upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hey Everyone,

Thank you so much for being here I love this board and support system Great job to those who "created it" and especially those who utilize this forum!

I have a baby lovebird who is only a year old and he is for sure molting, however, he is losing hair around his eyes and I wanted to know if this is NORMAL? He is not plucking his feathers and I took him to the pet store I bought him at and they checked for mites and noticed nothing out of the norm. They advised me he looked healthy and it looks like he is just having his first molting.

He is eating fine and is very content, however, he is scratching his head and around his eyes. He loves it when you rub his head. After looking at numerous websites this all seems part of the molting process. I was just concerned regarding the feather loss around both of his eyes. I have noticed little white specs like he is having re-growth yet he is bald around both eyes and I wanted to ask other lovebird owners if this was par for the course?

Keep in mind, I have noticed feather loss/around certain spots of his body, however, I only was able to realize this when he is wet. I noticed tiny areas around his legs and a little bare spot on his back but I do see re-growth yet there is definite spots with no hair. I am wondering if I should wait another few weeks or take him immediately to the vet? He seems so happy and normal yet I wanted to make sure there were no unseen parasites.

Also do you suggest taking him to the vet when first purchased? Even if he is healthy? I am mainly concerned with his eyes wondering if all lovebirds molt in this
fashion?

Thanks for all your support and I will be sure to pass this website on to any bird owners This is fabulous and helps ease any future concerns I might have
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hagen
ps. Is there any websites available with pictures of lovebirds molting? I tried to do a search and found nothing...HELP Thanks a million blessings galore, Mrs. Hagen & Sherbert

Birds do have natural bare spots, but it helps to realize what is and is not normal. Rubbing their head against objects may be normal, but excessive rubbing where-in they loose feathers is not normal. If it's not a behavioral thing it could be medical, in which case an avian vet visit would be suggested. It could simply be that he's really itchy but birds do not normally rub their feathers off. I have seen it, due to behavior, and a change of cage helped.

A bird going through a molt looks like any other bird, however, they will have pin feathers around their body, may be missing a few tail and flight feathers, but will have blood feathers growing in place.

Thank you for your response. I am going to take him to the vet for an over all check up just to ensure he is molting only. I am glad I actually made sense I couldn't sleep last night and found myself on the internet so I am glad I made sense that early in the morning

Again, I sure appreciate your reply! I haven't noticed unusual head scratching and where the hair is missing around his eyes its not red or inflamed. I wish they had a website of birds with pictures of molting. I have no problem taking him to the vet its just hard money wise and I would hate to spend the money when its not needed but then again I would rather have a healthy child (I love my bird so much I treat him as a kid) and the ONLY reason I have hesitated on taking him to the Vet is that he is so happy and there are no MAJOR signs of him being in discomfort. Ummm sure do wish I was a vet (haha)

Is there a best place to find a Avian vet? A place where I can punch in my city and state? I like to ask just incase there is a better resource I have heard nightmare stories of terrible Avian Vets so I would prefer a list of well known Avian Vets. If anyone is from California and lives near San Jose, Santa Cruz I would love a good recommendation!

Also I will be taking a picture and down loading it here so others can see for future molting or if any other bird owner runs across this problem. I hope its simple to attach a photo...I will soon find out. I am so excited about this forum and especially excited others adore lovebirds as much as I do

Thanks a million,
Mrs. Hagen & Sherbert

I would be interested in seeing photos. As for the bird I mentioned, here's a couple closeups of his face

This first photo, no problems (other than his beak injury)


Second photo, feathers in front of his eyes were rubbed away via putting beak between cage bars which rubbed up against each side of his face... resulting in feather loss


As mentioned, a change of cage and his face is back to normal....



Other than behaviors that can easily be explained, it's not normal for birds to loose excessive amounts of feathers, especially via rubbing their heads. It's just not normal for a bird to scratch an area so much there's feather loss.



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