Quick Answer
There are a few potential reasons why a bird’s feathers may appear oily or greasy:
- Preen gland issues – Birds have a preen gland near their tail that secretes an oily substance used when preening to keep feathers flexible and waterproof. Sometimes this gland can become overactive or impacted, causing excess oil production.
- Diet – Consuming too much fat or oil in the diet can cause oily feathers. This is common in seed-only diets.
- Molting – Feathers can appear greasy as they prepare to molt. The increased blood flow during molting brings more oil to coat the feather shaft.
- Improper bathing – Not bathing enough or using soaps that strip oils can cause a bird to over-preen and distribute too much oil on feathers.
- Skin conditions – Skin infections, parasites, or metabolic conditions may increase sebum production or cause inflammation that makes feathers appear oily.
If a bird’s feathers suddenly appear oily or greasy, it’s a good idea to take them to an avian veterinarian for an examination to determine if there is an underlying issue that needs treatment. Adjusting diet, bathing schedule, and cage setup can help manage oily feathers in minor cases.
What Causes Oily or Greasy Feathers in Birds?
There are several potential causes for a bird having feathers that look oily, greasy, or clumped:
Overactive Preen Gland
Birds have a small oil producing gland near their tail called the preen gland or uropygial gland. They use their beaks to squeeze oil from this gland onto their feathers when preening. This oil helps keep feathers flexible, waterproofed, and in good condition.
Sometimes this preen gland can become overactive and produce an excess amount of oil. Or the gland opening can become clogged so that oil builds up inside. When a bird preens, this can cause more oil than normal to be spread onto the feathers, giving them an oily or greasy look.
Some birds are prone to problems with their preen gland clogging more easily. An avian vet can check the gland and clear any blockages if needed. In severe cases, the gland may need to be surgically removed if it is chronically overproductive and leading to very oily feathers.
High Fat Diet
Bird diets high in fat and oil content can also cause problems with greasy, oily feathers. Birds that are fed large amounts of nuts, seeds, suet, fatty treats, or table foods with oil/butter can end up depositing excess fat from their diet directly onto their feathers as they preen.
This is most common in seed-only diets that are heavy in fatty seeds like sunflower, safflower, peanuts, and millet. A more balanced diet with healthier grains, pellets, vegetables, and lean proteins can help reduce excess fat intake that leads to oily feathers.
Molting
Molting is the natural process birds go through periodically to replace old worn out feathers. During the molting period, increased blood flow occurs in the feather follicles to aid new feather growth. This brings more preen oil to the surface of the skin and feathers. So it is normal for birds to appear a bit oilier during their molts.
However, excessive greasiness during molting may indicate a problem with the preen gland producing too much oil. Monitor your bird closely during molting periods and limit fatty foods to help regulate oil production. If the feather greasiness seems extreme, see an avian vet.
Improper Bathing
The bathing schedule and products used can also influence feather greasiness. Birds who don’t bathe frequently enough may end up with a buildup of skin and feather oils. Their preen gland continues producing oil, but without regular bathing to remove excess accumulation on the feathers, it just builds up.
On the other hand, birds who are bathed too frequently or with soaps and shampoos that strip away natural oils can end up over-preening. This is because all the protective oils have been washed away, so the bird instinctively works to rapidly spread oil from its preen gland over the feathers to try to waterproof them again.
Using bird-safe water baths and sprays in moderation is healthiest. Provide multiple bathing opportunities each week and monitoring to ensure your bird isn’t over-preening and making feathers greasy.
Skin Infections
Skin conditions like bacterial or fungal infections can cause inflammation, crusting, and excess sebum production from the skin. As a bird preens, this abnormal secretion from the skin will make feathers appear greasy or spiky.
Scaly face mites and other parasitic infections may also increase skin secretions and cause greasy-looking feathers around the head and neck as a bird tries to preen away the irritation. Diagnosing and treating the underlying skin condition will be needed to resolve the feather greasiness.
Metabolic Conditions
Systemic metabolic abnormalities like fatty liver disease, obesity, and hypothyroidism can lead to elevated skin and sebum secretions that make feathers oily with preening. Testing and treatment of the metabolic disorder are needed.
Kidney or liver dysfunction can also prevent normal oil breakdown and excretion from the body, again contributing to excess greasy buildup on feathers as the oil is spread during preening. Diagnostic testing helps identify if an internal issue is the root cause.
Can Feather Cysts or Pimples Cause Greasy Feathers?
Yes, feather cysts or feather follicular cysts can sometimes cause greasy or oily looking feathers in birds. Feather cysts are small encapsulated lesions that form within the feather follicle. The follicles are the little pockets in the skin where feathers grow from.
These cysts form when the follicle gets clogged or infected. They create a bump underneath the skin where the feather emerges. The content inside the cyst can be greasy, waxy sebum or dried cellular debris.
As the bird preens, it may rupture some of these cysts, releasing the greasy contents onto the surrounding feathers. This gives the feathers an uneven, clumpy, oily appearance. The feathers may also look discolored or dirty since the cyst material typically contains melanin and cell debris.
In addition to making the feathers look oily, feather cysts can impair normal feather growth and damage the follicle. Plucking out growing feathers or restraint should be avoided however, as it risks ripping the skin.
Getting feather cysts assessed and properly treated by an avian veterinarian is important, both for resolving the greasy feathers and preventing long term skin and feather damage. Topical and oral medication are usually prescribed.
Can I Treat Oily Feathers at Home?
Mild feather greasiness can often be treated at home by adjusting a bird’s diet, bathing schedule, and environment. However, severe or persistent greasy feathers need to be checked by a vet to diagnose and treat any underlying issue. Things to try at home include:
- Switch to a lower fat pellet and seed mix diet with more vegetables and lean proteins.
- Limit high fat treats like nuts, chips, and people food.
- Increase bathing to 2-3 times per week in warm water. Gently blow dry after.
- Run a humidifier near your bird’s cage to help dry feathers.
- Make sure your bird has ample room to flap and exercise to spread preen oil.
- Add rough surfaces like concrete perches and textured toys to help remove excess oil.
- Try using corn starch powder or feather creme rinses after bathing.
Improvement should be seen within 1-2 weeks with home treatment. If not, have your bird examined and blood tested by an avian vet. Oily feathers accompanied by skin irritation, plucking, weight loss, or lethargy can signify an underlying health problem needing medical intervention.
When to See the Vet for Oily Feathers
See an avian veterinarian right away if your bird has an abrupt onset of greasy-looking feathers. Sudden feather changes could point to a serious medical issue needing prompt care.
You should also make a vet appointment if home adjustments like diet and bathing changes don’t improve feather oiliness after 2-3 weeks.
See the vet immediately if oily feathers are accompanied by:
- Excessive head scratching, skin picking
- Irritated, inflamed, or crusty skin
- Weight loss, increased appetite
- Lethargy, fluffed feathers, weakness
- Diarrhea, tail bobbing, increased urates
- Favoring one foot, limping, stumbling
- Loss of balance, wobbly walking, head tilt
Diagnostic tests will be needed to pinpoint the cause, which may include:
- Skin scrapings for fungal/bacteria cultures
- Skin biopsies to check for cysts
- Blood panels to assess internal health
- Swabs to test for feather mites
- Radiographs to visualize internal issues
- Preen gland assessment and cleansing
With proper treatment of any underlying condition, most birds can make a full recovery back to healthy, lustrous feathers. Work closely with your avian vet if your bird is suffering from persistent greasy, oily plumage problems.
Conclusion
Oily, greasy feathers are never normal for birds. While preening spreads a protective layer of oil over feathers, excessive greasiness indicates a problem. Common causes include preen gland disorders, high fat diets, skin infections, feather cysts, and metabolic conditions. Mild cases can be managed at home with dietary adjustments, increased bathing, and environment changes. But sudden or severe feather greasiness needs veterinary diagnosis and care. Addressing any underlying medical issue can help restore your bird’s feathers back to their natural healthy state. With close attention and proper treatment, oily feather problems can be successfully resolved.
