One of our youngsters (fledged 2 months ago) is almost completely bald apart from his flight and tail feathers. Feather loss began on the budgies tummy and then I noticed others picking at its head. We have seperated the little fellow but I think the feather loss is worse. The flight and tail feathers are still all there and appear as if they have grown normally; the budgie can fly normally.

 

Can PBFD progress this fast (1 month) to a bird that was fully feathered to one that is almost bald apart from the flights and tail feathers. I have seen a corella is this exact same condition and have been told it is a chronic plucker. My understanding is that PBFD progesses over many months and years, not a month.

 

We have this little guy well away from the others, feeding a good diet and waiting to see how things progress- is this a reasonable course of action. He looks to be of good weight and looks healthy.

 

Cheers.

Would you mind taking a picture and posting it here please, thank you.

As it is dark, I have added a picture of how it began. It was suggested that others were probably plucking him for their nests and I did indeed find his feathers in others nests. I put him back in the aviary and watched others picking at his head. He was again removed but things go worse and he is how bald on his head and back.

 

 

 

Do you know if there are feather mites or red mite in your flock?? might be worth a check.

It was suggested that others were probably plucking him for their nests and I did indeed find his feathers in others nests.

 

This isnt a normal practice of birds.

Edited January 4, 200916 yr by KAZ