Question
This cockatiel likes to perch on my shoulder to receive neck rubs. After a while of this, I notice quite a bit of white flakes, like dandruff, on the fabric of my shirt.
Is this normal? Or might this bird have some kind of issue that needs to be addressed?
She seems quite healthy and happy otherwise. Good looking, nice feathers, eating & pooping regularly. But I am not a bird expert.
Answer
The dandruff-like substance on your shirt is a naturally produced powder that is normal in cockatiels. Birds have two primary strategies for keeping their feathers water-resistant. Most birds have an oil gland on their rumps and use the oil when preening their feathers. Others, such as cockatiels and cockatoos, have special feathers (called 'powder feathers' or 'powder down feathers') that produce a talc-like powder that helps their feathers resist water. This is normal and healthy in cockatiels.
Answered By - Tom Gaskill