What Your Parrot's Feathers Can Tell You | All About Molting in Birds

[@BirdTricks]

birdtricksstore.com/products/featherapy-bundles

[@angelscinta7971]

My friend Rosa has a 6 year old Blue throated macaw named Pocco the tips of his end features of his wings are always black even after a molt they come back teal and black as well as yellow and black should we be concerned? His vet says he is healthy and happy as can be is she right?

[@BirdNerdSophie]

My three rescued green cheeked conures came to use with horrendous feather conditions due to all seed diets. Now they are on a super healthy diet and regularly bathe, and you can really see the difference in their feathers. They are so shiny and iridescent! 😍

[@BirdTricks]

😍👏

[@lrlasvegas6427]

I wish you guys would have shown visual examples of each topic you covered. Thanks for all the great content!

[@BirdTricks]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@Tbland72]

@LR Lasvegas If I could figure out how to add a picture I would post one of my U2's stress bars. 😢

[@spiritmatter1553]

@@Tbland72 Take a video and post it on KZbin?

[@ArtWars314]

@@BirdTricks I agree with this 100%. I am and have been a fan of this channel♥☻☺, but I was very disappointed because it was the essential subject at hand, but no visual samples were CLEARLY given, only a few frames here and there. Seeing your faces talking was hardly helpful. A voiceover with video and pictures of the abnormal feathers would have been best with a closeup high-resolution photograph side-by-side comparison of an abnormal feather to a healthy one would have been super appreciated.👍👍. I've googled image search now for exactly what " stress bars" & " bronzing" looked like and have found only a few amateur owner images on Reddit. Being professional bird trainers it would have been nice to see professional quality footage or images to identify exactly "stress bars" & etc. Regardless thank you for addressing the issues, there's little to no information 🤔😧on the net available that covers the topic.😀😇 Hope this feedback helps improve your channel content in the future.🐦🐦🐦🐦

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Thanks for always returning to the basics. Everything ties together, but if you are paying attention to the basics the rest of your relationship with the bird goes so much easier.

[@dreamagination-infinite]

Thank you so much for this video! Usually, to get this amazing collection of detailed information, you have to go through several books and websites. But this video has it all, everything we need to know about the feathers of our beloved winged family members in ONE place! 🌟

[@julieprior3126]

Aloe is such a magic plant for humans and animals alike. Super soothing and anti inflammatory.

[@shridhartargaryen]

Hello! Love you both!!! Thank you for teaching me all i need to know about birds, yall truly are the best birdtubers in KZbin!

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

Wonderful information. If, I ever decide to add a bird to my life, I now have fabulous information to keep my bird healthy.

[@Cuckoorex]

A few years ago, I came home from work to find that my Jenday (Sunnybird) had this weird bald spot right on the top of his head; I started freaking out and looking up all of the possible causes and was getting ready to call a vet. Sunnybird didn't show any abnormal behavior or distress, just this weird bald spot... Then I looked over at him in his cage, rubbing his head on one of the natural branches in his cage... the branch had gotten flipped or rotated a bit in the cage and there was a little sharp nub where a smaller branch had broken off, and that's what he was rubbing his head on! I removed the branch and within a short time noticed new pin feathers poking through, so that was a scare but a relief, and maybe another thing to look out for if there is unusual feather loss or damage, maybe the bird is actively seeking out a sharper corner of something to get a better scratch, but it's also rubbing the feathers right out too.

[@BirdTricks]

Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@idie4dyes]

Channel has grown so much in the last year good job guys!

[@barbarastone604]

Nice video. I would have loved to see visual examples of the problem feathers. I suppose you seldom see most of those, though. :D

[@rachelsvideochannel]

New subsciber😉 New parakeet mom too! 🥰🕊️🕊️

[@tmoku808]

Thank you for sharing these important topics 🦜

[@_Ocean_Soul_]

There is one other reason for oily/sticky feathers: smoking. My GCC who I rescued from a hoarder had dark tips but also oily and sticky feathers because of the nicotine from constant indoor smoking. After I put her on a good diet in a good environment with lots of baths and showers she got back to a good health.

[@spiritmatter1553]

Poor thing, thanks for rescuing her!

[@_Ocean_Soul_]

@@spiritmatter1553 thank you! It's just so great to see her blossom. And I think it's because of the situation she was in, but she really likes it when I clean the house. It's cute but also sad that she had to go through that.

[@beth8095]

YES absolutely nailed it!

[@Eki2456]

Y’all convinced me on the aloe here. I recently got a Senegal parrot who was on an all seed diet so a previous owner could save money, knowing it was bad. I’m owner 3 in the last 5-6 years. Diet change has really improved plumage, but I only get a bowl bath out of her a few days a week, so hoping to add spray baths on days when she isn’t into bowl bathing.

[@TropicalAviaryBirds]

Good video - thanks 👏😉

[@jephybean]

This video is so informative.

[@mehere8038]

ah, so it's sunlight that gives feathers that perk. My lorikeets, since I've had them have become somehow brighter in colour/more attractive. It's really noticeable to me, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was or why, just that they looked really good. A neighbour's visitors commented too when I had them outside "wow, they're beautiful birds". This is in Australia where there's plenty around & they just don't stand out like this normally. I have a UV light on the cage that I run all day everyday, so I guess that's why. I thought it might have been, but also thought it could be diet, so seems like it's the UV light. Now if only I could get one of them to stop plucking! & it's 80% humidity here right now & she's still doing it & she does it more after a bath when she's wet too, so I don't think it's a dry environment thing, don't think I can rule out dry skin as contributing though

[@yaqoobdanyal3907]

Beautiful information

[@nyking9876]

Great video❤

[@donnahall140]

Thanks!

[@mcdart2606]

Super informative video! Thank you! Would love to have seen some examples of the issues you discussed. (What are night frights?!)

[@BirdTricks]

birdtricksstore.com/blogs/parrot-care-blog/night-frights?_pos=1&_sid=2da7c03ce&_ss=r

[@aresthesunconure2135]

We love you guys!

[@abhinavboodhoo5293]

hey birdtricks which of your pellets are best for budgies

[@learnmoreaboutparrots3432]

Nice information

[@allencoke1127]

My Quaker loves taking her bath weekly. She lets me know when she is ready for her bath 🛁. Daily she joins me in my shower. My question is, why does she love to drink warm/hot water? Does this help with the food in her croup? We love watching your videos. Thank you!!

[@mehere8038]

how does she react to it? Birds feed each other as part of their mating ritual & that food is warm cause it's been inside the crop of the other, so your bird might see you as providing that food as part of your mating ritual with her

[@angelscinta7971]

Is it possible and natural for the feathers to have the black tips? Or is it always do to stress bars?

[@jorikmaes5120]

Can you plan a moment before they need a lot of calcium to give them a low calcium diet to up-regulate the calcium receptors, if so, when is this moment?

[@snakebbite]

i've been religiously watching all your content for the past year, and it's been so cool to see the "quality" growth of your content, but it really hit me with this video! WELL DONE!! i know i've seen jamie and dave next to each other before, but now i'm dying to know what each of your heights are. the height difference in this video looks like so much hahaha love all the womachs always!! thank you for the content!!!

[@cristopherbrizuela2411]

This video answered so many questions I had thank u so much, there is only one question that I have and I can’t find the answer. I have a harlequin macaw that is 4 years old and when I got him I didn’t realize that on his tail he’s got a tail feather up side down , he already have new tail feathers but that tail feather Kees growing up side Down. Idk what to do 😢

[@marioangelramirez2532]

Great video

[@loisadam8451]

My green wing had to have her preening gland removed. Can you give me some advice on what I can do to help her. Her name is Sassy. She chews the core of her feathers when they come out and she plucks her smaller feathers. She also has severe arthritis in her left ankle and toes.

[@loganheargreavs5715]

Milk thistle brillant for repairing liver and substane liver detox .

[@calypsiomoonlight9455]

What if the parrot feathers are a yellow tint at the base? What could be the issue then?

[@sofianobre9752]

is there any way to speed up feather changing?

[@BirdTricks]

There is not a way to speed it up, but a good diet, sunshine and regular bathing will support a natural cycle of molting. ❤️

[@angelscinta7971]

@@BirdTricks kobe is a big time molter his owners save his feathers for his vet trips and then after they make them into things.

[@せいちゃん-x6i]

U guys r so cute ❤️

[@kurtlawrence4879]

Is it normal that during molting my bird have a bit of trouble flying?

[@PercTrippin]

My green cheek conure is around 7-8 months and was clipped when I got him (keeping them when they grow back). Two days ago a tail feather came out and was wondering if he’s beginning to molt or if he pulled it. Around what age do they molt for the first time.

[@wildog47]

Mine was clipped whne I got him. His tail feathers always change first. Tbe flight feathers were tbe LAST. And right on his head. It wasnt til awhile that he could fly.

[@Tbland72]

Question about aloe plants. I have a HUGE aloe plant that I have been trying to keep my U2 from nibbling on. Getting harder because the aloe is so big lol. Can I actually give tiny pieces of the aloe to my birds? Will it hurt them at all? Thank you so much for this video!! My U2 is molting now a little heavier than usual and I've noticed stress bars 😢. I'm thinking it's from being stuck in a tiny room for almost 3yrs and a roommate that, well, wasn't nice...Thoughts? Was finally able to move the birds back out to the living room when said roomate moved out in October and they're SO much happier!!

[@Tbland72]

@blue jay I know that. I know aloe isn't toxic depending on the type of aloe and I don't have any plants that would be toxic to any of my animals. I just wanna know if it would be OK to allow my U2 to nibble on my aloe and maybe actually give some to my YNA.

[@lenagoodwin8223]

You can eat aloe but do some research. You need to wash it and leach out the toxic latex before it is safe to consume it or put on an animal that may consume it. Then you can even make your own aloe water

[@mehere8038]

@@Tbland72 yes it's safe & many sites recommend it for liver damage. My birds HATE the stuff though, tried it first time, yhen NEVER again!

[@Tbland72]

@@mehere8038 thank you!! This aloe plant is SO huge I'm running out of ways to be able to keep it away from my U2 🤣😂

[@mehere8038]

​@@Tbland72 lol well the gel might do the job for you, that's what happened with mine, they just hated that sticky gel in their beaks & if yours actually likes it, well I guess you might have found a way to keep it's size down, with the onsite pruner :) The recommended dose for liver damage is pretty low, one leaf from my small plant was enough to last 2 lorikeets about 3 months at the recommended dose (hidden in their other food), but presumably your bird won't eat more than is good for it, even if it likes the aloe. That's how it normally seems to work anyway. I'd just try it to begin with & then go from there, cause quite possible there's not going to be anything to even think about & your U2 might just outright hate the texture & never touch the plant

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

Can also have a history of your molts to ask your vet about how they look and keep a history of how your parrot is doing.

[@tonyamack7372]

Do you ship to Canada??

[@BirdTricks]

We do! 😀 birdtricksstore.com/

[@Allen-by6ci]

What is that attached to the feather at 7:05?

[@christianlingelbach5327]

thats for the GPS they use I think

[@BirdTricks]

That is a mount for a GPS unit. Once a feather molts we put in a new mount on a different feather.

[@angelscinta7971]

Its a GPS tail mount it's to help locate your bird if a fly off or a free flight goes wrong happens.

[@janiehall6095]

Hello I didn't see the link for the spray bundle how do I get it

[@eclipsestar5]

This link should take you straight to the bundle (aloe and spray bottle) on the Bird Tricks website: birdtricksstore.com/products/featherapy-bundles

[@BirdTricks]

@@eclipsestar5 Thank you! ❤️

[@eclipsestar5]

@@BirdTricks You are welcome! 🤍

[@madeleine363]

Does anyone else watch these but doesn’t have a bird and is not planning on getting one?? 🙋‍♀️😆 Just me? ... oh okay 😅

[@spiritmatter1553]

No, me too. I’ll never be able to have a bird. I’m fascinated anyway!

[@beckiechild9874]

Raises hand!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Me too!

[@madeleine363]

Yeah I could never commit to taking care of a bird long term. I’ll just get my dose of birdy love from BirdTricks videos

[@animallover5626]

Me basically lol. I do plan on eventually getting birds but that’s a retirement dream and not something I have plans for anywhere in my near future.

[@swanheart710]

My friend has a green cheeked conure who's not quite 3 years old. Her last molt, she changed color from wild type coloration to turquoise! What might cause that?

[@rebekahschmidt5449]

I have 4 parakeets. One is a male pied lutino and he has black on the tips of his feathers. I think he should be fine because i've had him for about 4 months and it's always been like that and he is a pied. I'm also breeding 2 of my parakeets and if there is anything I can do to help them please let me know. This is my first time breeding any type of bird so if anyone has any advice, I would be very grateful. She has feathers in the nest box and i'm not sure if shes molting or if all female bird molt some feathers just because they are breeding. Also, she's a first time mom and she's laid 5 eggs so far and I think there will be a 6th. I wanted her to stop at 5 eggs because i dont want her to abandon any eggs or chicks beause I dont have the time to take care of any. I want her to have 3-5 chicks because I think that's a good number for a first time mom. Anyways, If anyone has any advice or knows how to stop her from laying more eggs, it would be very appreciated. Thank you!

[@mansishah6579]

My Mili had a night fright on New Years, and she ejected all her flight feathers in her left wing out of fear. I also noticed less than a drop of clotted blood on my Snow, so I’m guessing that all three of my budgies had a night fright and got scared of each other and bit each other in the middle of the night. My Mili can’t fly anymore until her feathers grow back and she’s lost so much confidence.

[@BirdTricks]

Having 3 budgies living together can be a part of the problem as well. There is a very good chance that 2 of the budgies are ganging up on the third. I would recommend separating them into their own sleeper cages.

[@mansishah6579]

@@BirdTricks I have tried separating them before, but they got depressed. I can’t even separate them for a few minutes, they start calling each other and doing flips on the side of the cage in attempt to get out. They lose trust in me if I separate them, and they get mad at me. They start running away from my hand and biting my hand. But once they’re back together, they go back to normal and step up and give kisses. I don’t think splitting them up is an option, especially since they’ve always been together, even in their previous home when they lived in a tiny travel cage. They usually don’t hurt each other, but if it’s dark and they’re scared, they can’t see who’s there, so their natural instinct is to bite in response to the fear. I think we just need to find a way to prevent the night frights.

[@wildog47]

@@mansishah6579 she said separate them for sleeping. Into sleeper cages. So if they do freak they can't hurt each other

[@SunRise-lr7ch]

Hun My rescue cockatoo eill forever choose the First week of November to pluck himself bald No matter what I spray, feed, light , sing or . Pray. 22 years.

[@SunRise-lr7ch]

He's not dead yet..and I'm just gonna accept that ..hes weird.

[@mehere8038]

@@SunRise-lr7ch curious, is that northern or southern hemisphere? I'm still trying to figure out why my little girl plucks - other than stress from where she used to live messing her up. Mine's quite bad right now, but southern hemisphere, so might be total opposite to your situation

[@abbyw9396]

My yuuki has night terrors once in a while , thats why his cage is within reach of my bed

[@kristycrump1592]

Regarding birds moulting each year , are some years more intense then others? I hope this question makes sense?

[@clionakelly8741]

Hi! I’m really new here and I love your videos! You may have covered this before But I’m just really overwhelmed Still doing good it’s just in my own head But there is time to make progress with my sweetheart? I can some day have him rolling in my hand even though he once didn’t even perch on your hand and he now will stay on mine for a while. I’ve had him just over a week. I just don’t want to make any mistakes and him have any grudges :(

[@moofie8273]

Love the video But i have a question Is black pepper safe for birds ? I have searched it on the internet but i didnt find anything about it

[@moofie8273]

@blue jay i know But there is NO information on black pepper And i was wondering if i chould give my bird some :)

[@simplesimp9664]

Likely not.

[@leroyremco7897]

So i have small macaws (ara nobilis) it is a breeding pair when i got them they where in a horrible state and where i bought them was realy not a healty infiroment they where plucked i did not see any red shoulders or a little blue on the head now the male is almost fully feathert the female still has not all the belly and neck feathers they are not tame that is somthing i am working on step by step what i did is also changed the dieet got barleduc water and feed them macaw food with fruit and vegtibels and a stick what is suposed to help with feather grow and strength they never seen daylight so i have a special vitamin D3 Light (3 hours a day) on them and give them D3 with calcium for the rest they get 5 hours normal lightning and they are going outside in march/april in there own avery 1 meter wide 2 meter high and 2 long they are getting a bigger avery in june then it is 4 meters long and if it goes well they are in it with 2 of my own sun concures

[@ManikAdventures]

This is Gona be useful

[@mohamedrizad7165]

We got an alexandrines parrot on a rescue with horribly clipped!.. He so much better now physically also mentally he turned to more better now!.. But still his clipped feathers nor regrow! Is 7 month gone!im so much worried about it! please help me us guys what i do for these feathers fast grow?

[@BirdTricks]

You can not speed up the molting process, all you can do is offer a great diet, regular bathing and sunshine to support the natural process of molting and eventual feather growth that will result.

[@Tbland72]

It took my U2 a little over a year to get all of his flight feathers molted after I brought him home. Be patient. It will happen ❤

[@wildog47]

@@Tbland72 yeah I was surprised it took FOREVER for my GCC feathers to all come in and him to fly

[@mehere8038]

worst is when they grow back, but the bird manages to snap them again before they've grown in enough to support him/her in flying :( I had that with one lorikeet wildlife rescue bird. We (as in vet) looked at potentially "pulling" the feathers to speed up the process to get new ones, but being the flight feathers on the end of the wing, the vet decided against it & I ended up "soft releasing" as he was, with ropes & wires set up around my yard so he could get around tree to tree & I got another bird with similar to buddy him with & the pair of them just lived as natural a life as they could, while getting food from me for the next 2-3 years until the issue finally got sorted & they were able to fly away together. Be patient, it can take a long time, especially if the feathers get damaged again during re-grow. Do try to stop that happening if you can!

[@mohamedrizad7165]

@@mehere8038 Thank u so much!

[@mansiparmar2111]

First ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sugaranimates2207]

:)

[@Fahadbinayyaf]

w script

[@taylorstiff4442]

could yall tell me what yall feed your birds?

[@nirvanamadpaul]

I'm really sorry as spelling and T9 may be an issue. I'm the biggest odd ball you may chat to..and would love to have my daughter zoom call for lessons etc. In short (without the 10year plan) I've just bought a blue and gold Macaw. 1 yo..f.. (9m or 1yo+9 months) I got to stop a family with kids buying her because my blood boiled twice in only a few minutes.......her view and comments to her husband "that would nice in the corner"... OVER MY DEAD BODY! I've worked with corvids (love the intelligence) and peregrine falcons (dogs English pointers, spaniels, king Charles and my daughters sheep dog. (2 weeks for the 18+6mo spaniels (yes doggy see, doggy do even at 6 months old Lmao) Currently have 1 rook in long term rehab (leg issue) and 2 pigeons which I'm 99.9% sure have eaten rat poison.(parent and kid) My aims are, buy, train, free fly (and yes id rather buy and donate to a zoo than see it caged for its entire life...... but this training is different. My daughter may take on as intended but ..... she's looking up to me for the first year or more. My question.. ....bear in mind, I have a following of wild birds...crows rooks, jackdaws, robin's and the occasional Jay (I live next to nests of those now forced to roost about 8 miles away at the communal roost.) (The area went eco, got rid of wooden roof faces for plastic..... and super eco by getting rid of trees..... lmaoroflmao.... End result... I'm not looking to move to where split and her parents are nesting (long term friend who has helped get young jackdaws in the air again and again while being the local nest guard for 3+ years) And yes, when we haven't seen each other for a while I get the chatter like never before

[@nirvanamadpaul]

Spelling edit.... ..I'm now looking to move to where split and parents nest ....

[@nirvanamadpaul]

The question Lmao... What age range do you start lessons... daughter is 12.

[@hlubideetz7614]

My budgie wants to bathe but everytime I introduce him to the saucer he doesn't want to go down. If I spray him with the spray bottle, He goes CRAZY with the responses. Eh. Maybe my bird is the crazy one.

[@BirdTricks]

Each bird is an individual, just go with what your budgie prefers. 🥰

[@blin2602]

You both look like little kids reciting in front of a class. Please don't look like you're reading a teleprompter .. kind of silly.

[@lduff6944]

It doesn't matters how great info is given, and their info is the greatest that you can get. Love ya BIRD TRICKS

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I think this is a variation of one of many lessons we’ve all had. Presenting the same information in different ways is more impactful. I found this playful and informative. I wish there were more visual examples but overall this was very informative and very well done. A little silliness just kept things moving along❤️

[@simplesimp9664]

That’s a really wholesome image u have woah. I never see any kids at my school “reciting” in front of a class .-.

[@Tbland72]

Well, I think it was a great!! Very informative video. Thank you @BirdTricks 😊. Life's too short to not be silly 😜 🤪 😉