My budgie is feeling itchy he is constantly scratching his fluffs. He isn't a tamed budgie. Is he alright and if not how should I cure him? Is there any medicine for him? Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Female | 5 months and 27 days old | 35 lbs

You can mist him with warm water to encourage preening. This will promote healthy plunage. If he continues to itch, it may due to mites or infection. These would require an exam with your veterinarian for confirmation. Mites can be treated with an over the counter spray. Read labels v\carefully to confirm the chosen product can be used on birds. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Change the cage paper daily. If an infection (bacterial or fungal) is diagnosed, your vet can prescribe the appropriate medication.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If birds are healthy, there are no sprays that should be applied to their feathers. In fact, some sprays found online or in pet stores can be harmful to birds, either to their skin or their lungs. If you believe there is a problem with your bird's feathers, I recommend contacting your primary veterinarian who takes care of him to see if he needs to be seen in person for an exam. If he has something like mites that are causing him to itch, he may require specific treatment. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with your budgie!

I'm sorry to hear Sky has been losing feathers. If it appears to be spreading there are a few things that can be at play: Parasites. External parasites such as mites or lice can cause itching and irritation to the skin, which may lead to plucking out feathers or losing them. You can check for small flecks of "stuff" on the base of the feathers for them. Over the counter mite sprays can help if this is the case. Infection. Yeast, bacteria, allergies, etc, can all cause irritation and possible infection of the skin and feather follicles. You may see itching, redness, visible wounds, discoloration, discharge, etc. Boredom/Other birds: Boredom can lead to feather plucking in birds, however it it's somewhere Sky can't reach, and he's housed with other birds, they may be the culprit. Moving the birds to separate locations or adding in more enriching toys to play with can help. Illness/nutrition: Making sure you feed a balanced diet is key. Nutritional imbalance or underlying illness can lead to feather loss or feathers not growing back in after a molt. Most pet stores will provide adequate nutrition. if you can't figure out the problem, it appears to be continuing to spread, or Sky appears ill or in distress, seeking veterinary care is always best.