goffin too

Question
HI!
MY GOFFIN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW AND SHE HAS BEEN GETTING SWEETER BY THE DAY.... BUT YESTERDAY I CAME HOME TO FIND ABOUT 45 SMALL FEATHERS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE..... HER CHEST IS NOT BALD CUZ SHE STIL HAS THOSE LITTLE WIRD FEATHERS THAT FEEL LIKE COTTON BUT SHE DID TAKE A LOT OF FEATHERS FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF HER BODY... ALSO WHEN I GOT HER OUT SHE WAS VERY NASTY, AND AGGRESIVE... THE ONLY DIFFERENT THING THAT I FED HER WAS STRAWBERRRIES AND SHE SEEMED TO REALLY LIKE THEM...
SHE HAS A GOOD DIET I GIVE HER VEGGIES AND SEEDS AND PELLETS AND FRESH FRUIT... I CLEAN HER CAGE EVERY DAY AND PLAY WITH HER EVERY MORNING FOR 15 TO 20 MINS BEFORE I GO TO WORK AND FOR ABOUT 2-3 HOURS EVERY NIGHT, SHE HAS PLENTY OF TOYS TO DESTROY... SO I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WOULD DO THIS.... IS IT POSSIBLE SHES ALLERGIC TO STRAWBERRIES??
I GAVE HER A SHOWER LAST NIGHT AND WILL GIVE HER ANOTHER ONE TODAY AND FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO STOP THE ITCHING... IF THATS WHAT IT IS.... WHAT DO YOU THINK? AM I TAKING THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION.
I WAS SO UPSET ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT I WAS CRYING... PLS HELP
THANKS
PAOLA

Answer
Relax - chances are that this is normal as part of the big molt happening right now.   Birds, in the wild, are nesting about now and this means much less flying any great distances.  Nature takes this opportunity to change their 'clothes' so to speak.  Their older feathers fall out, including the big ones like tail and wing feathers, while new feathers pop in as "pin feathers" - little, sharp pointy, plastic type projections you'll see and feel all over the bird's body.

When the time is right, the bird starts chewing these sheaths off, revealing the new, beautiful feather underneath.

The itching is another way to break open these sheaths, plus, sometimes 'toos are just plain itchy.  They are a very high dander, powdery bird.

If she's enjoying the shower, go ahead and continue.  If she's not happy about it, don't force it.  You don't want her scared of water.

Most birds shower willingly about once or twice a week.


You can find out more about how to keep her healthy here:

  www.4AnimalCare.org/birds