Help! My old bird is molting badly, shaking, and quivering. What to do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Summer could be sick. It is unfortunately not possible to know the extent of this just based on a description and an examination would be quite helpful here to determine this better. I would recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian who can perform an examination and gather more information to start determining what may be wrong with her so that therapy can be started to help her. Best of luck!

If you are sure she is not actually pulling them out then here are some reasons why the feathers could just be falling out. 1. Dermatitis: skin infections a. bacterial, fungal or viral b. chemical (e.g., nicotine absorbed from the caretaker's fingers) c. allergic (unproven at this time). 2. Folliculitis: inflammation of the feather follicles 3. Malnutrition: nutritional imbalances are a common cause of illness in our pet birds. Seeds should compose less than 20% of the diet. A balanced pelleted diet like the Harrison's you are feeding should be fed as well. Hard boiled egg yolk, pancakes and cornbread, the tops of fresh greens, dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, fresh fruits such as apples, pears, melon, kiwi, and berries, vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, beets, asparagus, cabbage, sweet potato, and squash, and even tiny pieces of meat should be offered. 4. Environmental conditions: extremes of humidity, aerosol contamination and cigarette smoke. 5. Underlying medical problem: liver pathology, osteomyelitis (bone infection), pancreatic disease, renal disease, neoplasia (cancer), underlying abscesses 6. Reproductive activity/inactivity 7. Parasites: mites and lice 8. Stress I strongly recommend you get her to an avian veterinarian for an exam and some testing. At her age I would be worried about an underlying health issue (#5 above). You vet will need a thorough history which should focus heavily on the bird's interaction with its environment and the people and other animals around it. My guess is that some diagnostics will be needed in the form of blood and urine tests and whole body X-rays. Skin biopsy may also be recommended. Be sure to use a vet that is well-versed in treating birds. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly and including a photo. Shaking and twitching is not normal and should be investigated by a veterinarian, and the sooner the better. Decreased appetite and shaking are not normal signs. Ingestion of toxic foreign bodies or other toxins, liver or kidney disease, calcium deficiencies, neurologic problems, are all possibilities. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Good luck.

Nutritional deficiency, liver or kidney disease, intestinal parasites or bacterial, viral or fungal infection are all possibilities. An exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian is strongly recommended to diagnose the exact illness or injury. The vet can administer supportive care if indicated. Offer a commercial pelleted diet moistened with warm water or a hand feeding formula to stimulate his appetite and get some nutrition into him. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the veterinarian.

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 Zulekha. A veterinary visit is recommended as a disease called Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease is a good possibility. This viral disease is potentially contagious to other birds and there is no treatment. A diagnosis needs to be made. Other concerns are liver, renal, polyoma virus, just to list a few. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Coco. These clinical signs are not normal and a veterinary visit is recommended. Review diet and husbandry to correct any deficiencies, as low calcium, protein and some vitamins can cause weakness. Infections or metabolic disorders should also be on the differential list. A veterinarian can assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.