My female finch is losing feathers and has bare skin. What's wrong?

Thanks for reaching out about Blink and including photos. Feather picking can be due to external parasites (mites, lice), bacterial or viral dermatitis, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), endocrine problems and stress. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Ensure that heat support is provided due to the loss of feathers and ability to regulate the body temperature. Good luck.

Hello! There are several issues that might be going on with your bird. Mites are a common cause of feather loss on the face. There are certain bacterial and fungal infections that can cause this as well. I noticed that your parakeet also has a cagemate - is it possible that the other bird is over-preening this bird? The only way to determine the cause of the issue is to visit your veterinarian - preferably, a vet that is comfortable treating birds, or a bird-specific vet. The vet will likely take feather and skin samples from your bird and look at them under the microscope to try to determine the cause. There isn't much that you can safely do at home to treat mites, bacteria, or fungi, so visiting your vet is the best way to get your bird the treatment he needs. Best of luck!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you describe are consistent with over grooming, likely from the other bird. This may be due to boredom or overly dominant nature of the cage mate. You can try to provide additional toys and perches in the cage, keep the light cycle in the room stable, and provide a nesting box. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Thanks for reaching out about Bangaram and including a photo. Psittacine Feather Destructive Behavior is common in parrots, but the difficulty is acquiring a cause. Stress/behavior is common a nd can consist of breeding, nutritional or environmental stressors. Diseases can also lead to pulling feathers including infectious diseases (viral, bacterial), metabolic disorders (liver, renal), skin diseases and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and try to determine a cause. Diet and husbandry practices need to be reviewed with a veterinarian experienced with birds. Some diagnostic tests will probably be recommended and necessary to come to a conclusion. There is no topical medication that is going to cure or even stabilize this condition. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Meemee. This is probably not due to the season or coldness. Molting is usually spring. Concerns would be external parasites (feather mites?), aggression by another finch,or other problems. Monitor appetite. If condition worsens, an avian veterinary visit is needed to diagnose and prescribe a treatment protocol. Good luck.

It could be a molt, stress, malnutrition or infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites). Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine what the underlying cause may be. Ideally, she should be seen by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Feed a well balanced diet and provide fresh water at all times. A bath or misting with warm water may promote preening and healthy plumage. Provide a variety of toys, attention and playtime to keep her engaged and active.

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Feather mites are a possibility, especially is you observe heavy scratching on the back of the neck. Mites are usually contagious, so either a new bird or a new bird added. If the feather loss or itching continues, a veterinarian visit should be scheduled. Good luck.