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My pigeon is losing feathers and looks thin. Is she sick or molting?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Female

Hi. Many feathers are falling from my pigeon's body. She looks thin. What may be the reason? Is it feather falling season?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on January 23rd, 2019

Molting time is different for each individual bird, so yes, molting is possible if it is that time for Sheephony. You may see new feathers, called pin feathers, growing in to replace the old if this is the case (they look like little pins sticking out of the skin, hence the name). Other potential causes of feather loss can include nutritional issues, parasites on the skin, infections, illness, etc, so if she seems otherwise unhealthy or ill, or you aren't seeing new feathers growing in, scheduling an exam with your vet is best. In some cases, birds will also pluck feathers if bored or stressed, so adding some enrichment and making sure Sheephony is kept in an area with low stress may help as well.

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Related Answers from Veterinarians

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on January 26th, 2019

    Most pet stores or farm supply stores will have a commercial pelleted pigeon chow. This will be a good base for the diet. Corn can be used to get some weight on her if necessary. You can supplement with fresh greens, vegetables and a small amount of fruit/berries. Pigeons will also eat earthworms and insects. She may be molting, which is normal. You can bathe or mist her with warm water once or twice a week to promote preening and healthy plumage. Ideally, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to diagnose and treat and infection (bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitical) that could also be potential causes for the feather loss.

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The pictures are really blurry so it's hard to see, but if you're seeing round cylinder-like feathers protruding from the skin that is likely a pin feather. This is a normal feather that is growing back in after the old one is lost. If your bird recently lost a lot of feathers and is now growing them back, they likely were molting, which is normal! This is just the normal replacement of old feathers with new ones. If Sheephony seems cold, moving them to a warmer location until their feathers have regrown can help.
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