Feather Loss
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FEATHER LOSS: CAUSE AND TREATMENT
Association of Avian Veterinarians
Normal Feather Loss and Replacement (Moult)
The most common moult pattern is a full moult, including wing and tail feathers,
once a year (usually just prior to the breeding season), and a partial moult, also once a
year. This ensures that birds do not lose so many feathers at one time that they are
rendered unable to fly. Losing large numbers of feathers, revealing bare skin patches, is
considered abnormal loss and should be investigated.
Identifying Causes of Feather Loss
There are several causes of feather loss in birds – the first step toward treatment is
to determine the cause. Obvious physical clues give us a direction to pursue, not a
diagnosis. Birds have a limited number of signs to tell us they are sick; these few signs
represent a myriad of illnesses. Feather picking or feather loss is only one sign. It is up to
the avian veterinarian, with diagnostic tools, and the bird owner, with information on
environment and history, to put together these clues to find a cause and/or remedy.
Viral Disease
Polyomavirus and psittacine beak and feather disease are serious diseases that may
result in feather loss. Your veterinarian can perform the appropriate tests to determine if
the causative agent is viral. Research is ongoing in this field. Check with your avian
veterinarian about vaccinations to prevent viral diseases affecting feather growth or loss in
birds. Prevention is important, as once a bird contracts one of these viruses and feather
damage becomes evident, the disease is almost always fatal.
Parasites
Knemidokoptes (scaly-face, scaly-leg) is a skin parasite often seen in pet birds.
Budgerigars and canaries are most often affected. It is first noticed as a thickening of the
tissues of the cere and/or legs. Even though the signs are visually apparent, the organism
should be confirmed by microscopic examination before treatment is initiated. Remedies
found in pet stores can, in some cases, create additional feather problems and often take
long periods of time to effect a cure. Appropriate prescription drugs work rapidly and
effectively.
Red mites, feather mites, or lice are also external parasites that infest birds, causing
skin irritation.
Feather problems are rarely the result of parasites but, if parasites are suspected, a
veterinarian should confirm the diagnosis and can recommend treatment.
Giardia, a protozoan parasite, has been implicated in some cases of self-mutilation.
This intestinal parasite can be identified by microscopic examination of fresh droppings,
requiring that the sample be collected at the veterinarian’s office.
Bacterial-Fungal Disease
Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas are bacteria that may cause skin irritation resulting
in feather loss due to self-mutilation. Your veterinarian can do a skin culture to identify
these organisms.
Aspergillus or Candidiasis are fungal diseases that may cause skin irritation, and
require a dermatological workup including skin scraping or culture for identification.
Nutritional Causes
Dietary deficiencies can contribute to skin/feather disorders. Vitamin A deficiency
has been implicated in nutritionally related feather disorders, and an extreme lack of
nutritional protein may affect normal moult. Your avian veterinarian can advise you on
modification or supplementation of your bird’s diet to prevent or correct these potential
problems.
Behavioral Causes
Self-mutilation (feather plucking or skin tearing) can have primary or secondary
behavioral causes. Birds in the wild would have a mate or flock with which to interact. In
captivity, human counterparts rarely fill the vacancy. Dominance factors, breeding
frustration, boredom, territoriality, mate-bonding, and nesting drives, all triggered by
hormonal development, are rarely satisfied in a captive environment. The perception of
threat from other household pets may initiate stress if the bird is continually harassed. All
of these factors can result in frustration-grooming, which often becomes obsessive, turning
into a vice, causing self-mutilation and feather damage or removal. Your avian veterinarian
may make recommendations on environmental changes or hormonal therapy. (Our
brochure “Enhancing Your Bird’s Life” which is available from your veterinarian, provides
valuable information on preventing boredom.)
Attack by Cagemates
If a cagemate is suspected to be the cause of feather loss, the victim-bird should be
separated for a minimum of six weeks (to allow the feathers to regrow) to make this
determination. If only a part of the feather has been removed, it may not regrow until the
next natural moult. If cagemate trauma is the cause, permanent separation may be the
cure.
Other Possible Causes
External causes of skin irritation could be cage trauma, insect bites or stings, topical
application of inappropriate ointments, or improper wing trim (permitting cut feather ends
to touch the skin). Outside factors such as chronic exposure to inhaled irritants (cleaning
products, tobacco smoke, or toxic substrates) can also result in feather picking. Pet (cat,
dog, rodent) attack may also result in feather loss.
Chronic diseases (liver, kidney, GI, respiratory, or atherosclerosis), can manifest
themselves as both stress-related feather disorders or as self-mutilation. Feather cysts,
tumors and injury are also possible stress-related causes for feather loss.
Dirty-Face Syndrome
If a bird suddenly seems to have a dirty face or broken or missing feathers around
the beak and eyes, check to see if it can easily reach food or water and that the dishes are
full. Birds trying to reach food remains dropped out of reach below cage floors develop
dirty faces or broken face feathers from trying to push their heads through soiled wire. If
empty food containers do not appear to be a problem, the dirty face may be caused by
regurgitation and your veterinarian should be consulted.
Prevention
Protection from airborne toxins or irritants, aggressive cagemates, or other
household pets is essential to the life and health of the pet bird. An annual checkup may
be the most effective way to protect your bird’s health. Birds tend to mask discomfort or
illness, making it difficult to determine their general well-being. A thorough health check
may reveal internal disease, external parasites, or systemic diseases that can be identified
and treated by your avian veterinarian before feather signs manifest themselves.
AVOID
* Sandpaper perches
* Air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, insecticides, and toxic fumes from overheated
non-stick cooking utensils
* Mite boxes or mite sprays
* Easily dismantled toys such as balsa wood, small link chain items, toys with metal clips
or skewers, toys with lead weights
* Access to toxic house plants, ceiling fans, leaded glass (or any lead), cats, dogs, or
young children
* Access to cage substrate
Services for Aviculturists
The Aviculture Committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians has been
established to help educate both veterinarians and aviculturists so that their level of
knowledge and expertise in this field can constantly improve. An aviculture seminar may be
offered in conjunction with the AAV Annual Conference and Expo. Write the Central Office
for information on any upcoming aviculture programs.
AAV offers bird clubs a monthly news bulletin for reprint in their newsletters. Clubs
may contact the Publications Office for information on joining this program.
An official publication of the Association of Avian Veterinarians © 1998
For reprints of this brochure, contact:
AAV Publications Office
P.O. Box 210732
Bedford, TX 76095
Phone: 817-428-7900
Fax: 817-485-4800
For subscription information to the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, write:
AAV Central Office
P.O. Box 811720
Boca Raton, FL 33481-1720
USA
Website: www.aav.org/aav
Association of Avian Veterinarians
Normal Feather Loss and Replacement (Moult)
The most common moult pattern is a full moult, including wing and tail feathers,
once a year (usually just prior to the breeding season), and a partial moult, also once a
year. This ensures that birds do not lose so many feathers at one time that they are
rendered unable to fly. Losing large numbers of feathers, revealing bare skin patches, is
considered abnormal loss and should be investigated.
Identifying Causes of Feather Loss
There are several causes of feather loss in birds – the first step toward treatment is
to determine the cause. Obvious physical clues give us a direction to pursue, not a
diagnosis. Birds have a limited number of signs to tell us they are sick; these few signs
represent a myriad of illnesses. Feather picking or feather loss is only one sign. It is up to
the avian veterinarian, with diagnostic tools, and the bird owner, with information on
environment and history, to put together these clues to find a cause and/or remedy.
Viral Disease
Polyomavirus and psittacine beak and feather disease are serious diseases that may
result in feather loss. Your veterinarian can perform the appropriate tests to determine if
the causative agent is viral. Research is ongoing in this field. Check with your avian
veterinarian about vaccinations to prevent viral diseases affecting feather growth or loss in
birds. Prevention is important, as once a bird contracts one of these viruses and feather
damage becomes evident, the disease is almost always fatal.
Parasites
Knemidokoptes (scaly-face, scaly-leg) is a skin parasite often seen in pet birds.
Budgerigars and canaries are most often affected. It is first noticed as a thickening of the
tissues of the cere and/or legs. Even though the signs are visually apparent, the organism
should be confirmed by microscopic examination before treatment is initiated. Remedies
found in pet stores can, in some cases, create additional feather problems and often take
long periods of time to effect a cure. Appropriate prescription drugs work rapidly and
effectively.
Red mites, feather mites, or lice are also external parasites that infest birds, causing
skin irritation.
Feather problems are rarely the result of parasites but, if parasites are suspected, a
veterinarian should confirm the diagnosis and can recommend treatment.
Giardia, a protozoan parasite, has been implicated in some cases of self-mutilation.
This intestinal parasite can be identified by microscopic examination of fresh droppings,
requiring that the sample be collected at the veterinarian’s office.
Bacterial-Fungal Disease
Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas are bacteria that may cause skin irritation resulting
in feather loss due to self-mutilation. Your veterinarian can do a skin culture to identify
these organisms.
Aspergillus or Candidiasis are fungal diseases that may cause skin irritation, and
require a dermatological workup including skin scraping or culture for identification.
Nutritional Causes
Dietary deficiencies can contribute to skin/feather disorders. Vitamin A deficiency
has been implicated in nutritionally related feather disorders, and an extreme lack of
nutritional protein may affect normal moult. Your avian veterinarian can advise you on
modification or supplementation of your bird’s diet to prevent or correct these potential
problems.
Behavioral Causes
Self-mutilation (feather plucking or skin tearing) can have primary or secondary
behavioral causes. Birds in the wild would have a mate or flock with which to interact. In
captivity, human counterparts rarely fill the vacancy. Dominance factors, breeding
frustration, boredom, territoriality, mate-bonding, and nesting drives, all triggered by
hormonal development, are rarely satisfied in a captive environment. The perception of
threat from other household pets may initiate stress if the bird is continually harassed. All
of these factors can result in frustration-grooming, which often becomes obsessive, turning
into a vice, causing self-mutilation and feather damage or removal. Your avian veterinarian
may make recommendations on environmental changes or hormonal therapy. (Our
brochure “Enhancing Your Bird’s Life” which is available from your veterinarian, provides
valuable information on preventing boredom.)
Attack by Cagemates
If a cagemate is suspected to be the cause of feather loss, the victim-bird should be
separated for a minimum of six weeks (to allow the feathers to regrow) to make this
determination. If only a part of the feather has been removed, it may not regrow until the
next natural moult. If cagemate trauma is the cause, permanent separation may be the
cure.
Other Possible Causes
External causes of skin irritation could be cage trauma, insect bites or stings, topical
application of inappropriate ointments, or improper wing trim (permitting cut feather ends
to touch the skin). Outside factors such as chronic exposure to inhaled irritants (cleaning
products, tobacco smoke, or toxic substrates) can also result in feather picking. Pet (cat,
dog, rodent) attack may also result in feather loss.
Chronic diseases (liver, kidney, GI, respiratory, or atherosclerosis), can manifest
themselves as both stress-related feather disorders or as self-mutilation. Feather cysts,
tumors and injury are also possible stress-related causes for feather loss.
Dirty-Face Syndrome
If a bird suddenly seems to have a dirty face or broken or missing feathers around
the beak and eyes, check to see if it can easily reach food or water and that the dishes are
full. Birds trying to reach food remains dropped out of reach below cage floors develop
dirty faces or broken face feathers from trying to push their heads through soiled wire. If
empty food containers do not appear to be a problem, the dirty face may be caused by
regurgitation and your veterinarian should be consulted.
Prevention
Protection from airborne toxins or irritants, aggressive cagemates, or other
household pets is essential to the life and health of the pet bird. An annual checkup may
be the most effective way to protect your bird’s health. Birds tend to mask discomfort or
illness, making it difficult to determine their general well-being. A thorough health check
may reveal internal disease, external parasites, or systemic diseases that can be identified
and treated by your avian veterinarian before feather signs manifest themselves.
AVOID
* Sandpaper perches
* Air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, insecticides, and toxic fumes from overheated
non-stick cooking utensils
* Mite boxes or mite sprays
* Easily dismantled toys such as balsa wood, small link chain items, toys with metal clips
or skewers, toys with lead weights
* Access to toxic house plants, ceiling fans, leaded glass (or any lead), cats, dogs, or
young children
* Access to cage substrate
Services for Aviculturists
The Aviculture Committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians has been
established to help educate both veterinarians and aviculturists so that their level of
knowledge and expertise in this field can constantly improve. An aviculture seminar may be
offered in conjunction with the AAV Annual Conference and Expo. Write the Central Office
for information on any upcoming aviculture programs.
AAV offers bird clubs a monthly news bulletin for reprint in their newsletters. Clubs
may contact the Publications Office for information on joining this program.
An official publication of the Association of Avian Veterinarians © 1998
For reprints of this brochure, contact:
AAV Publications Office
P.O. Box 210732
Bedford, TX 76095
Phone: 817-428-7900
Fax: 817-485-4800
For subscription information to the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, write:
AAV Central Office
P.O. Box 811720
Boca Raton, FL 33481-1720
USA
Website: www.aav.org/aav