My cockatiel is losing tail feathers. Is this normal or concerning?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is absolutely normal for parakeets to occasionally shed their feathers, even the larger feathers from the tail. However, since it sounds like there are two birds housed together, I recommend keeping an eye their overall appearance and have them evaluated by a vet if there are any large featherless patches.

If you mean just preening and grooming, then this is normal behavior. If you mean that your bird is pulling the feathers out, I would try to find the cause. Issues such as molting, where the old feathers are replaced by new, are normal. You will see pin feathers (new feathers poking through the skin that look like pins) if this is the case. If you aren't seeing new feathers, but are instead seeing redness, wounds, irritation, or "stuff" attached to the feather base, then this could indicate an issue such as parasites, infections, etc that should be checked out by a vet. In some cases, behavioral issues such as stress or boredom can lead to over grooming as well. Making sure Rio has an adequate diet, plenty of enrichment such as toys or treats he can play with, time spent with you, etc, and making sure his cage is in a stress-free and quiet area can help with behaviorally related feather plucking.

As long as none of the feathers are broken or bleeding it should be fine. Birds do molt and will lose old feathers and regrow them over time as long as they are provided with proper nutrition. If he's a young bird, he's likely still losing his baby feathers while newer adult feathers grow in in its place, and most cockatiels are not fully feathered until they are 6-8 months of age. If you notice any broken feathers, or active bleeding, then it is best to remove the broken feather and stop bleeding, or seek veterinary care to make sure there isn't any further injury to the feathers.

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 Rio. Not sure what you mean by "plugged tail feathers". Are these fractured feathers at the base, or obstructed feather follicles call feather cysts. Feather cysts need to be seen by a veterinarian. Broken feathers should be left alone, and most of the times, the bird will work them out, as long as they are not bleeding. Good luck.

If Bobo is otherwise happy and healthy, he could just be molting. This is a normal thing that happens when your bird sheds their old feathers and replaces them with new ones. You will likely see "pin" feathers, or feathers that look like little pins sticking out of the skin in the places where old feathers were lost if this is the case. If, however, Bobo is itching, there is redness, new feathers aren't growing in, or he seems ill or upset, it could indicate something else such as parasites, skin issues, etc, that should be checked out by a vet.

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.