My cockatoo is losing feathers

Question
QUESTION: Hi when I got my cockatoo, they said he was around 4months old. And around a month and a half after I got him, I noticed he has lost his feathers under his wings, so I got a spray "bird mite & lice spray and sprayed him as directed on the bottle, then after a while he started to lose featherson his chest and he has now lost his crest and is losing feathers on his legs and where the feathers are growing back it has some black stuff on top of it, I go to touch it then he starts squawk.
His quite dirty because we let him walk around the backyard and do whatever he likes. But he started to lose his feathers before we let him walk around.
I try to wash him but he doesn't like it, his like scared of it but when it's raining he loves it.
Any tips on how i could wash him?

I went to the vet and they said it will just grow back, they started to grow back but they didn't grow more than 4mm and then they just fell out.

ANSWER: First of all I think you need to take him back to the vet and have him tested for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD). This could be a serious disorder that will need to be seen by a vet.

Also, as for bathing, he will need a bath regularly such as in the shower or in the sink with the water hose turned up like it is raining. You still must give him a bath whether he likes it or not, he needs it to keep his skin and feathers healthy. I would for now, discontinue letting him walk on the ground outside until you figure out what the feather loss is coming from.


This could also be a behavioral plucking issue. Please look at my website on plucking:
http://thebirdnerdsrescue.com/LoveMyPlucker.aspx

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hey thanks for the reply i'll be taking him to the vet in 2 next weeks.

um i don't ever see him plucking his feathers out!

would you know how much that test would cost?

Answer
I don't know what the specific test will cost as all vets charge differently. As I am sure you know only an Avian Certified Veterinary will be able to treat him. You may want to call the different Avian vets in you area and ask them the cost of the test and a wellness exam. If you bird has never been there they will do a wellness exam. My vet charges $50 for the wellness exam and an additional cost for the test. When I took my Umbrella Cockatoo to the vet for a wellness exam, gram stain, fecal, and blood work it cost $202.00 and that is about average price.

I also wanted to give you some information on PBFD:
http://www.avianbiotech.com/Diseases/PBFD.htm

Thank you and good luck