Bald patch

[JaydeParrot]

My less tame Hide has bald patches under his wings, but the more tame Cain doesn't seem to have any bald patches?

Is it normal for parrots to have bald patches around the 'arm pits'?

It's difficult to look under their wings properly as neither of them like their wings being held.

[marie83]

Your best bet is to see an avian vet. It's really really long but this thread regarding my two birds may also help you decide if there are any symptoms that you may not have picked up on and also a ton of advice from other members, a few pictures and a medical report (tests done + results) towards the end. Birds shouldn't have bald spots, even if they are moulting pretty heavily. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7977

[Eric&Rebecca]

There is a genetic defect in some cockatiels that causes a bald spot behind the crest, which is common in pearl and lutino mixes (like our George). This is known as Lutino cockatiel syndrome and is essentially similar to male pattern baldness but from birth. This is a harmless defect and results from mixed and varied breeding and has absolutely no health implications, its purely an aesthetic thing.

Perhaps there could be a similar defect in Senegals that affects different parts of the body?

[Pajarita]

If there is, I've never heard of it while everybody knows about the tiels' baldness. I have a zon that does that but she is old, very sick (liver failure) and barbers.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Well it may be far less common that Lutino cockatiel syndrome... there are lots of diseases some doctors have never heard of but it doesn't mean they don't exist. Cockatiels are better known medically than the Senegal as they have been domesticated more popularly and in abundance as opposed to Senegals.

However, that's not really the issue. Either way you need to rule out a medical cause so I would get a skin swab (fairly harmless jsut a swab in the skin) and feather sample (can use one that has fallen out at home). The more invasive test would be a skin biopsy. Bloods and faecal smears should also be performed, perhaps an oral smear... probably not but it might help rule out some things at least.

However some birds are just more feathered than others even if they are healthy. George for example has a lot thicker plumage and more down feathers while Edmund, who has a beautiful immaculate plumage is nowhere near as thick and feathered. Its just a variation through mutations perhaps this could be applicable to other species if there's no medical reason. I'm not expert and obviously I have experience with cockatiels and smaller parakeets but I have noticed this amongst them. Perhaps it could be down to this if not medical.