on a plucker. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[Milletman]

You also might want to consider getting a second opinion from another avian vet to cover all bases if there is one in your area (and it will make you feel better knowing you have done everything you can).

I once had a pet chicken that I had to take through three different AVs before the last one correctly diagnosed her illness (she had a virus, which was diagnosed as everything from cancer to a bacterial infection). She is now the vet I use for my birds, and I am very glad I found her.

Please keep us posted on what you find! Your bird is adorable, and I wish you success in getting this resolved quickly.

[Monica]

There's also a possibility that there is a bacterial infection within the feathers that is otherwise not showing up.... which requires plucking a feather and checking it out.

Someone else recently had their quaker instantly pluck the legs and stomach area - turns out it was a bacterial infection in the feathers.


Although, I do know of a lutino cockatiel that has a bare stomach (not breast), bare legs, and a bare lower back. Even with 3 or more different avian vets, nothing can be figured out of what's wrong with her.

[KDK241]

Thanks everyone. I threw my back out last weekend so haven't been able to get on here. All the fids have full spectrum lighting that is on all day so they get plenty of light. I did take her to a different vet yesterday and am just waiting to hear something back. Unfortunantly there are no certified avian vets in my state so I'm going with the best I can find. I have been adding aloe juice to her bath water but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. The weird thing is that Moe, her father, had bald patches in the exact same spot when I got him, except for his legs and vent. I never saw him pluck at all and he no longer has the patches.

It seems to have slowed down since I put her in her own cage but every few days there are still a few feathers stuck on the cage. I raised her from a chick and I feel like I'm failing her somehow. I was so worried that Nori would start plucking when I got him and here it's my happy (I thought) little tiel who is doing it.