The Type of Feather That Grow Continuously on a Bird is the
In most cases birds will regrow their feathers, this is because all avians naturally moult between 1 – 3 times per year. This is the phase in their lives where old feathers are shed to accommodate the new. In fringe cases where a bird has a severe skin disease that damages their feather follicles, there's a chance that the feathers may never grow back.
The remainder of this article will cover this subject in more depth to help you understand what causes feather loss, how long it takes for it to grow back and how you can help speed up the process.
What Does It Mean When A Bird Loses Its Feathers?
When a bird start losing feathers, it's generally as a result of moulting. Moulting is a yearly process most birds will go through, with older deteriorated feathers being shed in place of newer more healthier ones
The reason a bird may moult could be down to a number of reasons. It would be due to a busy year of flying having to cope with extreme weather conditions, getting involved in battles with other animals or more commonly due to breeding season etc.
It's also worth noting that birds with darker feather moult at a slower rate then those with lighter feathers.
Sometimes birds pluck their own feathers out. This could be because they're stressed, preening way too much or due to an infection. in these cases you should observe the birds behaviour and see if you can resolve it.
If you find an infection is causing this loss of feathers, the safest option would be to book an appointment with a veterinarian.
What Causes Feather Loss?
Feather loss is caused for a number of number of natural reasons, with moulting be the most common.
Viruses like Circovirus and Polyomavirus are known to contribute to feather loss too as they cause small patches which eventually become permanently bald due to the damage caused to the feather follicles.
Another reason may be as a result of a yeast or skin infections that could cause birds to have itchy, irritated skin, forcing them to pluck out their feathers to relieve themselves.
There are even birds like Rhea that are completely featherless. Rhea's a lovebird inflicted with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD). This disease attacks feather follicles not allowing them to grow before eventually halting the feather growth process altogether. It was once Rhea turned 2 years old when none of her feathers could regrow.
As mentioned above, if your bird is going through stress, destructive behaviours like preening too much or sometimes as a result of being fed unhealthy snacks causing the bird to be malnourished, feathers may begin to fall out even if it was not intended.
How Long Can It Take For Feathers To Grow Back?
The moulting process can vary from bird to bird. Smaller and migratory avians will moult far quicker than bigger birds, taking around 5 weeks for the feathers to fully grow back.
it's hardly surprising that bigger birds take longer considering their feathers are significantly larger. Flamingos for example can moult in irregular intervals ranging from twice a year to potentially once every 2 years.
How To Help A Bird Grow Back It's Feathers
Nutrient rich food can help in these situations, particularly vegetables that jam packed with vitamin A. This vitamin is extremely useful in growing healthy feathers and is just great for an avians immune system.
Fruits and vegetables with vitamin A include:
- carrots
- cucumbers
- spinach
- broccoli
- papayas
- cantaloupes and more!
As new feathers start growing hard sheaths tend to form around them which slows down the growing process. You can use sprays designed to help to make it easier for a birds feather to bloom.
If your bird is prone to plucking, using a Elizabethan Collar can stop the bird from even having the neck movement to reach for any feathers and pluck them out. As a result new feathers will slowly start forming again because the little beaked bird won't be able to pluck it out as soon as sheaths start forming.
All in all, time will be the greatest factor in a birds feather growth therefore, if a birds diet remains consistently healthy, if the bird isn't irritated or stressed out and if appropriate measures are put in place to limit potential irritants, a birds feathers will grow back.
Summary
Avian feathers are designed to shed, grow, shed and grow once more for as long as they live.
It is very much a normal part of life. Snakes shed their skin pretty consistently and we obviously produce a ton of dead skin cells all the time. Feather shedding follows this same principle but, it's unique to bird-kind.
In the most extreme of cases feathers will not grow back, prime example being the lovebird Rhea. Nevertheless, a birds yearly cycles consists of the removal and regrowth of feathers so, most wild and domestic birds will go through this cycle and end up looking fresher then ever.
References
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-home-magazine/birds-and-wildlife-articles/features/new-feathers-please/
Rhea the Featherless Bird – AKA Naked Birdie
maccallumrionce40.blogspot.com
Source: https://birdsofthewild.com/will-a-birds-feathers-grow-back/