My parrot walks funny, sheds feathers, and has dandruff. What's wrong?

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 your parakeet and including photos. Was he ever tested for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) and Avipolyoma virus? Nutrition deficiencies, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), hypothyroidism and other endocrine problems, all must be considered. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Review and discuss diet with the veterinarian during the visit. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about The Little, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful! The fraying at the edges of the feathers can be due to him overgrooming, but it may also be due to the feathers being on the body too long (basically a molting interval that is too long). When that happens, the feather can lose some of its strength and can be damaged more easily. These conditions are often a result of stress or nutrition. In budgies, the most common nutritional deficiency that results in this is a lack of vitamin A, which is typically found with seed diets. Ideally, budgies would eat a combination of at least 50% pellets, and the remaining 50% can be made of produce and a small amount of seeds. Vitamin A deficiency can also result in the skin being dry and flaky, and it can also look irritated or red. This may be contributing to the changes that you are seeing on the face and feet as well. Alternatively, there are some parasites that affect feathers and skin, however if this is the case you have caught it early. I would recommend considering a diet change if applicable, and a wellness evaluation for The Little with your veterinarian to get a thorough physical examination performed. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

Poor Quiz. Nutritional deficiencies can cause issues with the feathers and beak, so if he's also having trouble eating, a vet visit wouldn't hurt to rule out any deficiencies or other issues that could be causing his problems. Making sure he's on a balanced diet can also help ensure he gets enough nutrition. Other snacks such as salad greens, apple slices, strawberries etc, are also easier for a budgie to eat and break down and can provide additional nutrition.

Thanks for your question, and thanks for the photos - they are very helpful. From the photos, it looks like the feathers on the back and around the crop/underside of your bird are not present. The black spots you are seeing appear to be areas of blood, and this may be where feathers were removed. Usually the body feathers come in before some of the major wing feathers, so I would be worried that your bird is destroying the feathers itself. This can be due to a number of medical issues, and also behavioral ones. With a bird that is so young, I would be suspicious of a nutritional deficiency leading to feather destruction. From the photos, the feathers that are present look ragged and dull in color. If you are not feeding a pelleted diet, I would recommend switching to one. I would also recommend that your bird be evaluated by a veterinarian. They’ll be able to provide husbandry recommendations, and may be able to find what the underlying issue is through this and a physical exam. They may also recommend some diagnostic testing. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope your bird feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about your parakeet and including photos. The feet deformities are likely developmental problems but could also have an underlying viral etiology. Same for the feather loss. A veterinary visit could help with some diagnostics but keep this bird separated from other, if viral could be contagious. Good luck.