My cockatiel molts heavily and has even broken some large feathers.I have followed the vet's suggestion by bathing the bird regularly, but the baths don't seem to stop this situation. What more can I do? I also have a question about his diet (the bird's diet, not the vet's!). The bird has shown an enormous preference for wheat bread. In fact, he has come to eat it almost exclusively, except for his fruit-flavored seeds. I also put Ornalyte vitamins in his water. Is he getting proper nutrition, and can his diet be related to his molting?
Thanks,
Charles K.
Charles,
A cockatiel must have proper nutrition, adequate lighting and a proper range
of temperatures in order to promote healthy feathers.
Proper nutrition will consist of a quality seed or pellet diet, supplemented by fresh vegetables, fruits and either cuttlebone or mineral block daily. Wheat bread is also good but only as a supplement, not as a main course.
Sometimes, even the most subtle changes in lighting or temperature will cause a bird to molt. Check to be sure your buddy is not close to a HVAC vent. Though regular baths are important, we don't see them as a remedy for molting.