Urgent Female Eclectus plucking/bald spot on chest???

[Barnaby Rose]

Guys I am VERY worried.

Emma was going through what I THOUGHT was a pretty heavy 'molt'... her feathers around her collar, her sides and around her neck and etc were looking a little dark and ruffled and thin in places, but nothing I was too extremely concerned with.. and then this morning we noticed that she has a pretty significant almost completely bald (or BALDING spot, on her chest, not huge but definitely big enough to cause concern... and I am very very worried.

Some answers to some questions I know are coming:

There are no significant or excess feathers ANYWHERE I can see on her cage, stand, floor or etc. Nothing more than usual.

We have not changed her diet, schedule, social life, stress level or anything else.

She is otherwise acting totally normal, not screeching or calling, eating and drinking as usual, and not exhibiting any other unusual or different behavior.

I can try and provide pictures as reference, please help me - I am not a super experienced bird parent, but I love my girl very very much and will do whatever I need to to ensure her health. I would have taken her in already, but wanted to give it 24 hours (and get some opinions from you guys), before I make the call.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Macawnutz]

Yes, your bird is feather chewing.

You need to make an appointment with your avian vet for a checkup. They will do a cbc, chem panel, fecal gram stain and if nothing is seen maybe xray's. They may also go over your diet with a fine tooth comb as ekkies have a very complicated diet.

Have you changed anything? Food or environment? Give your vet anything that could help.

 

[sunnysmom]

Yes, a vet check. Also, my understanding is ekkies diets are rather complicated too. I hope she's okay.

 

[tracey&chyna]

I just wanted to say that I hope your vet can figure out whats wrong and that your sweet girl is okay.

 

[Hankmacaw]

I hope that your vet can determine what is causing her to pluck. Many times it is a sign of displaced pain or pain from a health condition. Be sure you get xrays so your vet can see what's going on inside. Also a CBC and Chem Panel and choanal and cloacal swabs are called for. This will be expensive, but the sooner you can find a cause the sooner you can stop this plucking in it's tracks.

 

[Barnaby Rose]

I called my vet today, and three others locally just to inquire about timing, I sent them all the pictures that I posted here - and every single one told me that my situation didn' qualify as an "emergency", so the best I could do was get in there on the 27th.

I have it booked and am watching VERY closely for any signs of getting worse, weird behavior or lack of eating (which there isn't any as of now), but will of course rush her in the 24 hour emergency vet in the city if I need to.

I am so worried about my girl, she is acting completely normal and cuddly as ever, if it weren't for the lack of feathers I would never even have known anything was wrong - I am just hoping with everything I have it is no big deal, OR she just stops by herself.

Money is no issue I will pay for all of the tests and blood work and whatever they want to do, I would rather be safe than sorry. Do you guys think that the feathers will grow back ever? Assuming that we do figure the problem out in the first place obviously.

Thank you guys for the input, very helpful as always.

B

 

[Hankmacaw]

The feathers will grow back. It takes some pretty serious plucking over a long period for a bird to damage their feather folicles. There is no bleeding associating with her plucking - is there?

 

[Barnaby Rose]

The feathers will grow back. It takes some pretty serious plucking over a long period for a bird to damage their feather folicles. There is no bleeding associating with her plucking - is there?

No there is no bleeding, no signs of intense plucking either, just literally that bald spot.

 

[Shinobi]

could be a Mojo moult.

 

[rocky'smom]

Vet visit with no doubt, you may be given a collar to heed her plucking.

 

[Barnaby Rose]

could be a Mojo moult.

What is a Mojo moult?

 

[Shinobi]

There was a male Eclectus parrot who suffered a moult that was so extreme he was bald in places.

Vet's couldn't understand why it was happening. The male Eclectus parrot's name was Mojo.

I understand that both males and females can suffer this. But it effects the males more then the females.

Don't know why.

 

[WendyN]

Lots of extra TLC for Emma.
Hope the vet can help her.