My cockatiel is molting again. Could it be an illness or diet issue?

This is usually due either to a skin infestation (very commonly mites are involved) or a skin allergy. A check up is required to confirm or rule out these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry to hear Coco is losing feathers. If you are seeing strange discharge from the area, or he is acting ill, and no feathers are regrowing, it is possible he may have an issue such as a nutritional problem, parasites, infection of the skin, etc. You can try to treat parasites with a mite spray and make sure he is on a balanced diet, as well as gently clean away any debris from the affected area, but if he is also acting ill you need to try and find a vet in your area that can look at him and treat any underlying issues. If you are having trouble coping with Coco's illness I also highly recommend seeking out a therapist or other support group in your area that can help you while you seek veterinary care for Coco.

Molting and growing new feathers can take a lot of energy, however if Mike has been lethargic and not interested in normal activities, or isn't wanting to eat or drink, it would be best to seek veterinary care. It's possible there is an underlying issue such as illness or injury causing it, nutritional problems, parasites, or even some deficiency from his body using up nutrients to create new feathers. Having a thorough exam from a local vet can help rule out any issues, and treat any problems to help Mike feel better.

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.

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.

If he is not picking out his feathers, he is likely molting: Molt is a very strenuous time for a bird as almost all its energy is used to making new feathers. It takes seven to ten days for a feather to begin to emerge after one was shed and then this new feather takes up to 8 weeks to fully develop. During molting your bird will be cranky, nap more often and it is especially necessary at this time to feed them a very healthy diet and keep a close eye on them as they will be using lots of their nutrients to grow and replace the feathers. Feed lots of greens such as kale (extra calcium) and you can feed mashed up hard-boiled egg and also offer some boiled chicken. Both of these are high sources of protein for making new feathers.

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.