New green cheek conure: Are dark feather tips normal or serious?

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.

Bird droppings normally contain some green as well as white and some liquid. If you feed mainly seeds, the droppings will be mostly green. A pelleted diet will make droppings darker. Some feather loss is normal as she matures. Her first molt may be around 8 months of age. Symptoms of illness that warrant an exam with your veterinarian include lethargy, decreased appetite, loose droppings, perched with feathers fluffed, vomiting or excessive regurgitation.

Stress and diet can both contribute to feather health and coloring. As long as your bird is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or excessive feather loss (not due to molting). These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

Thanks for reaching out about Rico and including photos. This is probably the result of new flight feathers having grown in after a molt. Monitor the color of the feathers as they can dull due to dietary deficiencies (not enough vegetables or protein) or excessive petting. When petting the birds, the oils come off the hand and can make the feathers dark. This is not a health concern, but occasional showers can help. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Kody and including photos. Dietary deficiencies (vitamin A, pigments, essential amino acids), some viral diseases, lack of bathing, can all lead to possible color changes. A review and change of the diet to include avian pellets, a wide variety of vegetables and a protein source (beans, legumes, tofu) could help. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about sunny. Some birds do go through some feather color changes, especially as they mature. Are the green patches feathers or skin? If the skin in changing color, that is more worrisome. Bruising in birds is greenish. If the problems persist or advance, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Feather changes can be for a number of reasons including normal molting, aging to adulthood, parasites, skin issues and nutrient problems. If Rangu is acting ill at all (not eating or drinking, sleeping a lot, losing feathers, etc) scheduling a vet checkup to look for any potential issues is best.