Worried About My Grey’s Feather Condition – Need Some Advice

[africangrey]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been quietly reading this forum for a while and finally decided to join and post. I have a Congo African Grey who means the world to me, and lately I’ve been a bit worried about his health.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that his feathers don’t look as smooth and shiny as they used to. Some look a bit frayed, and he seems to be preening more often than usual. I don’t see any bald patches, but he definitely looks a little “ruffled” most of the time now.

His behavior is mostly normal – he still talks, eats, and plays, but I feel like his energy is slightly lower than before. I’m trying to figure out what could be causing it:

• Is it maybe diet-related?
• Could it be stress or boredom?
• Or should I be worried about something like mites or a hidden illness?

Right now, he eats pellets as his main food, plus fresh fruits and veggies almost daily. I try to keep his cage clean and he gets out-of-cage time every day.

Has anyone else dealt with feather quality issues like this? What should I look out for before rushing to the vet? And are there any supplements or diet changes that helped your Grey’s feather health?

I’d really appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance, this community already feels very supportive.