My African Grey's wings are bald and she's dropping feathers. Why?

If you are sure she is not actually pulling them out then here are some reasons why the feathers could just be falling out. 1. Dermatitis: skin infections a. bacterial, fungal or viral b. chemical (e.g., nicotine absorbed from the caretaker's fingers) c. allergic (unproven at this time). 2. Folliculitis: inflammation of the feather follicles 3. Malnutrition: nutritional imbalances are a common cause of illness in our pet birds. Seeds should compose less than 20% of the diet. A balanced pelleted diet like the Harrison's you are feeding should be fed as well. Hard boiled egg yolk, pancakes and cornbread, the tops of fresh greens, dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, fresh fruits such as apples, pears, melon, kiwi, and berries, vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, beets, asparagus, cabbage, sweet potato, and squash, and even tiny pieces of meat should be offered. 4. Environmental conditions: extremes of humidity, aerosol contamination and cigarette smoke. 5. Underlying medical problem: liver pathology, osteomyelitis (bone infection), pancreatic disease, renal disease, neoplasia (cancer), underlying abscesses 6. Reproductive activity/inactivity 7. Parasites: mites and lice 8. Stress I strongly recommend you get her to an avian veterinarian for an exam and some testing. At her age I would be worried about an underlying health issue (#5 above). You vet will need a thorough history which should focus heavily on the bird's interaction with its environment and the people and other animals around it. My guess is that some diagnostics will be needed in the form of blood and urine tests and whole body X-rays. Skin biopsy may also be recommended. Be sure to use a vet that is well-versed in treating birds. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It could be a molt, stress, malnutrition or infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites). Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine what the underlying cause may be. Ideally, she should be seen by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Feed a well balanced diet and provide fresh water at all times. A bath or misting with warm water may promote preening and healthy plumage. Provide a variety of toys, attention and playtime to keep her engaged and active.

The grey covering is a sheath that is on new or developing feathers. His skin looks irritated which may be due to parasites or infection. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Transition him to s commercial pelleted diet such as Harrison's, Lafeber, Exxact or Pretty Bird. You can supplement with a small amount of a fortified seed mix as well as with fresh vegetables and fruits.

Thanks for reaching out about Sundar. Feather picking can be behavioral or medication. Check for external parasites such as mites or lice. Viral diseases such as Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease or Avian Polyomavirus, are also possible. Dietary deficiencies can lead to weak feathers that break or fall out easily. Birds typically have a bald spot under their wings, normally. This is typically a molding season, so some feather loss can be expected. Review diet, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Bangaram and including a photo. Psittacine Feather Destructive Behavior is common in parrots, but the difficulty is acquiring a cause. Stress/behavior is common a nd can consist of breeding, nutritional or environmental stressors. Diseases can also lead to pulling feathers including infectious diseases (viral, bacterial), metabolic disorders (liver, renal), skin diseases and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and try to determine a cause. Diet and husbandry practices need to be reviewed with a veterinarian experienced with birds. Some diagnostic tests will probably be recommended and necessary to come to a conclusion. There is no topical medication that is going to cure or even stabilize this condition. Good luck.

Feathers not growing back in properly can be due to a number of things including illness, nutritional issues, metabolic diseases, parasites, infections and more. If you cannot find the cause of your bird's feather loss and balding, it would be best to have her examined by a local avian vet so they can check for any of these common issues and get her feeling better. Making sure she is on a balanced diet and is treated for any parasites such as mites (most pet stores carry a spray for this) may help, however if the problem continues vet care is needed.

Thanks for reaching out about Sky. Feather loss can be due to poor diet, stress, over-preening, external parasites, skin infections, metabolic disease, viral disease and more. Research and correct the diet birds do poorly on an all seed diet. A veterinarian is probably needed to exam and recommend diagnostics/ treatments. Good luck.