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Fledgling
 
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I have a three month old Parrotlet, Lilo, who appears to be completely healthy. She is very social and spends a lot of time with people without showing any kinds of stress. But some of her feathers have started looking a bit ragged. Specifically the feathers on her tail and the clipped feathers on her wings. The rest of her feathers look healthy, since she bathes on her own and spends a lot of time preening. She has been losing her downy feathers recently, but I think she's just molting. As she preens, most of her feathers look healthy, but her tail and flight feathers are becoming more worn out without any new feathers growing in. Is there something wrong, and if there is, what can I do about it?
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Feather Fanatic
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| She is after all rather young. Many young parrots do not do well taking care of their own feathers until they grow up and mature. For now, I'd say it's probably nothing to worry about, and in time, with some molts, she'll probably look much better! If you are concerned, however, ask an avian vet!
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Feather Fanatic
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| Very young birds ( well, some older ones too)will often sort of scrub their long feathers against the bars or toys while playing. They do not do it intentionally. It just happens while they are busy. If the cage is to small for the bird and toys, this will be more likely to happen.]
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Feather Fanatic
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Fledgling
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Some of her things are close to the sides of the cage, so she does bump into them. But I could easily fix it up to give her more room. The only birds she's every interacted with have been the same age as her, so it doesn't surprise me that she's still learning to preen on her own. She does behave like a healthy bird, so I doubt the damage is intentional, but I will continue too keep a close eye on her just in case.
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Big Talker
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The ragged edges could be from rubbing against the cage bars but I've never heard of a three month old baby having this problem (this is not due to inadequate preening UNLESS she is barbering) and she shouldn't be losing her down feathers either because it's too early for her juvenile molt (it usually happens at six month of age, and she would not change these feathers, anyway, only the contours).
Bea & Birds
beatriz@newyorkbirds.net
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Feather Fanatic
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I think no matter what the reason, cage bar damage or barbering her feathers...it wouldn't hurt to move the perches further out and to see what kind of small toys you can get to help her preen with. My keets love those little tiny rope toys with little beads in them and they go to town preening them. Does she like mistings or bathing? If you really are in doubt call an avian vet and just see what they say.
Shares the title of naughtiest fid w/ Mrs. Beasly
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Fledgling
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| Lilo doesn't like being misted and hates when I try to give her a bath. But she will bath on her own with a shallow dish I leave in her cage.
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Good Psittacine
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| Hi, my parrotlet also has very damaged tail feathers, but she is handicapped and can no longer "perch". She does seem to bang into her cage, and that, I think, is the cause for her tail feathers to be so damaged. She also loves those hanging bead toys, and goes to town on it. Good luck in finding the reason and solution to the feathering problem.
wordybirdie
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Fully Fledged
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Beatriz Cazeneuve (5/26/2009)
The ragged edges could be from rubbing against the cage bars but I've never heard of a three month old baby having this problem (this is not due to inadequate preening UNLESS she is barbering) and she shouldn't be losing her down feathers either becauseit's too early for her juvenile molt (it usually happens at six month of age, and she would not change these feathers, anyway, only the contours).
I have to agree with what Bea said ,she is way to young for her feathers to be in that condition,and she will not molt yet for a few more months.
you have to get her used to misting, at this young age it will be very easy to do. you should also take her in for a well bird check up.
Barb & Friends www.secondchancebirdrescue.com
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