Why is my budgie losing tail feathers and they aren't growing back?

Thanks for reaching out about Rio and including a photo. Nutritional deficiencies, bacterial infections of the feather follicle, some viral diseases, are all possibilities (among others). With how "pinched" to tip of the feather appears, concerns over Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease, should be ruled out. A veterinary visit is recommended for testing and a nutritional consult. Feather growth requires a substantial protein expenditure so plant based proteins (beans, sprouted seeds, legumes) should be a component of the diet. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your parakeet and including photos. Was he ever tested for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) and Avipolyoma virus? Nutrition deficiencies, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), hypothyroidism and other endocrine problems, all must be considered. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Review and discuss diet with the veterinarian during the visit. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilo and including a photo. It is not normal for feathers to fall out in birds this young. The picture appears as if the feather is fractured and broken. Review nutrition as lack of protein and vitamins can lead to weak feathers. Correct husbandry to prevent falling and traumatizing feathers. A veterinary visit can help to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment/husbandry recommendations. 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.

It could be that the feathers just got bent as they were growing in, however if you are noticing other changes, or are concerned about Coqui's overall health, it is always best to schedule a veterinary exam. They can perform routine bloodwork to check for any nutritional issues and illnesses such as PBFB if you are concerned, or even check for more common problems such as parasites or skin infections, and at least give you some peace of mind regarding it. If he checks out healthy, it could just be a prolonged molt or result of simply being him. Continuing to provide a balanced diet (it seems like you already are), providing plenty of enriching toys to prevent boredom plucking.

Sometimes a delay in regrowth of feathers can be due to husbandry and diet, or it can be due to disease. I would recommend evaluating your husbandry closely to start. If there is an abnormal day/night cycle, temperatures that are out of the comfortable range for the species, a diet that is too high in fat or deficient in nutrients, or if the humidity is not correct, a lack of feather growth may occur. If you evaluate all of these parameters and they are normal and appropriate, then it may be secondary to disease or stress. At that point, I would recommend that you take Mitu to a veterinarian for evaluation. They can take samples of the feathers, evaluate the skin, and may also recommend additional diagnostic testing in the form of blood work to evaluate systemic health and radiographs (x-rays). I hope this gives you a place to start, and good luck!

It is possible Penny is molting. This is normal and is the process of losing old feathers while new ones grow in. You may see pin feathers, or small feathers that look like little pins sticking out of the skin as they grow. It often looks like a mess because some birds tend to lose a lot of feathers all at once, while others have a slower, gradual molt. As long as she is otherwise healthy and active, making sure she is on a balanced diet to ensure good feather growth is best. If she seems ill or new feathers are not growing in, it could indicate she is ill, has some mites, or another skin condition which should be checked out by a vet.