My lovebird has feather loss and scratches. Is it molting or mites?

Feather loss can be from any number of things, so finding the underlying cause is best. Molting is a normal loss of feathers that occurs 1-2 times a year and all the old feathers are replaced with new ones. You will see "pin" feathers appearing on the skin (look like needles or pins) to indicate this is a molt and new feathers are growing in. Making sure Mithu is on a balanced diet can help ensure he grows in new feathers. Skin issues such as parasites, infections, nutritional issues, etc can also cause feathers to fall out. Treating any visible wounds, making sure Mithu is on a balanced diet, and using a mite spray to treat any external parasites can help. Illness can sometimes cause feathers to fall out either due to a lack of nutrition or from the illness itself. If you can't find an immediate problem, having a vet examine Mithu is best to rule out any illness. Boredom and stress can also cause feather plucking, which may make it look like the feathers are falling out. Making sure your bird is kept in a quiet, stress-free area away from noisy pets and people, and providing lots of enrichment such as toys to play with and chew on, fun treats, and time spend together can help. In some cases, an Elizabethan (e-collar) may be needed to break the behavior if it has become a habit.

Thanks for reaching out about Brooksie. Molting usually occurs in spring but abnormal molts due to stress, dietary deficiencies and metabolic disorders are possible. Birds tend to scratch and groom themselves a lot, but usually not to the loss of feathers. Mites are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Giardia is not common. There are some viral diseases that are possible that can manifest as feather weakness/loss. If continues a veterinary visit is recommended. A review of the diet can be helpful as parakeets need much more than just seed, including a wide variety of vegetables and a plant protein source. 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!

Scratching can be for a very large number of reasons including normal molting (which will result in the loss of feathers, which you may be seeing, and the growing in of new ones, or pin-looking feathers poking out of the skin), mites or other parasites on the skin, allergies, nutritional issues, infections, and more. Taking a look under the feathers for any signs of pin feathers can let you know if this is a normal molt. Some whitish debris is normal (bird dander) however if you are seeing lots of flecks of "stuff", redness, visible parasites, etc, then it can indicate mites or lice which should be treated with a spray. If you are seeing visible wounds, redness, injuries, etc, it could indicate a wound, infection, or allergy which should be examined by and treated by a vet in your area. Allergies may also be treatable by ensuring the cage and environment around Sugar are kept clean and dust-free. Nutritional issues and illness may also cause scratching, however you may see other problems such as changes in weight, eating or drinking habits, stool, behavior, etc in addition to scratching. If you suspect this may be the case, having a vet take a look is best.

Without seeing any photos it is hard to tell what is going on. Molting can happen as a natural part of replacing the feathers, and isn't really age related more so than environment/nature related. It is also possible that there are still mites present even with the protector, or that there is another issue such as an allergy, nutrition issues, or irritation around the eyes causing her to scratch and pull out the feathers there. Examining the skin for any signs of injury, small wounds, redness, irritation, etc can help you determine if this might be the case. Boredom can also sometimes cause behaviorally based scratching or feather plucking, however this usually occurs in areas birds can more easily reach such as the chest or back- that said, if you have another bird housed with Silver Angel, it could be the other bird is overgrooming her and causing the feather loss.

He may have mites or other infection (bacterial, fungal, etc.). Budgies do molt, however this does not look like a typical molt. You would need to have Koya physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to definitively diagnose mites or other infection. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use plain paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily. There are over the counter products that can be used to treat mites, but if he doesn't have mites, they won't help. It is always best to get a firm diagnosis if possible. It will make treatment easier for you and Koya.

Thanks for reaching out about Sparky. Could he being going through his first molt and the white flecks are keratin from the new feathers? Continue to provide good nutrition as protein, vitamins and other nutrients are essential for health, growth and a good immune system. Seeds are not a complete diet and an avian pellet plus some table foods are recommended. A veterinary visit is recommended for an initial exam and consultation for diet/husbandry. Good luck.