Is my bird ill?

Question
I have a cockatiel about 2 years old. Several weeks ago I noticed that his feathers are not as smooth as they used to be. I thought it was only the melting process but until now it has not improved. The feathers around his neck are fluffy and messy; they look like the underfeather of chicks, the outer layer feathers seems to have fell off. I am concerned because this situation has not improved over the past month. Other than this my tiel seem to have normal behavior. Do you know what might be the reason of this? What should I do?


Answer
Hi, Chen,

It usually takes 4-8 weeks for a tiel to molt completely.  Poor diet can play a part in feather quality (if your bird is on an all-seed diet), vitamin/mineral deficiency can result in poor feather quality, etc.  I really need more information about your bird, what it is being fed, etc., etc., in order to help.  You might want to consider taking your bird to a certified avian vet ASAP for a medical exam if none of the above applies.

Chrys