My parrot is retching, lethargic, and losing feathers – what’s wrong?

Retching, lethargy, and feather loss in a parrot can be signs of illness. If you have not recently changed the bird’s diet yet it eats less, a digestive tract disease may be involved. Check the food bowl and droppings daily to look for digestive problems, and you may offer pet lactase tablets mixed with glucose water; if there is no improvement, take the bird to a vet.

Feather loss has many causes. The bird may simply be in its molting season, which is normal, but a lack of trace minerals or illness can also cause shedding. A long-term lack of varied food can leave feathers dull or cause patchy loss. Add trace-mineral-rich foods such as hemp seed, perilla seed, carrot, and leafy greens.