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Feather issue

Jwise096

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Hey all! I have a one year old Scarlett macaw named tango. I realized today his feathers are a bit messed up. I do know it’s normal when they’re young as they don’t know how to groom themselves correctly yet. But it looks like this & I’m getting worried he might start plucking them out. Please help :(
 

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macawpower58

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That looks like a normally molted feather to me, but I can't see the very end.
Can you take a photo of the tip?
I also don't see any barbering on it.
 

Hahns0hmy

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i was going to say need to show the tip. is it chewed or normally molted out. can tell easy by that if its a pluck.

the root on a normal feather molted is clear usually and hollow to the tip cleanly pulled.

these are examples of normal molt
 

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Jwise096

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i was going to say need to show the tip. is it chewed or normally molted out. can tell easy by that if its a pluck.

the root on a normal feather molted is clear usually and hollow to the tip cleanly pulled.

these are examples of normal molt
They are normally plucked out just missing
i was going to say need to show the tip. is it chewed or normally molted out. can tell easy by that if its a pluck.

the root on a normal feather molted is clear usually and hollow to the tip cleanly pulled.

these are examples of normal molt
They are normally plucked out but it seems like he is pulling out the little hairs on the feather (that is the best way I can describe it) the one on the right looks normal. But the one on the left is missing the left side of little hairs on it? Is that normal. He is only a year old but is pretty rough when he is preening himself
 

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BirdG1rl

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The feathers look okay...but I can't be sure! I'm by no means a macaw expert, so take this with a grain of salt.
 

Shezbug

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Macawnutz

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Is your sweetie flighted?
The feather that has the damage is the first or second primary feather on his wing. You can tell by the shape of the feather that it's an outer wing feather. They are built slim and narrow because it's an impact feather meaning it takes quite a bit of abuse hitting things while flying. I do see where the right side has the barbs missing ( left side if you have the feather upside down like in your picture ). That would not concern me unless I started to see it on all the feathers and that is an unlikely spot to barber. The base while ruffled is normal too. They molt feathers because they get old and worn. An active playful macaw is going to do some abuse to feathers especially at that age.

When my scarlet was that age we used to say he looked like he was run over with a lawnmower twice. ;)

All the feathers you have pictured are normal. I see no evidence of feather destruction behavior, just wear and tear on a young macaw.
The fee for putting your mind at ease is a picture of the whole bird. :D Baby scarlet's are quite cute some of us need our baby picture fix.
 

The_Mayor

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impact feather meaning it takes quite a bit of abuse hitting things while flying.
I was today years old when I learned this was normal.

I thought the fact that my birds sometimes clip things as they're flying around meant they were klutzes.

Adorable, very distinguished looking, flying klutzes.
 

Macawnutz

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OMG Cute Cute baby scarlet head! They are so nerdy looking at that age! Take a thousand pictures of his nerdiness as the grow up and look wise and deceitful!

They are awful to their feathers at that age. That I promise. My scarlet looked pretty good by about 3 years old, my BG was like 4 or 5 before his feathers weren't so worn and tattered.
 
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