unknown reason for feather loss

[iain allen]

one of my budgies is losing feathers on chest and under wings theres no obvious plucking or mites [other bird in good health].he's a bird i've rescued and i know he was poorly treated both birds have open cage and can fly at will and have home made perches in window bay. i've tried various over the counter products to no avail he had full feathers when i rescued him now he has bald patches in said areas i'm sure its not a moult please help i'm an accidental budgie fancier and know very little all help and assistance vey gratefully recieved

[okieparrots]

Is the feather loss huge or are we talking a couple of feathers here and there? If it's only a small amount of feathers then your bird may simply be molting. I don't know if this is the time of year in the UK that they molt but it might be. Birds will loose a few feathers here and there when they go through a molt, which will grow back. I've never known a budgie to feather pluck (I'm sure it's possible but rare).

If it's not simply molting or there are bare areas appearing then I would suspect a health problem and have him checked by an avian vet if at all possible.

[Monica]

I would believe this is self plucking, possible plucking from the other bird, or there is some health problem. You should take them to an avian vet to get a good checkup done and possibly some blood tests to hopefully rule out some diseases that the budgie may have picked up...