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Our two tiels that we just got last week as give-aways (male and female 2-year olds) came with bald spots immediately behind their crests. Any suggestions what might have caused this? The previous owner said they "picked at each other," but we haven't seen it since they've been here. They seem healthy enough, despite coming from a smoker's home and needing to "air out" for a few days to get rid of the smell! Their feathers also seemed to have an almost "oily" appearance that is slowly disappearing (maybe nicotine coating?).

Any suggestions on the bald spots? Hubby says to ask where we can find tiel toupes!

My first thought is that both are carrying the lutino gene, as some lutinos are bald, and can pass on the baldness to their kids... many are now trying to breed out the bald patch, or rather lack of feathers, since lutinos are also said to have thinner feathers than others...

Second, it could very well be plucking.... I've got one bald cockatiel... and he looks kinda funky! His mate is no longer picking him (don't know when she stopped but she had had already stopped when they came here) but he's healed over long ago!


Just click on the image to enlarge...

I have two hens who've long been plucked on the backs of their heads by mates who want babies lots more than I do. Some feel such pairs should be separated, but I disagree. Lovers should never be separated unless they harm each other. If their plucking were to become mutilation, I would separate them, but that just doesn't happen with tiels.

That's the first time I've heard of any lutino gene relating to baldness, but I'm still learning. I suspect that's the case, because they are male and female. I really don't see any sort of picking problem, and it's not just the female who's getting picked on by ardent male. Both have nice high crests too, and you don't even notice the bald spots at first (they don't look scruffy or anything). I'll have to look into the lutino thing more.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

If their plucking were to become mutilation, I would separate them, but that just doesn't happen with tiels.

I wish that was so... sadly any bird can pluck or even mutilate.... sounds stranges in finches... Kiwi has mutilated her left wing so bad she hardly grows any flight feathers now... and if she does, she might pluck them out... being that she's not tame it's hard to keep an eye on her too to see if she continues to do this or not...

Just take a closer look (click) of this image for proof...


Darylann, can you get pics of the cockatiels heads? Clear close ups if possible?

I really don't believe that kind of severe damage is behavioral, MFids. I'm very sorry your little finch is in such trouble. I've lost a larger bird that way The histopath report finally identified a probable cause for the longterm plucking, heart disease that none of the many tests I had done had any way of picking up. There are so many illnesses avian testing can't detect. I hope you're able to find the cause ... and treat and cure your little one.

Paca

Didn't word my last post well enough! I was saying how it may be strange for tiels to mutilate, it sounds even stranger for finches.... However, Kiwi is a cockatiel (with a picture of her wing). I may see if I can get another image of it soon, to actually see for myself how her wing looks (since I haven't checked in months) and to see if she has stopped or???

In her previous home, she lived in a ferret cage with her family which was 18" x 18" x 46"... it's no longer in use now but here's an image of it! Oh and btw, it IS a California Cage....


In short, the cage was just WAY too small for 2 tiels, let alone 4... and on top of that, they were probably fed an inadequate diet, and the owners parents (especially father) were heavy chain smokers. The original owner was just a tad younger than me... and he used to really care for them and look after them.... but then he got into middle school and highschool.... and discovered sports and girls... and they were moved to this smaller cage.... and forgotten... and smoked around. On top of that, either the mother or daughter (I suspect mother) was laying eggs constantly, but they'd always crack. I haven't had her tested out, and I've had her for over a year now. She seems to be doing a LOT better, and most surprisingly she's been keeping her tail feathers!

She's not the first though... When I was 13, I was given a cherry headed conure who bit, screamed, and mutilated... at the time I didn't know of any vets, so couldn't even ask one for information... she's not the same bird now, but a lot of her issues deal with the fact that she was attacked by a ferret...



And to be honest though, I don't think Noel would have turned around so, without the help of Casey!




Sorry though to hear that you lost a larger bird to an issue you couldn't figure out! That must have been terrible!

MFids wrote:Darylann, can you get pics of the cockatiels heads? Clear close ups if possible?

OK, let me see if I can do this right (not the best of pics, but best I could do on such short notice!)...


It actually looks like maybe Toby's bald spot (first pic) is filling in. It's hard to get a good look, as they don't like to turn their backs to me! Sara's spot is the greyish patch in the pic, quite visible.

Those look like perfectly normal genetic "bald" spots to me, no plucking involved and nothing to worry about. I wouldn't give them another thought. Your birds are beautiful despite those little places, so lavish love on them and count your blessings. They seem to be the luckiest birds in the world for having found their way to you

Paca

Looking at them, that's not normal... the bald spot is on the very top of the head, and cannot be seen when the crest is down... no, these two were plucked by another bird! Atleast though damage is little, even better if the spots are filling in!

ParrontPlus, I like your answer best! But thanks for your opinion, too, Mfids. I appreciate the input from both of you.

The birds haven't been housed with any other birds for two years, and I never see them picking at each other. So it can't have been inflicted by another bird. Neither bald patch is sore-looking or scabby or anything, so I guess for now I'll wait and see what happens.

If MFids is right, and she well might be, it's possible a mate plucked each badly enough to damage the follicles so no regrowth can happen. Either way, it's not a serious problem, not a problem at all, actually. They're beautiful!

Paca

Yes, I think they're beautiful, too! They were giveaways, and I agreed to take them before even seeing them or asking their colors. So when I first saw them, they took my breath away! I was pretty much prepared for a pair of standard grey cockatiels, though I must confess I'd let myself imagine once or twice what a nice surprise it would be if they were something different. I didn't even dare to hope for a lutino, let alone a yellow one (my secret desire!).

they look to me as if it was plucked too, they could have plucked each other due to something they where lacking, and they have stopped because now they have it.

Congrats on your new babies.

Lutino all have a bald spot. Both of my lutinos have a bald spot under their crest. Lately, my randy male has plucked the top of his mate head that she is bald.She has in turn plucked his head but he is not as bad as her. He is demanding. It is terrible to see this now new blad spot on her head. I try to keep them separate because he makes such a nagging pest out of himself.I do not want her head to beome completely bald like I have seen some cockatiels. it is awful.