Why are my macaw's feathers dark or black on the edges? Is it a health issue?

Thanks for reaching out. Diet can have an affect on pigments of the plumage. An only seed diet lack multiple vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and is a poor diet. A wide variety of vegetables and avian pellets should provide an adequate diet. If continued to be concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a physical examination. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Mango and including a photo. There are a few possible causes for this. Nutritional deficiencies and some viral disease can cause improper pigmentation and a veterinary visit is recommended to assess. But, if you pet him a lot in this region, the oils from our hands can sometimes elicit this change to black but to loss of pigmentation, and this is not a medical concern. 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.

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.

Get her on a balanced diet. Use a commercial pelleted diet such as Harrison's or LaFebers if you can get them. Offer fresh, chopped fruit and vegetables as well. A larger cage will prevent further wing and tail damage. Bathe her in the shower or mist her several times weekly to promote preening and healthy plumage/skin. Sanitize all cage furniture. Discard and replace anything that cannot be sanitized.

Your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian can examine and diagnose mites or infection (bacterial or fungal). Once medical causes have been ruled out, you can focus on behavioral causes such as boredom or anxiety. A warm bath or misting can promote healthy plumage. Rearranging her cage and play top can provide welcome changes. Keep a variety of toys and rotate them to keep her engaged and interested.

Monitor him for excessive preening or feather picking. If you see either. Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Bathe or mist him with warm water to promote preening and healthy plumage. Feed a balanced diet including a commercial pelleted diet, fortified seed mix and fresh fruits, greens and vegetables. You can also feed cooked rice, beans and plain pastas in small amounts.