Help!

[DMcnugget]

Hi!
I am very new at the bird buddy business... I have had my bird since May (Memorial Day) I got him as a juvenile bird. He is losing feathers on his head and is reluctant to eat fresh veggies & fruits.
He eats seeds & millett mostly but seems to be itchy on the top of his head and scratches it against things. I feel the diet is directly related, or is he molting? Any advice would be appreciated...
Also, he doesn't want to be handled at all! I try and he shys away. I have given him his space but think that may have been the wrong approach in retrospect.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :(

Thanks!

Dave

[Jinx n Noodle]

It's likely he's molting. Well, unless you actually see bald spots or have another bird that is pulling the feathers off his head. That would explain the itchiness. As for the training and him shying away, you have to make your hand more interesting. Instead of just giving him millet, save the millet as a treat for training. So he can have millet only if you're holding it. If you search millet training, you should be able to find the link to the youtube video that will help you out on it.

Good luck :)

[michiganlet]

you could take him out and kind of scratch his head and neck gently it will help get rid of the sheaths around the feathers. They like their neck and head stroked. Mine is molting now.
Something else I have been doing is taking the seeds out in the morning and giving Roudybush(a kernel food) and fruits and vegetables. He eats this then a couple of hours later I put in seed. Seems to be working pretty good.

[chapala]

Hard to help them with the pin freathers until the bird trusts the person, so the bird is trying to scratch his head wherever he can.

Like Jinx n Noodle suggested, I'd begin treating him with small pieces of spray millet, not leaving it in the cage at all, only a hand-fed treat. He'll begin looking forward to you coming over, and start seeing hands as something positive. Little by little you can increase his comfort level with you, and maybe by the next molt, you'll be able to help with those itchy pin feathers!