Hi all. Zakiya is settling in wonderfully! I am so happy for her. She is making all sorts of sounds, eats like a trooper and loves new adventures. She isn't skittish or nervous at all about anything new or different. But my question is about plucking. I went to pick her up this am, and there was one of those fuzzy with down near the pointy end of the feather, little red tail feather on the ground. Did she pluck it out? Is she molting already? It's so small, now I have been nervous all morning thinking she is going to start plucking! Help with my neurosis please! LOL

If she is plucking you will have more than one feather, you would have numerous feathers. She is probably just starting to molt.

I also think she is going to molt. Scarlett lost a ton of the little down feathers about a two months ago. But I have never seen her pluck and I am home alot with them.

How old is she? They usually molt at about 5-6 months.The tail feather is most likely resut of her clumsiness. Birds will lose down feathers year-round. I would say you are fine!

I had the same concern when I brought Einstein home. He was about six months old and I was worried because he had a bunch of little fluffy feathers all the time. I spoke with the breeder and she said that he was not likely plucking but that it was snormal for them to lose lots of fluffy feathers and not to worry. I did not worry an dit was nothing, not molting either just a fuzzy bird with fluffy feathers!

Every day I see about 5 new fuzzy white feathers floating around my room. It's normal!

Generally speaking (and there are exceptions to every rule) unless there is a pressing medical problem, plucking behavior doesn't start until they are a little older then Zakiya. Normal preening always results in a little feather loss, and yes, feathers are lost even when they are not moulting.

Hi all, I can't thank you enough for all your info. I was a tad bit nervous! Yep, I have seen those little fuzzy white ones as well. She does preen like a prom queen on prom night when she is late and her date is downstairs waiting! She's like the tazmanian devil ! She just met a friend of mine tonight, did very well. Stepped right up for her and let her pet her. I think it was because Lisa is a redhead too!
Thanks again for putting my mind at ease! Now....wish me luck with the BIG, LOUD, BRIGHT, WHISTLING, SCREAMING, NOISY FIREWORKS tonight! LOL

Awww....are there any pics of Zakiya around? I just adore the greys when they still have their black baby eyes.