My cockatiels pluck feathers, hiss, and won't play. What's wrong?

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.

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.

Hello. It appears your question got cut off so please consider reposting it. I will say though, based on what you wrote, that Snow White may certainly be sick. If there was no veterinary exam, fecal, or blood work done beforehand, then there’s no guarantee that the birds you acquired weren’t harboring some disease that may only show itself in times of stress (like entering a new aviary, reproduction, etc). Since you already have many birds, their health is potentially at risk and I would recommend having a veterinarian evaluate the new birds. At minimum a physical exam and fecal should be done, but consider Chlamydia screening, blood work, fecal gram stain. Other infectious disease tests can be done but your vet can recommend what they feel is indicated. Good luck!

Turmeric and coconut oil may help a little with dry skin, but they won't treat any underlying conditions. If you notice something such as flecks of "stuff" on the feather base, that can indicate parasites such as mites which need to be treated with a mite spray. Visible wounds, redness, sores, etc, can indicate other problems such as fungal or bacterial infections that should be treated by a vet (and you should keep your bird from scratching at it with the use of an Elizabethan/cone e-collar). Making sure your bird is on a balanced diet for cockatiels can also help keep the skin and feathers healthy. You can add in some treats such as fresh fruits and veggies as well.

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.

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 Miso and including photos. Psittacine Feather Destructive Behavior can have many causes: stress, nutritional deficiencies, some viral diseases, external parasites (mites, lice) and other problems. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Provide more distractions toys, give showers to induce bathing, check and correct nutrition. These are all things to try. Good luck.