How to Cope With a Molting Parrot

Bird lovers enjoy the companionship of parrots. However, they can also be frustrating to care for because they have such complex needs. Caring for a pet parrot is time consuming, especially when they begin to molt. Trying to cope with a molting parrot can be challenging. Your bird becomes moody and you are constantly cleaning up feathers throughout the day. A little patience and understanding can make things easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Be patient during this time. Parrots molt once a year, usually around the same time. Make peace with the fact that the molting process can take a while. The larger your parrot, the longer you must cope with a molting parrot. Parrots usually molt only a few feathers at a time so that their ability to fly is not affected.
2. Preen your molting parrot. If you have two parrots you don't have to worry about this because they will usually preen one another. Preening is the process of removing quill feathers in order to make way for new feathers to grow. Your parrot can do most of her own preening, but might need help around hard-to-reach areas like the head and neck to cope with molting.
3. Spray your parrot with warm water daily. Molting can be a very itchy and uncomfortable experience for parrots, leaving them irritated. The warm water spray provides your parrot with the extra moisture needed to prevent feather sheaths from drying out and becoming hard, which keeps new feathers from growing in their place. It also helps relieve itchiness, which will help you cope with your molting parrot.
4. Increase protein in your parrot's diet. Feathers are mostly made up of protein. Adding protein before and during molting can help her grow new feathers.