Why would a parakeet lose it's feathers?

[amdforever2]

See title.

It's lost more than normal, and I don't think they molt, do they?

First time I've seen this happen in 1 year 4 months.

 

[Evadman]

Molting.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
See title.

It's lost more than normal, and I don't think they molt, do they?

First time I've seen this happen in 1 year 4 months.

Normal molting is possible, but if the feather loss is significant then I would see a vet. It could be stress or a disease.

 

[amdforever2]

I've had it 16 months, why would it first molt now?

Could it just be sick? Like a cold?

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Molting.

 

[wnied]

I agree with Iron Woode, could be stress, disease or diet.

Take it to a Vet to be sure.
~wnied~

 

[amdforever2]

What is the molting cycle for a parakeet? Once every 16 months, 2 years, 3 years?

 

[Walleye]

they are very social animals. it may be that it's lonely. maybe it's like with parrots, if they dont have someone with them 24 hours a day they start pulling out their own feathers. i would suggest getting it a friend. another parakeet.

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: Walleye
they are very social animals. it may be that it's lonely. maybe it's like with parrots, if they dont have someone with them 24 hours a day they start pulling out their own feathers. i would suggest getting it a friend. another parakeet.

I had a parakeet for 4 years. It is probably because it is lonely. Do you spend time with your bird? If so, how much? My parakeet was with me all the time. As long as you play with him/her and she is eating right, then everything should be ok. Birds don't get sick very often, so that probably isn't the issue. You can usually tell when a bird is sick. Anyway, if you aren't playing with it much or spending time with it, do so. Otherwise, seeing a vet may not be a bad idea as a precautionary measure. This post makes me want to go out and get another parakeet. I miss the one I had.

 

[amdforever2]

Seriously? It's been this way for a year. Alone. It tore down it's toys. It had a mirror hanging in there from a little chain and it messed with it everyday until it broke.

Should I get it a new mirror? More toys? I don't want more birds. They might fight or something.

 

[Iron Woode]

It does sound like stress, from boredom.

Get it some more toys and fix that chain. Not sure if a mirror is a good idea. A lot of vets discourage it.

Give him/her more attention or buy another bird.

Edit: a new bird should not cause too much trouble. However make sure you know what sex your bird is first. Otherwise you may have a whole new problem on your hands.

 

[amdforever2]

My bird doesn't like me so I don't play with it.

How do I know what sex it is?

What kind of toys if not a mirror? It never used it's swing.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
My bird doesn't like me so I don't play with it.

How do I know what sex it is?

What kind of toys if not a mirror? It never used it's swing.

wow, hope you don't have kids

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
My bird doesn't like me so I don't play with it.

How do I know what sex it is?

What kind of toys if not a mirror? It never used it's swing.

What do you mean it doesn't like you?

Are you its original owner? If so, you should have given it lots of handling when young. This way it would be more tame.

Toys are easy to find at most pet stores. They usually have good staff to help you out.

I know a cockatiel that loves buttons. It just goes nuts when it sees one.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

If its "nose" is blue, then it's a boy. With normal molting, you shouldn't really see any bare patches.

 

[amdforever2]

Well, I see bare patches.

It doesn't like me as in it runs away from my hand and bites me.

 

[Walleye]

well birds do that anyway. think about it this way. that bird can take off your finger. if u have all 10 fingers (hint, check. 2, 10, 11 ), then the bird preobably doesnt hate you. I would really wholeheartedly suggest a companion to the bird. as you dont spend enough time with it.

birds really do develop a personality, you needed to make sure you were with it to help develop it.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
Well, I see bare patches.

It doesn't like me as in it runs away from my hand and bites me.

My girlfriend's bird (cockatiel) tries to bite me. It will not go on my hand. However, it will land on me and see if I have a treat or something. Also if I am giving the bird attention and it is trying to bite me, and then I decide to leave the room the bird starts sqawking loudly. When I come back it quiets down. Strange bird.

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
My bird doesn't like me so I don't play with it. How do I know what sex it is? What kind of toys if not a mirror? It never used it's swing.

That's your problem right there. Did you get it when it was young? If so, you probably didn't raise it right (so to speak). You have to slowly let the bird trust you. I feel that there is a really special way to raise a bird when it is young. If you do it right, they will trust all humans and love playing with you. My bird used to chirp like crazy and jump back and forth between the rails when he would see me in the window approaching my front door. He'd keep jumping back and forth until I came to him and opened up his cage. At that point he would climb down and fly onto my shoulder. It was great. He's stay there too for as long as I wanted him too. We also used to whistle back and forth to each other. I tought him many whistles. It was really cute. Also, if he was out flying about or just hanging out somewhere and I was in my room or any other room, I'd whistle him and he'd come flying in - everytime. What a great bird he was!

I feel bad for your bird. It sounds like you didn't know how to raise it. You probably shouldn't have gotten one. Although, I don't know this for sure. It's just an assumption. It's unfortunate, because parakeets are great pets!

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Birds are only good pets for people that can spend a lot of time with them. Don't even think about getting a large parrot if you don't want to spend the rest of your life (then can live about 75 years) taking care of something that acts like a 2 year old child. You would be amazed at what a cockatoo can tear up. My mom has one, and it chews up anything it can get it's beak on. It really loves to bite the buttons off of remote controls. I've seen it pop the keys off a keyboard like it was eating corn on the cob. I sure hope my mom outlives that bird, because I sure don't want it.

 

[amdforever2]

So what can I do now to make it happy?

I never intended to traumatize the bird. I've had it since it was only a few weeks old.

It can't fly.

 

[tm37]

Parakeets (budgees) are a flock bird. If you only have one bird it needs you to be his flock. Only having one bird makes for a better pet BUT if you don't spend enough time with it stress can cause it to molt. If it is an english budgie then the life span is only 3-5 years due to the inbreading that has gotten the bird to that size.

There is also a deseese called "french Molt" if your bird continues to lose it's feathers it may have this. there is no treatment and sometimes the bird can last 3 years with this condition.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
It can't fly.

teach it to fly....

then it will love you.


what kind of freak parakeet do you have that cant fly.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Night201

Originally posted by: amdforever2
My bird doesn't like me so I don't play with it. How do I know what sex it is? What kind of toys if not a mirror? It never used it's swing.

That's your problem right there. Did you get it when it was young? If so, you probably didn't raise it right (so to speak). You have to slowly let the bird trust you. I feel that there is a really special way to raise a bird when it is young. If you do it right, they will trust all humans and love playing with you. My bird used to chirp like crazy and jump back and forth between the rails when he would see me in the window approaching my front door. He'd keep jumping back and forth until I came to him and opened up his cage. At that point he would climb down and fly onto my shoulder. It was great. He's stay there too for as long as I wanted him too. We also used to whistle back and forth to each other. I tought him many whistles. It was really cute. Also, if he was out flying about or just hanging out somewhere and I was in my room or any other room, I'd whistle him and he'd come flying in - everytime. What a great bird he was!

I feel bad for your bird. It sounds like you didn't know how to raise it. You probably shouldn't have gotten one. Although, I don't know this for sure. It's just an assumption. It's unfortunate, because parakeets are great pets!

You sure make being caged seem pretty fun for all involved parties.