My lovebird's back is bare and dry with black spots. Is he sick?

Question

I just got a lovebird that's about 4 weeks old (seller didn't know its age/gender, so I looked this up), so his feathers are obviously still not 100% out. His head, wing, and tail feathers seem to be coming out alright but his back seems almost bare and looks really dry. There are also some black spots on the skin in that area. I'm worried he's sick or has a plucking issue. Why could he be having this? And is there any way I can tell his actual approximate age?

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for your question, and thanks for the photos - they are very helpful. From the photos, it looks like the feathers on the back and around the crop/underside of your bird are not present. The black spots you are seeing appear to be areas of blood, and this may be where feathers were removed. Usually the body feathers come in before some of the major wing feathers, so I would be worried that your bird is destroying the feathers itself. This can be due to a number of medical issues, and also behavioral ones. With a bird that is so young, I would be suspicious of a nutritional deficiency leading to feather destruction. From the photos, the feathers that are present look ragged and dull in color. If you are not feeding a pelleted diet, I would recommend switching to one. I would also recommend that your bird be evaluated by a veterinarian. They’ll be able to provide husbandry recommendations, and may be able to find what the underlying issue is through this and a physical exam. They may also recommend some diagnostic testing. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope your bird feels better soon!

My lovebird's back is bare and dry with black spots. Is he sick?

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