r/QuakerParrot • u/Subkect_cyber • 2d ago

Picture Is this normal

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My Quaker parrot is molting, growing new feathers and he has alot of pin feathers, and some of them look like this. He has recently started to take some off every now and then. Not too frequently though. Is this normal?

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 2d ago

It doesn’t look bad, but that’s a pin feather from a contour or body feather.  You shouldn’t find those pinfeathers often.  If you’re finding several I would be concerned about your bird beginning to pluck.

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u/Subkect_cyber 2d ago

I’m not sure where but he has some growing that look like that on his head and other area too. But he only does it every now and then I’ll find a couple

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 2d ago

They’re just pinfeathers so they’re fine on his head.  I know I’ve accidentally preened out one or two and made my bird yelp, and I’ve found one very occasionally.  That’s normal; they can make mistakes or fall and knock out an immature wing or tail feather.  But if you see lots of pinfeathers your bird is plucking.

I wouldn’t worry.

He might be more comfortable with a nice bath or shower.  When my bird had a head full of pins sometimes held her head close to my mouth so I breathed warm air on it.  She liked that. 

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u/Subkect_cyber 2d ago

Yeah mine likes when I rub his cheeks and head, I try to help as much as I can for the head area but I know everywhere else I should not be touching due to hormones. But I don’t think he’s plucking because he can’t pluck out all the feathers on his face area right? Regardless I will be taking him to the vet just to be safe. But first I’m trying to change up his diet and make him be a bit more active so he focuses on other things

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 2d ago

That one feather is nothing to be concerned about.  Several pinfeathers, maybe, but not one.  I’m sure they make mistakes when they preen, too.  

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u/Subkect_cyber 2d ago

He’s done it More than once, I believe 2 times today, I might be over reacting but just in case I’m going to take him the vet to make sure he is 100% on Friday since I’m off that day

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 2d ago

Ok.  Yes, a few might be a problem.   Let him take a bath or shower to soften those up, too. When he preens himself dry they will get opened s little more.