Hey Grey parronts...

I believe Tuki is going through his first molt. But being a nervous mommy I want to make sure he is not plucking.
Is there a way to tell for sure???

In my experience the molted feathers will have clear shafts. I always check that. You will see down feathers all over. My guys never plucked but my Buddy did overpreen in the beginning. He would clip his chest feathers all the way to the down leaving fuzzy spots. I guess the obvious thing is when they molt, you shouldnt see any bald spots! lol...

LOL...thanks Leigh...
He definitely doesn't have any bald spots. But I'm finding way more than just the downy white feathers at the bottom of his cage every day.
He does look a MESS right now too.

They always look like crap when they're molting. And it is a ton of feathers. Kinda scary I know. You would know if it was plucking. Wait till the new pins come in and he gets the crankies from it. I have 4 going through it all at once! Talk about a lot of feathers

Yes like leighrivera said you can see the full feather shaft not broken or the feather part shredded. But is nerve wracking to see them picking at the itchy chest feathers for example. Mine are doing their seasonal molt right now and doing that...

You should see down and contour feathers usually in the juvenile molt. Not primaries. My male Parrotlet grew primaries because he broke them coincidentally while regrowing just before his juvie molt.

You can give a little extra protein like lentils, mung beans or adzuki beans fully cooked combined with some grains since feathers are made up of protein and it'll help "push" the molt through. And bathing is always appreciated. Some people give animal protein like egg but I only give a teeny bit once a month if even then...because I believe they only need vegetable proteins but there's a difference of opinion on that.

Alot of people like to help them preen if they have pinfeathers but I don't because there is a nerve in that feather growing. They can find stuff around in the cage to rub against if they need to....they have to learn, too, to take care of themselves grooming wise.

Hi Leigh, I HATE the head and face pin feathers. My poor budgie had his face buried in his back this afternoon rattling away like trying to console himself. Poor guy...he looks like mange!

awww poor baby! I help the with the pins. They love it. They let me know if I go too low. I usually comb through with my fingers to look at the one I break open before I just go popping. Sometimes the blood line is right there at the tip! Afa is getting her glow back so Im very happy about that.

I understad what you guys are saying. Having gone through many molts, I should be used to it, but just today I came home a flipped out that Papi might be plucking. He's molting really hard this year. I've got feathers everywhere. On the brght side, I've been saving to make a large dreamatcher and after this season, I might be ready!!!

I have a bag full of feathers too!