Bald tummy

Silverflash

Silverflash

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Hoping someone might be able to help.
I have a 21 year old Senegal parrot.
I’ve had her since she was a baby, straight from the breeder.
She happy and healthy, well exercised and eats well with vitamins in her water every day in life.
A few years ago I noticed she was getting a wee bald spot on her tummy. Since then it’s gradually gotten bigger.
She’s not pulling her feathers out, they’ve just not grown back after a moult. Can’t see mites or anything untoward and it doesn’t bother her at all??
I just wondered if it’s something that happens in old birds??
 

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Feather plucking can be caused by different things. My advice hun is go see your AV for a blood work up. This will indicate if there is anything going on that needs addressing. Birds do not show pain but will pluck or even mutilate themselves because of it. Good luck hun let us know the results please?
 
plumsmum said:
Feather plucking can be caused by different things. My advice hun is go see your AV for a blood work up. This will indicate if there is anything going on that needs addressing. Birds do not show pain but will pluck or even mutilate themselves because of it. Good luck hun let us know the results please?
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She’s not feather plucking though?
 
Depends on the bird if they don't switch off the hormones completely ie don't come out of it for the season it just kind of drops to a lower level and then returns some just kind of drag it all out and breeding seasons kind of just drag on and on for them. Henni was really bad at one stage she would try and incubate her toys the remote control anything she could lay her beak on! Looked a little crackers when she decided her nesting area needed a golf ball, her toy tractor, a play cup and a walnut .... heaven only knows what kind of children she was trying to rear for herself :noidea:
 
So just thought I’d give you an update on my balding Senegal.
Finally found an avian vet…135 miles away 🙄
DNA test confirms female.
Vet didn't see anything concerning when examining her and all blood tests came back ok.
Vet said she has plucked out her feathers at some point but they are just not re-growing now.
Since lockdown coincided with the start of the gradual feather loss, me working from home (which I’m still doing) implies that the change of routine may have influenced her behaviour. She may have become more hormonal and quite attached to me, which can lead to sexual frustration and feather picking.
Females sometimes pick around the belly area when hormonal as they sit on the eggs with the skin contacting the eggs on their belly.
So she’s a single bird who has bonded more to her human and thankfully nothing more serious.

Vet said she’s seen quite a few balding parrots since lockdown.
 
Just had a thought ! Does she sit on a perch in a way that rubs that area, maybe that started it off. Good to hear check up was ok.
 
Ah that is brilliant news hun. I know it's costly but you have a set of clear results and a baseline going forward. Make sure you get a copy of those results, they are yours, you paid for them.
Just wondering if you working from home means the room(s) temperature is higher? Are you making sure she has enough to do, some toys/activities that will keep her focussed and busy and forget you are about? So pleased it is good news! :)
 
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