When do African Grey babies grow all of their feathers?

[Hamzah_khan]

Hello, I have an african grey baby who is reaching almost 11 weeks now. He has all of his feathers on his head and his wings, but his back, legs and neck are still white and fluffy, and his neck and a little bit of his stomach are skin. I'm just wondering at what age should I expect them to fully grow? I can see his pins popping out of his back and neck. I just want to be sure he is growing healthy and not too slowly or anything. Thanks C:

[Hamzah_khan]

I know some people think I'm a bad parrot owner here but I really warn to try and prove that I'm not. I know I have faults, I mean everyone does. About my breeding sun conures. I stopped allowing them to breed, I took off their breeding box and change their cage set up often. They haven't breaded since and I don't plan on breeding them again. They are both healthy as ever and stick to me like glue and I love them and will never let them go anywhere. This african grey is actually my mothers and he is playing around in his cage (at the bottom where there is towels, toys and perches for him to practice on) biting on toys, practicing climbing the cage and flapping his wings. He's eating, and sleeping, but I'm just wanting to know if birds fully feather at a specific age, or is it different for each african grey (which I'm sure it is a little bit). Thanks for the help, and honestly I'm kind of ashamed of myself after reading previous posts of mine. I specifically want to apologize to Pajarita and Wolf. I realize you are worried for the well being of every bird, and I should really take your advice.

Attached is a Instagram picture of Mango one of my beloved sun conures.

[Wolf]

I don't know exactly, but if your grey is 11 wks. of age and doesn't have all of its feathers then something is wrong. Can you please send pics of this bird? Need to see entire body as well as a couple of close ups.

[Hamzah_khan]

Ok I'll post some pictures. The breeder told us that the babies that came started to hatch on March 9th. That's what he was told by his breeder so now I'm worried that the baby might be younger then 11 weeks since it may have been the last to hatch, since he said he gave us the youngest out of the batch. Gosh I'm never buying from this breeder again, I actually bought my Indian ring neck from him and he is super healthy, plays talks and everything that's why I thought I could trust him, I guess not as much. Anyways the baby african grey can't perch yet and when he sleeps he either droops his wings, or lies on his stomach and sleeps, sometimes turning his head sideways onto it's back, is that normal? He was doing this when we went to go pick him up from the breeder (we've only had him for about 5-6 days now) His feathers are growing everyday I've noticed though

[Wolf]

I don't think that this bird is as old as you were told. What are you feeding it now? And how often?
Doesn't look bad to me just a bit younger, I think.

[Hamzah_khan]

Ok phewf, we're feeding him about 3 times a day about 40cc since that's all he wants to eat. That's what I'm worried about, that we aren't feeding him enough cause we think he's bigger then he is. Do you think that's a good amount for him to be eating?

[Wolf]

That would depend upon his weight and whether he acts hungry or not.

[Hamzah_khan]

Ok I was thinking of getting a scale, I should probs go get it today, to see if he's gaining weight. Thank you so much wolf I really appreciate the help! Do you think I should be worried about how he sleeps? During the day he usually sleeps normally, but later in the evening he starts to droop his wings and lies down to sleep? Like right now he's asleep upright without his droopy wings, it usually happens in the evening

[Wolf]

At his age, I think that this is pretty much a normal thing for him to do.

[Pajarita]

He does look younger than 11 weeks... maybe 10 weeks. But feathering also depends on the food the parents fed them while in the nest and the food you are feeding him now so he could be a slow-to-fledge baby because of diet and, in that case, you go by behaviors to determine the age. At 10 weeks, they still sleep laying down (and you said he does that in the evening), they peep more often (like baby birds would) and don't really play on their own. In any case, you do need to get a scale and weigh him everyday as soon as he wakes up and before you feed him his breakfast. This is not only necessary to ascertain that he is indeed gaining weight but also because you should base the amount you feed him on this weight as it should be 10 to 15% of it (and don't forget to put some soft foods out for him to start 'practicing' eating on his own).