My ringneck parrot is plucking feathers and won't eat. Is he sick?

Poor Guava! A good first step is a visit to your local vet to make sure there isn't an underlying issue such as nutritional deficiency, illness, infections, parasites, etc that are causing him to pluck feathers or preventing them from growing back in. Getting any health issues treated can help. Secondly, if he checks out otherwise healthy, feather plucking can become a behavioral obsession in birds, especially those that are stressed or underenriched. Making sure Guava has enough fun activities to do such as toys to play with, puzzles filled with treats, time spent together, etc can help enrich and prevent feather plucking. Making sure he's kept in an area that isn't too stressful can also help. You can also make an Elizabethan (cone) collar or place a "flight-suit" onto him to help obstruct his ability to feather-pluck and break the habit while allowing the feathers to grow back in.

Unfortunately, loss of appetite and lethargy are both very vague, general signs of illness. Issues such as infections, parasites, illness, nutritional issues, etc can all be potential causes. It would be best to keep Kiwi in a warm hospital cage with easy access to food and water to help him remain comfortable, and to schedule a vet visit in person if his symptoms continue so that the causes can be narrowed down and treated.

Hi! Tiki is adorable! Congratulations on your new pet. Birds are often fluffed when they don’t feel well but they can also be fluffed if they’re cold or tired. If he’s eating and acting fine, evaluate the temperature in the room and presence of any drafts. If he is quieter, or has any change in appetite, defecation or activity, see a veterinarian without delay as birds can become seriously ill quickly. Regardless, I would recommend taki Tiki to a veterinarian for a new pet exam. This will establish a relationship with a local vet, create a baseline of health data for Tiki, and give you the opportunity to ask any ther questions you may have about Tiki and his care. Good luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Rupu and including photos. Feather picking can be caused by behavioral problems and medical conditions. Medical conditions range from metabolic (liver, kidney), dermatitis (bacterial, fungal, viral), parasitic (mites), dietary deficiencies, and other systemic illnesses. Feather picking due to stress, breeding behavior, and others are also common. A veterinary visit is needed to assist with diagnosis and treatment plans. Dietary review is important. Keep separated from other birds in case infectious and contagious. Good luck.

This is a quite generic but concerning sign. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example or fever - which is typical with ''fluffy coat'') like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence lasts for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

If you just bought the birds yesterday they may still be a little stressed causing some fearful behavior and a reduction in appetite. Making sure their cage is in a calm, quiet place, is free from drafts or extreme temperatures and the food offered is appropriate for their needs is a good first step. If your bird continues to not eat, remains listless or has worsening symptoms, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Cheeku. If she is not eating, she needs to see a veterinarian. Crop/esophageal infections or obstruction (ingested foreign material) can cause serious problems. Maintaining proper husbandry (i.e. environmental temperature) is important for sick birds, to conserve their own energy to fight illness. Veterinarians attempt to place ill birds in incubators fo 80-85 degrees, 24/7. Attempt to syringe water, as dehydrate is a more immediate concern than starvation. Good luck.