My cockatiel's ear is exposed with no feathers. What should I do?

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 including the pictures of Bobby, but they are a little difficult to see clearly. With the location, it could possibly be an ear infection, which are fairly rare in birds. Try wiping the area with a warm, wet washcloth and parting the feathers to take a look at the skin. The other possibility is matted feathers due to regurgitation. When they regurgitate, they often shake their heads. Either way, I would seek the examination by an avian veterinarian.

Yes, Rockie should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to confirm infection or injury. Antibiotics may be indicated in treatment. An e-collar (cone) may be used to prevent further plucking. Review his diet with your veterinarian to rule out any deficiencies.

Thanks for reaching out about Bakku and including pictures. The featherless patch behind the head is normal. But what is concerning is how fluffed and with his head tucked back. This is usually a sign of sickness but not definitive for any specific disease. Keeping him warm might help stimulate his immune system, but a veterinary visit is probably needed for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear Coko isn't feeling well. If he's acting ill and isn't wanting to eat or drink in addition to losing feathers, it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP. There are many possible causes for his symptoms including illness, infections, parasites, malnutrition, etc, and a complete exam in person is needed to help determine the cause. In the meantime, keeping him warm in a hospital cage separated from other birds, and continuing to give him food and water may help, but a vet visit is best.

Keep it clean and dry. You can dab it with diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) daily. If it doesn't begin to heal in a few days or is actively bleeding, see your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or loose droppings. These are also symptoms that should be addressed by your vet.

Sparky does look a bit rough from the photos you provided. As feather loss and listless behavior are both very vague signs of many different possible issues, it would be best to try and find a vet in your area that could take a look at him. Nutrition issues, parasites, illness, injury and more can all be possible causes. Until you can get to the vet, keeping him separated from other birds in a hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water may help.