Severe Macaw Molt

[Blondie]

Hello All,
I am new to the forum thing so forgive me if I mess up! I stumbled across this site while looking for information on Severe Macaw molt. Pretty glad to find people who own parrots and have been through this before! I am the proud mom of a 8 month old Yellow Nape Amazon (Fancy) and 9 1/2 month old Severe (Picasso). Picasso has recently started molting and I have noticed a bit of grouchiness in her. What typically happens besides the growth of new feathers? Do I need to change something? Lots of questions! She is not usually grouchy (nippy) so I could use a bit more information please!

[Winged_Victory]

Originally Posted by Jodi

first off welcome to the board. :) It seems to be that time of year, my house looks like it is snowing feathers. Sometimes they do get a little grumpy when molting. To help her out you can bathe her frequently. I try to do mine every other day. That helps reduce the irritation from the new feather growth.

I agree with Jodi, they need to be showered every couple of days and if they are having a bad molt you might want to spray "Georges alovera" on their feathers. You can get the aloevera at a health food store.

gary

[Blondie]

Thank you for your information!! Poor thing seems to be quite uncomfortable and I am sure I wasn't making it any better! Another question, what are stress bars? Seems like I read that on one of the posts on this site.

[cavinandhope]

Stress bars are indication of when your bird went through some stress. It shows up on there feathers. It shows up in there feathers I know My B&G is much darker in that area. Which you don't want Stress bars but it happens sometimes. My B&G had them from going through stress when he was being transported to my home. The vet noticed them. Someone out there probably will have the more technical info but that is what I have learned from my vet.

[The Outlaw]

Hi. Welcome to the board. I also own a Yellow Nape and a Severe macaw. Your bird will be far more comfortable if you shower her until she's soaked to the skin every other day for the next month. This will loosen the feather sheaths and make her less irritated. And, increase her yellow/orange vegetable consumption. Try feeding lots of cooked sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and squash. These are high in beta carotine, which is essential for good feather production.

Also, once the feather sheaths become white, you can gently break them off with your fingers. She won't be able to remove the ones under her chin and on her head.

Stress bars on blue and green birds appear as black lines and one red birds they appear clear. This is like rings on a tree trunk. It is essentially of time line of when the feather was being produced. If you notice black lines, that means your bird was either deficient in its diet, stressed or possibly ill when that part of the feather was being formed. Most young birds will have them the first year or so since so many accidents and adventures occur then. Chronic stress bars, however, indicate a vet check is in order.

THE OUTLAW

[Blondie]

Thank you for your information. I sure do wish everyone was a bit closer. I would really love to see everyone's birds...I am glad though that you all are out there to guide me.. I love my birds soooo much.. amazing how much I do. So, since you all are great with advice, anyone have any advice on how I can keep my sanity while raising a 14 year old teenage son that used to be human!!