Snapped Feathers.

[EleriDragonfly]

I've had Luna, my Pied Whiteface Cockatiel, for 2 months now. She was fully flighted from the breeder I got her from, and is able to fly perfectly. A couple of weeks ago though she started not being able to get any lift, and if she flew from my shoulder she'd fly for a while before flopping to the ground.
She's started moulting and I thought maybe it's just that, but I had a look at her wings when she stretched them, and I noticed some of them seemed snapped in half. I managed to take a picture,

Could this be just because she's moulting? While cleaning her cage, I've never seen the broken off part of the feathers, unless they were hidden in the sand. Could she have done this herself?

[cml]

My guess is a night fright!

[EleriDragonfly]

I've never heard her having one, and my budgie, Wheatley has had night frights before and I've heard him.
But if it is, is there anything I can do to help prevent a night fright? Like I said I have heard Wheatley, and when he does I put the light on and let him out until he calms down.

[Pajarita]

Nope, not a night fright, she is barbering.

[EleriDragonfly]

I've never heard of barbering, is it serious?

[KimberlyAnn]

It's where they bite part of their feathers off because they are stressed, bad diet, bored, and who knows? :/ One of my mother's rescues used to do it. Has anything changed recently?

[EleriDragonfly]

Nothing has changed no, she enjoys her toys, and I change them around once a week. She gets plenty of out of cage time when I come home from work, and on weekends she is out nearly all day, and I give her head scratches and wonder around the house with her on my shoulder.
Her diet could be better, I've been trying to get her interested in fruit and veggies. Anything I eat she wants to try, but she takes a small nibble and then loses interest. I've tried mixing in finely chopped carrots with her seed. Not sure if she ate any, quite hard to make sure.
Sometimes I do have to leave her in her cage, like when I eat as sometimes she'll get her dander in my food. And if my boyfriend somes to visit, as he suffers from Ornithophobia so hates birds.

[Pajarita]

She could be hormonal and lonely. Tiels love to be with other tiels, they are very flock oriented.

[EleriDragonfly]

Well there's not much I can do about that. I have neighbours to my left and right, and if I had two Cockatiels I can imagine the noise would get some complaints. Luna isn't too loud, only if I leave the room without her. Which only happens if I'm going outside. Plus I'm not looking to own 2 Cockatiels, Luna is hand reared and takes up all of my attention.

[Pajarita]

Cockatiels don't make a peep when they are paired, it's only when they are alone that they call.