Feathers Blotchy

[Smitty]

I have 2 green ringecks - 1 male - 1 female. We had the male and added the female the end of October. They have been eating the same food but the females feathers are dull, grey more than when we first got her, compared to the males. She has no other problems, symptoms. She is eating well, attitude is OK other than the end of some feathers being dull, grey, not green. Is this a diet issue, or stress? She has laid eggs twice, but no babies. The male feathers are nice & bright.
I posted a picture of the birds on this site. "Smitty & Baybee"

[Kathy]

That is a nice picture of them.

Most pictures I have seen of ringnecks are of them clutching at the cage trying to get away!

Her featbering doesn't look right to me either. When was her last molt? is She usually that fluffed up or was it just because of the camera?

Generally, when in good health, they are sleek and smoothed featered like your male.

[Smitty]

Thanks for the reply Kathy.

Baybee usually has her head feathers fluffed. She has been moulting and you can see whose feathers they are by looking at the the ends, dull & grey, but she doesn't seem to be losing as many feathers this past month or as the male seems to be.

[Lora, Archer, & Kira]

Do you give her regular showers? That might help also, if you haven't already tried it. My GC Kira's feathers aren't as nice as her male counterpart's either. But her feathers seem to improve a bit after a spray-bottle showering. How old is your female? If this is her first molt, she may also look ever so much better afterwards.

[Joel]

I haven't glanced at the pics yet but will. Just make sure the diet is a GREAT one to incl. natural, fresh, veggies and fruits (as you know ringnecks are GREAT EATERS) and protein (such as scrambled/boiled eggs); plenty of room to fly around in (as they are great/strong flyers and need more room than the average bird. Also make sure they are getting the needed daily sunshine and humidity. If ALL these things are provided plus the proper housing and a stress free environment, then you should not have any problems to incl. feathering.

[Smitty]

Thanks for your help/tips.

We moved the bird cage over to the patio doors so they are receiving direct sunlight now. When the weather gets warmer we will be taking them outside more.
We tried hard boiled eggs and they wouldn't go near them, but found out last night they really like fried eggs, so they will be getting those more often now we know the way they like them.
We were told that she was about 2 yrs old when we got her in October. She's not much for showers in the sink as the male is, so they take turns in their water dish and they really liked being sprayed with a water bottle.