Why is my conure's new wing feather so much longer after molt?

As far as I can see from the photo, the feathers look normal and healthy. Some color change and darkening of feathers is normal, and the feathers may continue to change somewhat until Pa Pa reaches maturity. Molts can also change feather color some as old feathers fall out and new ones come in. If he is otherwise healthy, normal, and active, I wouldn't be worried. If the feathers change rapidly, fall out, seem bothersome, or you notice any signs of illness in addition to the changes, scheduling a checkup with your local vet to rule out any health issues is always the best course of action.

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 adding in a photo! From the photo, it looks like Meenu might be molting! This is normal in all birds, and happens when they replace their old feathers with new ones. Baby birds will also have a molt as they reach adulthood, losing their soft downy feathers (the wispy ones in the picture) and replacing them with their adult feathers. It is very normal for colors to change somewhat during a molt as brighter colors come in, and the feathers may fade some with time as well. As long as Meenu is otherwise healthy and happy, it isn't anything to be worried about. To see if your bird is growing in new feathers you can look for pin feathers (small like needle-like things poking out of the skin). Making sure Meenu is on a healthy balanced diet can help make sure she has a good molt and grows in healthy new feathers.

The "stems" you are seeing may actually be the pin feathers that are coming in as she loses her old feathers and the new ones come in. They are called pin feathers as they look like little pins sticking out of the skin. As the feather grows and erupts from the skin, it will turn into a full feather instead of just looking like a "stem". This is 100% normal and healthy! Molting can take several weeks to a month or two depending on the bird. Making sure Wiggy is on a balanced diet can help ensure her new feathers grow in healthy. As long as she is otherwise acting healthy and normal I wouldn't be worried. If you do see any signs of illness, the new feathers don't grow in properly, or she seems in distress, speaking with your vet is always best.

Thanks for your question about Coco, and thanks for the photos - they are very helpful. You are correct that it could be taking him a long time to molt, however he may also be preening excessively and removing his feathers. In one of the photos he looks to have acreddebed area of skin - this is not typical of regular molting. If you are seeing feathers continuously at the bottom of the cage, this would also be suggestive of overpreening. I would recommend ensuring that his cage is very clean, that he is provided with multiple toys (which you will have to introduce slowly as budgies are often very nervous about new items), a mirror if he doesn’t have any company, and proper nutrition. These would all help with a molting issue, and may also help a bit if he is overpreening himself. If you are able to take him to a veterinarian, they would also be able to assist with this problem. They could look at the skin and feathers to ensure that there isn’t a medical reason for his condition. I hope that helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for reaching out about Billy and including photos. Viral diseases, nutritional deficiencies or metabolic disorders are all possible. Stress can cause feather destructive behavior. Some external parasites are only on the animal during the evening hours therefore are difficult to identify during the day. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tanfo. Curled feathers can be cause by multiple reasons including: nutritional deficiencies (vitamins, protein), diseases of the feather follicles, liver disease, to name a few. If you are offering predominately seed, it is a poor diet for parrots being high in fat and low in other nutrients. Bird pellets are healthier but table food is acceptable. Having a consultation with an avian veterinarian can help guide you with nutritional questions but also diagnosing the feather condition. Good luck.