Why is my bird scratching a lot and losing feathers? What's wrong?

Feather loss can be from any number of things, so finding the underlying cause is best. Molting is a normal loss of feathers that occurs 1-2 times a year and all the old feathers are replaced with new ones. You will see "pin" feathers appearing on the skin (look like needles or pins) to indicate this is a molt and new feathers are growing in. Making sure Mithu is on a balanced diet can help ensure he grows in new feathers. Skin issues such as parasites, infections, nutritional issues, etc can also cause feathers to fall out. Treating any visible wounds, making sure Mithu is on a balanced diet, and using a mite spray to treat any external parasites can help. Illness can sometimes cause feathers to fall out either due to a lack of nutrition or from the illness itself. If you can't find an immediate problem, having a vet examine Mithu is best to rule out any illness. Boredom and stress can also cause feather plucking, which may make it look like the feathers are falling out. Making sure your bird is kept in a quiet, stress-free area away from noisy pets and people, and providing lots of enrichment such as toys to play with and chew on, fun treats, and time spend together can help. In some cases, an Elizabethan (e-collar) may be needed to break the behavior if it has become a habit.

If your bird is otherwise acting normally and healthy, it is possible it may be a molt, especially if you are seeing feathers coming back in already. Other possible causes to look for are plucking, as you suggested, as well as parasites such as mites/lice. Making sure your bird is in an area that is low stress (aka, he has a chance to relax quietly when he needs to) can help as well as looking for/treating any possible mites. If the bald patch increases, the feathers don't regrow, or you see other issues, then having a vet take a look is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Sparky. Could he being going through his first molt and the white flecks are keratin from the new feathers? Continue to provide good nutrition as protein, vitamins and other nutrients are essential for health, growth and a good immune system. Seeds are not a complete diet and an avian pellet plus some table foods are recommended. A veterinary visit is recommended for an initial exam and consultation for diet/husbandry. Good luck.

You can mist him with warm water to encourage preening. This will promote healthy plunage. If he continues to itch, it may due to mites or infection. These would require an exam with your veterinarian for confirmation. Mites can be treated with an over the counter spray. Read labels v\carefully to confirm the chosen product can be used on birds. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Change the cage paper daily. If an infection (bacterial or fungal) is diagnosed, your vet can prescribe the appropriate medication.

Thanks for reaching out about Brooksie. Molting usually occurs in spring but abnormal molts due to stress, dietary deficiencies and metabolic disorders are possible. Birds tend to scratch and groom themselves a lot, but usually not to the loss of feathers. Mites are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Giardia is not common. There are some viral diseases that are possible that can manifest as feather weakness/loss. If continues a veterinary visit is recommended. A review of the diet can be helpful as parakeets need much more than just seed, including a wide variety of vegetables and a plant protein source. Good luck.

Without seeing any photos it is hard to tell what is going on. Molting can happen as a natural part of replacing the feathers, and isn't really age related more so than environment/nature related. It is also possible that there are still mites present even with the protector, or that there is another issue such as an allergy, nutrition issues, or irritation around the eyes causing her to scratch and pull out the feathers there. Examining the skin for any signs of injury, small wounds, redness, irritation, etc can help you determine if this might be the case. Boredom can also sometimes cause behaviorally based scratching or feather plucking, however this usually occurs in areas birds can more easily reach such as the chest or back- that said, if you have another bird housed with Silver Angel, it could be the other bird is overgrooming her and causing the feather loss.

It is possible, but without more information it would be hard to say. You can check for mites or irritation by gently brushing the feathers and looking for redness on the skin or things attached to the base of the feathers. Most pet stores carry commercial sprays that can be used to treat it. Boredom and stress can also cause excessive scratching or plucking so making sure Niki is in a low-stress area with lots of toys and things to stay active can help reduce the behavior as well.