What feathers can I use for African Grey parrot DNA disease testing?

This problem is quite rare indeed. There are two different causes. Genetic: there could be a genetic base for it, so no need to be worried about it as it is completely normal. Such birds are often referred to as " Kings "or "King Greys". This type of Greys are quite rare indeed. Feather disease: it could be indication of damaged feather follicles and medication ( antibiotics at the time a bird is molting) can sometimes re-establish normal color. The third cause could be general sickness, malnutrition or over-supplementation, or liver disease or kidney problems. As you can see there are many different causes possible. So the approach should start from a physical examination at your local vet and feather testing to determine any abnormality. 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 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 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.

Hi there. Some pain with large feather shed is normal-however if you see any blood, etc she may have a broken shaft if may be causing more pain. If she has not shed it by tomorrow and you are not familiar with helping her remove them-I would call your vet and take her in for an evaluation of the feather. Glad she has you to take care of her!

I would recomend a vet visit as it is not normal molting for feathers to fall out without new feathers coming in to replace them. This could be caused by viruses, nutrition deficit or metabolic disease. The vet may recomend some bloodwork after performing a full exam and history. Once the cause is determined the approriate treatment can be started. Good luck with Misty!

I think you should get him tested for PBFD as this is one of the main symptoms of the disease, i doubt the baby wipes have caused that although i would not recommend using them on him. it could also be a case of external parasites such as mites, but in most cases it is actually due to boredom (behavioral plucking).

That bird does look a little stressed out, but it is also very young looking and as if it doesn't have all its feathers yet. If the baby is acting ill, is always sleepy or listless instead of interested, or isn't eating and drinking, I would be concerned. The baby is also very young looking, and may require additional care and hand-feeding still as it grows. If you are not 100% on getting the bird, or you are concerned with its health and well-being, it is always best to bring this up with the store/seller and ask for any medical or health records. It is always best to get any new pets from a reputable breeder that is willing to share all documentation on the per's care.