Pictures How bad does a molt have to be to require medical attention?

[Kassiani]

Jelly Bean is going through the hardest molt I have ever seen in any of my birds. I’m just wondering if it can ever require a trip to the vet. He looks worse than he ever has.

One of the bald spots on his head with pins.


Head baldy spots and wing feathers.


Breast feathers looking particularly patchy. He’s napping after a snack.

 

[flyzipper]

Is Jelly Bean on his own or mingled with others?

I only ask because his bald spot on the top of his head reminds me of Oscar's when he first came to me -- it was from one of his previous flock mates being over-aggressive during preening.

 

[Kassiani]

He is with one other budgie, Jujube. They occasionally preen one another, but I’ve never seen this happen with them. It is a possibility, of course. I’ll keep an eye out.

 

[flyzipper]

Thinking about it, this also reminds me of when Jericho got spooked and flew into a window so he lost a clump of feathers above his nares all at once.

Either way, my only experience with a pattern like that is external trauma.

 

[Shannan]

I don't know about budgies but I know that sometimes when my chickens molt, they look half plucked and they always grow in nice and clean with no vet trips. Maybe others will chime in who know better.

 

[Kassiani]

I don't know about budgies but I know that sometimes when my chickens molt, they look half plucked and they always grow in nice and clean with no vet trips. Maybe others will chime in who know better.

Poor Chickies!! Yes, my boys (nearly 6 yo now) usually do look a bit worn when molting. Jelly has just never been this bad. Perhaps this is just how his harder molts will be from now on.

 

[Kassiani]

I have upped their chop and pellets hoping it will help. It’s a bit cool today for a mist, but I’ll put a bath out in a bit.

 

[Sparkles99]

Winston & now Frosting moult like this. It is alarming when you first see it. Winston is like this every moult & at no other time.

 

[Kassiani]

Winston & now Frosting moult like this. It is alarming when you first see it. Winston is like this every moult & at no other time.

Oh I’m sorry they go through molts like this!

 

[Shezbug]

I would definitely involve the vet if the feathers were not growing back but if they’re growing in I don’t believe that you have anything to worry about.

Only once have I seen a bald patch on Burt that I can think of and it was when he’d bashed his head.
Squeak has molted like this a few times now but as I could clearly see the pins I did not panic.

 

[Sparkles99]

Winston gets bald patches every time he moults. Frosting has now started to too, as of his last moult. Winston looks somewhat bald. I'm sorry I don't have pictures, because I think if people didn't know what they were of I'd be accused of animal cruelty. It looks shocking, then the pin feathers show up & he looks like he gels his feathers.

 

[Kassiani]

Thanks so much for the reassurance! It just scared me a bit because he looks so much worse than any before.

 

[Mizzely]

My green cheek, Koopa, used to give herself a bald patch on her head from rubbing her head on a toy in her cage. So I don't think they are outside the realm of normal. For me, if I were to be concerned, I would up the pellet ratio for a bit to give them extra nutrients, and involve a vet if feathers weren't growing in or were coming in strange. Otherwise, think it's probably normal

 

[Olliebirb]

My budgie Winston sometimes gets patches like this when he molts as well
Edit: here’s a picture

 

[Kassiani]

My budgie Winston sometimes gets patches like this when he molts as well
Edit: here’s a picture
View attachment 414378

Jujube looks about like this right now.

 

[Farfah]

I've never had my budgies moult like that but it sounds like it might be common based on these responses. Have you tried feeding him some supplements like eggs or egg food while he's moulting? It seems to help my birds get through moulting a bit better. Also, I let him sleep extra hours too. I figure it's kinda like PMS lol.

 

[Kassiani]

Yes, I've upped the pellets for nutrition, but haven't tried egg food. I have some in the freezer. I'll mix a bit in with this morning's food!

 

[Sparkles99]

My Winston actually looks much worse than Olliebirb's Winston when he's moulting. Frosting is in between. Both are in fine feather now though. I think Jelly Bean just needs some extra TLC.

 

[Kassiani]

Good heavens, Jelly! Well, he is at least growing new feathers!!



Opie is getting bald patches during his molt, too.

 

[Kiwi's Dad]

Thank goodness he’s ok! Opie’s bald spots might be from old age or any of the reasons listed above.