Why is my cockatiel plucking chest feathers? Molting or health issue?

Unfortunately, without an exam it would be hard to say. If she just molted and is doing so again, I would be concerned that her nutritional needs still aren't fully addressed, she needs some more lighting, or that there is another issue such as stress feather picking, skin issues, or parasites causing the feathers to fall out. A recheck with your vet can help rule out further nutritional issues and any skin problems/illnesses while adding in some lighting and enrichment such as toys to chew on, etc may help improve her feathering.

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.

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.

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 reaching out about Pinky. Molting is an itchy period of time. Do you see any skin damage? Bleeding? Feather mites could also be a concern. If the problem persists or worsens, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Ouch! Those areas look pretty irritated. A good first step is to bring your bird into a local avian vet so they can check for issues such as parasites, illness or infection, or even nutritional issues that could be causing the feather loss and dull coloration. Getting him on treatment can help improve his health. If he checks out healthy, looking for behavioral causes is a good next step. Boredom or stress can cause excessive feather plucking, so making sure he's kept in a stress-free area can help as well as adding in some enrichment to his environment. Toys that are interactable, time outside the cage bonding with you or on a playpen, and fun food and puzzle treats can help keep him interested. An Elizabethan (cone) collar can also be made to help with excessive feather plucking or scratching while the area heals.

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.