I have a 2 yr old male cockatiel. He is well fed, watered daily, and has a large cage that he shares with one other cockatiel. He started losing feathers about a month or so ago, fairly slowly, but lately it seems to have gotten worse. He has lost most of the top feathers on his chest and a few on the top of his head, including a few crest feathers. Is this what molting is, or something else natural? Any information would be appreciated. Please don't leave a common sense answer like, " take him to the vet". I just don't want to go to the vet if it is a natural process or an easy fix problem. These are the first birds I've ever had, please help!

Birds are not cats or dogs, and should not be treated except by vets who express either special interest or training in avian medicine. That said, are you certain the vet treating your cockatiel has enough experience in bird medicine? Birds, and other more exotic pets (reptiles, etc.) are beyond the interest of more than a few vets (mostly from lack of personal experience with them) but are becoming more of a factor in their practices, especially in areas with a lack of choice in local vets. As a consequence, they are being pushed into trying to provide some service to the community, with limitations of course. This may be at the base of your problem, and maybe not, but I mention it anyway.

Thank you for your comment, but my vet office has an exotic vet special for birds, reptiles, etc. I took my bird to see her this afternoon and she confirmed that he was molting, and that he is actually only a little older than 1. (I had been told that he was a year older than that.) Again, thank you very much for that answer because if my vet hadn't already had a special vet for exotics I would not have known that all vets aren't able to treat a bird. :)

Thanks for the reply, and that's great news about your bird (and vet!). I was wondering about a molt, but I sort of fall into that group of vets I mentioned.

Then let me say to you, thank you so much, on behalf of all animal lovers everywhere! My pets mean the world to me and I don't know where I'd be without my vet! I'm sure that your clients are very grateful to you, even if birds aren't your area of expertise. It's a bonus to your character that you are actually using your free time to help others who are asking pet questions over the internet, bless you! :)

I think it is molting but take him to a vet just to be on the safe side.

I think it is molting but take him to a vet just to be on the safe side.


You did read what the Vet posted before you answered, right?