Buzz
Molting is a natural process for parrots where they shed old feathers and grow new ones over approximately 2 months. Typically occurring once or twice a year, parrots develop pin-like structures, known as pin feathers, from the follicles in their skin. This can cause discomfort and itchiness, so ensuring your parrot's comfort is essential.
Steps
Enhancing Your Parrot's Comfort
Mist your parrot twice daily for added comfort. Spraying your bird with room-temperature water will increase humidity in its cage, reducing itchiness. Regular misting also helps soften the sheath around pin feathers, making them easier to remove once new feathers grow.
- Regular misting mimics rainfall for birds and should continue even outside molting periods, ideally 2-3 times weekly.
- Consider using soothing aloe bird bath sprays to further calm your pet.
Allow your parrot extra rest during molting. Molting can make your parrot grumpy or twitchy due to itchiness and discomfort. Avoid disturbing your bird while it sleeps or rests. Provide a quiet, dark area for 12-13 hours daily during molting. Be patient and let your bird rest as needed.
- Adequate sleep supports new feather development.
Be gentle and avoid petting your bird during pin feather growth. Pin feathers are sensitive and filled with blood during early growth stages. Rough petting can harm them, so refrain from it.
- You can resume gentle petting once feathers fully grow and the sheath around them flakes off, usually towards the end of molting.
Maintain room-temperature conditions for your parrot. As feathers fall out during molting, your parrot becomes more sensitive to cold drafts. Ensure the room temperature is around 70 °F (21 °C) and shield your bird from chilly outdoor conditions.
- Avoid excessively heating the room as it may discomfort your parrot despite their tropical nature.
Caring for Your Bird
Assist in removing old feathers from your parrot's head and neck. While your parrot naturally sheds old feathers, some may remain in hard-to-reach areas like the head and neck. Wait for feathers to fully grow and the sheath to flake off before lightly rolling your finger to remove the flakes.
- If the sheath is still hard, wait before removing it.
- If your parrot has a mate, they might help remove old feathers; otherwise, you'll need to assist.
- Expect loose feathers and flakes to fall during this process.
- Wait until feathers are fully developed to avoid harming your bird.
Incorporate cucumber and extra protein into your parrot's diet daily. Growing new feathers requires additional nutrients. Offering a slice of fresh cucumber and daily egg food or hard-boiled egg yolks provides essential nutrients for strong, healthy feathers.
- Thoroughly wash cucumber to remove pesticides before feeding.
- Limit cucumber to one slice per day for an average-sized parrot to avoid overfeeding.
- Remove fresh food from the cage daily to prevent mold.
Consult a vet if your parrot molts more than twice annually. Frequent molting may indicate dietary or light cycle issues. Ensure proper nutrition and light exposure. If excessive molting persists, seek veterinary advice promptly.
- Inadequate sunlight or nutrition can disrupt molting patterns.
- Parrots molt post-mating season, typically in the fall.
- UV-B light bulbs can substitute natural sunlight.
Seek veterinary care for bleeding pin feathers. Pin feathers are delicate and can cause bleeding if damaged. A vet can safely remove the damaged feather to prevent further bleeding.
- Allow your bird to rest after treatment for the new feather to grow.
Helpful Tips
Important Warnings
- If you notice abnormal feather growth, lack of feather growth, or bumps on your parrot's skin, promptly seek assistance from an avian veterinarian. These are indicators of potential health issues in the bird.
