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Is Casper still molting or are they just always dusty and feathery? She has been losing feathers since the day we got her in October. Not alot, but just continuous. Every time she cleans and grooms, she will shake and it looks like it is snowing!!! How long does a molt last anyway? Or like I said, is this just something they always do?

Seems to be a fairly continuous process in my tiel flock, although sometimes some birds will have an especially "hard" molt that seems to have a somewhat discernable start and stop point. But only somewhat for some birds sometimes I don't notice these as much with my tiels as with some of my larger parrots. But quakers seem a lot like tiels, often a mass of pins all the time.

In the wild, even as close to the equator as most of our birds' close relatives live, there are some seasonal changes that tell them it's a good time to shake some old feathers loose and grow some new ones. In our homes, the temperature is controlled, and most of us like it in a very narrow range of 68-78 degrees year-round. This unchanging temperature leaves our birds doing their thing -- be it molting or wanting to reproduce -- year-round.

Paca

Get used to the dust, it's pretty much a continual thing. Sherwin went through a pretty hard molt a few months ago but loses feathers here and there on a continual basis. He preens and preens, fluffs himself and out comes all of the dust.

Baths will help with the dust. The "winter" molt seems to be the hardest on the birds for some reason. I sympathise with you though. I have three cockatiels and an Indian Ringneck that are all molting!

I am amazed at how much mess she produces! Casper is constantly preening too. Then she fluffs and it all flies!

She still hates baths. I just have to keep up with it. Don't know if she will ever LIKE them, but I have to be the boss! Me, the boss? Is that hilarous, or what????

I'm really amazed at how many of the little white "micro-feathers" I see floating around, especially in the sunlight. Seems the slightest movement will cauuse those type to become airborne. Missy is molting pretty heavily now, as is Pixie, and Ginger. It's a constant struggle to keep the mess under control, but as Christie says, frequent baths do help. Right now, our humidity levels are very low, and that doen't help matters either. I don't see too much actual "dust" from the feathers, but I know it's there. You can feel the coating on Smokey -- he feels kind of waxy of sorts, and I know he's extremely hard to get wet. Water just rolls off his feathers like it's supposed to.

I wish bath time was more easy for me. I am having trouble with Casper. After reading all your posts, I TRIED to give her a spray bath again last night. She hates it. She tries to run away!!!! I would love for her to lift her wings so I could spritz under there, but she won't.

Any suggestions, just be persistant? Should I put her in the sink? In the tub and spray? Anyone have a kid that hates baths? Is it actually ok to get them soaked?

Sam, you mentioned humidity...Hmmm, I live in Vegas, not much humidity any time of the year. I guess I just have to get used to it "snowing" year round!!!

Lisa,

I don't remember how old you said Casper was, but Chibi hated baths when he was about 8 weeks old, and to some degree, still does. I have gone to the extreme a couple of times and took them into the shower with me. Got them soaking wet too.... Gizmo likes to get in the kitchen sink with about 2" of water in it. He doesn't always splash and get fully wet, but most times, he'll just sit on my hand and get his belly feathers and a little bit of his head wet. I think persistance is the key. At some point, Casper should start liking water. It's natural for birds to want to bathe, but some might not start out well. Maybe try holding your hand in some water, or let her hear running water in the sink, and then let her sit on your hand and experiment. About the only thing you want to avoid is getting water in their ears, as that could lead to an ear infection, but other than that, it shouldn't hurt to get them pretty well soaked now and then.

Yeah, I know about the humidity in the west. Wintertime is always tough here, and we get as dry if not more than ya'll do. I've got a humidifier, but am somewhat reluctant to use it due to the possibility of introducing some type of airborne bacteria from the water. We have at times, just boiled water on the stove to help when the humidity gets really low to add a little moisture to the air.

Casper is about 8 months.
I will try the kitchen sink. I thought about it last night, but wanted to check with you guys first. Maybe she would rather do it herself than have me spray her.

Lisa,

I get the water just a little warm, or slightly cooler than I shower at, then just let a slow stream run in the sink. Maybe the sound of water running, and her seeing the water will trigger the desire to get in. If she doesn't like warm water, maybe try it a bit cooler. Just have to experiment.

Kura hates baths most of the time. I mist him with a spray bottle periodically, and usually he runs or flies away, but every once in a while, he will fluff up and then start all the silly bath things they do. Very cute! I wish he was willing to bathe more often, but I will take what I can get. He is 2 years old.

Kathy