dry skin

Question
Hi Cynthia,

My 3 year old caique is a happy-go-lucky bird who is very healthy however lately I have noticed that he is getting some small bald patches on his chest and back. I feed him tropican lifetime granules along with fresh veggies, fruits and nuts as treats in moderation. He doesn't seem to be picking because I've been observing him closely and I don't find any feathers at the bottom of his cage. He gets plenty of love and attention. He has allergies and sneezes, and the vet told me her bird also has allergies and it's not abnormal. Any advice? He's such a beautiful bird and I don't want to see him like this. I have noticed some of his feathers are starting to grow back. Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Josee!

I just love Caiques!  You certainly take good care of him!

Could he just be molting?  If you don't seem him plucking, that doesn't mean he ISN'T plucking.  Birds who have dry skin (you put that in your subject line but didn't mention it again) may end up mutilating themselves to get at the "itch," so keep an eye on that, also.

Good luck,

Cindy