My parakeet is picking feathers & scratching. Is it molting or mites?

If your bird is otherwise acting normally and healthy, it is possible it may be a molt, especially if you are seeing feathers coming back in already. Other possible causes to look for are plucking, as you suggested, as well as parasites such as mites/lice. Making sure your bird is in an area that is low stress (aka, he has a chance to relax quietly when he needs to) can help as well as looking for/treating any possible mites. If the bald patch increases, the feathers don't regrow, or you see other issues, then having a vet take a look is best.

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.

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.

You can mist him with warm water to encourage preening. This will promote healthy plunage. If he continues to itch, it may due to mites or infection. These would require an exam with your veterinarian for confirmation. Mites can be treated with an over the counter spray. Read labels v\carefully to confirm the chosen product can be used on birds. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Change the cage paper daily. If an infection (bacterial or fungal) is diagnosed, your vet can prescribe the appropriate medication.

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.

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.

Poor little guy! He very possibly has scaly mites. Ideally he should be seen by an avian veterinarian, but there is an over-the-counter product called Avimec that is a drop-on remedy for scaly mites. These mites only live on the body, so you don't have to treat the cage as well, but it would be a good idea to take it apart anyway and give it a good deep cleaning just to be safe. Plenty of soap and hot water and thorough rinsing will work. Good luck with him.