My 11 month old Scarlet Macaw

Question
My macaw,Lola, is molting and is becoming completely bald in about 4 places.  Is this part of the molting process and will I see the feathers growing back or can this be a nutritional problem?  I try to give her all the right foods and I put a mineral supplement in her drinking water, but she doesn't seem to be eating much more than a little of the fresh fruits and veggies I feed her each day and she is very picky about what she eats of her Macaw Mix from the pet store.  I buy the best stuff but I can't make her eat it.Please help.  She is my first pet bird.

Answer
hi. thanks for your question! the molting pattern that you are describing does not sound normal at all and i would take her to the vet asap.  when birds molt, you will notice feathers on the cage floor and perhaps a "scruffier" looking bird but you should not be seeing complete bald patches anywhere at all.  this could be indicative that she is either feather-picking (see www.featherpicking.com for more info on this condition) or could be suffering from an underlying illness.  a molt should not result in the bird losing enough feathers to where she has bald spots.  please make an appointment and take her to a vet, preferably an avian vet, as soon as possible.  
it sounds like you are trying your best to supplement her diet. picky bird eating is a problem but if you are giving her vitamins and she is eating at least some of her food, she should be getting adequate nutrition to support her through a molt. only a vet can determine the cause of her feather loss as sometimes birds can have bacterial/viral diseases or behavioral problems leading to feather plucking. like i said, please take her to the vet asap. also, try and keep her as warm as possible so the bald patches do not lead to a secondary illness. good luck and let me know how it goes!  alicia