My cockatiel is losing tail feathers. Is this normal or concerning?

Question

Hi again, is my cockatiel okay if his tail feathers fall out? Pet's info: Bird | Cockatiel | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 21 days old

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for your question about Rio. It is normal for birds’ feathers to fall out at regular intervals. This process is referred to as molting. As feathers get older, they lose some of their function so they are replaced by new ones. In most species, this occurs one to two times per year. Where things become concerning is when a bird is losing their feathers between molting times. When this happens, it can be due to illness or to behavioral problems. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My cockatiel is losing tail feathers. Is this normal or concerning?

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