Cockatiels - bald spots/feather plucking

Question
Hi.  After just losing Spike, my first cockatiel, after 11 years, I had to find a new companion for Sunny, his 'mate'.  I have bought a bird, which is lively, bright eyed, clean vent, well feathered over body and wings and seems well in every way, except that 'he' (I'm not sure of the birds sex yet) has feather loss around his neck and below his crest.  Sunny is a lutino (so has the bald spot under the crest) but the new and as yet unnamed tiel is a pearl.  As he has been in with a number of others in an indoor avairy waiting to find a new home, I guess he has been plucked by the other tiels.  Is feather regrowth likely?  Not that it would matter to me - he looks a like a cute little vulture - but is he likely to have any problems because of the lack of feathers if it is a permanent condition?
Thanks  

Answer
It is possible for feathers to not re-grow (if plucked for so long). However, normally the feathers will come back in (if it were indeed the other birds in the aviary who were picking on him).

However, sometimes in an aviary situation, stronger birds in a flock will pick on and pluck the weaker, more sickly birds. Even though he might appear healthy, I would still strongly recommend (as I would with ANY new bird) a vet check up. Poor diet (a primar or all seed diet) can also cause plucking problems.

You will also want to keep him quarantined from your bird Spike for at least 30 days. If you don't know what Spike's previous companion passed away from, Spike could be a carrier or ill himself (but might not show symptoms yet).

Here is information on quarantine (why and how to do it):

http://www.parrothouse.com/quarantine.html

And if you don't already have an avian vet, you can search for one in your area at these websites:

http://www.parrotpro.com/avianlst.htm

http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

and

www.aav.org

I hope this helps.

-Maggie