The Key West Citizen App Feed 2019-09-07T15:01:05-05:00 11427092 Feather problems in pet birds is a complicated issue 2019-09-07T06:04:46-05:00 Dear Dr. Doug, 

My macaw has recently been losing feathers more than usual. I realize that birds normally molt. I am used to that. I’ve had my bird over 20 years and have witnessed her molting many times. But, this is different. Her feathers are changing color and literally falling out. She has bare spots that have not grown back. I went to the pet store and they gave me some spray for mites and some vitamins for the water, but it has not helped. Is there anything I can do for her?

 Lisa B.

Key West


Dear Lisa,

To start with let me say that this is a very complicated topic. I’ll spend three hours lecturing to veterinarians just on this subject alone.

Feather problems are one of the most common reasons birds visit the veterinarian. A bird can have severe internal disease, but the owner may not notice it until it is too late. However, when a bird’s feathers are abnormal, it is readily recognized by even the most novice bird keeper and they bring it in for an exam.

The two most common misdiagnoses of feather disorders are that the affected bird either has mites, or is having an “abnormal molt.” Mites, as a true cause of feather loss, are extremely uncommon, and all birds molt. I can count all the cases of actual “mite” problems on one hand that I have seen in the past 30-plus years.

Preening, which is what it is called when a bird performs natural feather care, is necessary for it to maintain its feather quality. During the preening process birds wax, waterproof and align their feathers using their beaks. They will also remove the waxy sheaths on the newly developed contour and flight feathers at this time. Birds routinely scratch at their neck and the back of their head with their feet for the same reasons.

A bird that does not show any signs of preening or self-grooming would be considered abnormal. The misconception lies in that many people think that a true “feather picker” is a bird that carries the preening process too far. Instead of just maintaining its feathers, it starts to self-mutilate. That said, you have owned your bird for a long time, and I would suspect that you know the difference.

This feather care behavior is crucial to the survival of birds in the wild. Feathers have many functions aside from the obvious need for flight. They are intimately involved in body temperature regulation, protection from the elements and courtship displays. In captivity these roles are not as critical.

Most people who own a bird with a feather problem have tried at least one of the many different types of home remedies, and most to no avail. There are many different factors that can cause feather disorders in birds. Some are very simple and are easily corrected, while others are complex, involving many different body systems within the bird, and may be incurable. Due to the potential serious nature of some of the causes, it can be understood why many of the simple home remedies may be completely ineffective.

Realistically, feather picking problems can usually be broken down to two main causes — medical and psychological. The health of a bird’s feathers are an important window to what is going on inside of your bird. If your bird’s feathers are suddenly appearing abnormal, it is likely a sign that there is something sinister happening inside. I can’t reliably tell you what is wrong without performing a thorough physical examination. It is likely that some laboratory testing may be needed. I strongly encourage you to take your bird to an avian trained veterinarian as soon as possible for an evaluation. Good luck.


]]> Doug Mader Abnormal feathering in a bird can have multiple causes. This macaw has a virus that is causing the feathers to fall out. 2019-09-07T00:00:00-05:00 1 By DR. DOUG MADER Citizen Columnist     D Text ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/SolidText ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/Solid$ID/NothingText ColorText Color$ID/NothingText ColorText Colorear Dr. Doug, My macaw has recently been losing feathers more than usual. I realize that birds normal