I am almost embarrassed to ask this question, but y'all will surly understand I am a newbie
OK #1...how do you tell if they are molting or when do they?
Carly is 18 wks and on the top of her head it looks like she has pulled/rubbed all the feathers off of a few of her feathers. It is just the little (stick) there. What is causing this?
#2... She refuses to step up on your finger or hand. However she will step up onto a dow rod (extra perch)
#3... She has birch perches, mineral perch, and a reg wood perch that came with the cage, should she have a rope perch or a happy hut also? We are worried she is tired of standing all day (YOU CAN TELL WE ARE LAZY PEOPLE!!)

OH and a final thought I ordered the Free samples from Lafeber and my hubby said it came in today and has all types of stuff in it! I can't wait to get home and check it out! What a great company to send it all! I hope Carly will be as tickled

Thanks for all the answeres in advance! This is the best site!

First off ... I love the name "stubbylegs" that gave me a chuckle!

I can answer a couple of questions but not all. My quaker LOVES his happy hut and most (not all) love to cuddle so it's worth a try.
Rope perches are nice. They have some called a "boing" which is a rope perch in a spiral. It's also nice to have a concrete perch in a slightly larger size to help keep the nails trimmed. (not the sand covered ones - they may irritate their feet)
It's also nice to have a play area other than his cage to keep him happy and stimulated/occupied.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks, I got it from a picture of my dachshund! I will pick up on of the Boing's that sounds cool. She does have a pink stone/calcium or some type perch I got for her the other day. I haven't seen her eating it, but she does sit on it. I have become addicted to buying toys for her! Not that she seems to want to really play with them yet) We got a really cool one from the Petco the other night, but I guess my 5 yr old left it in the store or something cause we still haven't found it and it is too far to drive back to the store and ask for it! She does have a play are on top of her cage that she will occasionally get on. She also has a cute little swing with coconut shell on it, but she is having none of it. Maybe she is too young still. Thanks for the welcome!

I'm beginning to think they NEVER stop molting! Clyde has been at it for a month and still seems to drop feathers all over the place and has lots of pin feathers on his head, though it's not as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago. He only plays with one of his many toys, and he wouldn't touch it for a good couple of months after I gave it to him, so maybe Carly's just not used to hers yet.

If she'll step up on a dowel rod, she will probably eventually step on your hand. Maybe she's kind of afraid of your hand and it will just take a while for her to get over that.

Click to view attachmentHere are pictures of Carley's head.

The little white sticks are new feathers they are covered with a shaft when the birds have a partner /mate /friend they help to preen each other to break off the white shafts where the new feather is encased...These pins can be very sensitive and if your bird lets you help break them (preen him) be careful as you might get a nip..also during a moult your bird can be a bit crabby ..
A dailt spritz with a water bottle or a bath can help to soften these shafts and then you can gently rub them between your fingers or with a soft towel like you are drying your hair ...
Good luck..

I love, love, love the fact that your bird is trained to step up on a perch. That is one of the most important thing to teach a pet bird (next to the step up). What you can do is have the bird step up onto the perch and make sure to say 'step up' (or 'up' or whatever you say) when he does it. Once he's onto the perch, then you can see if he'll step up from there, onto your finger (you may need two people for this). Keep practicing going back and forth.

Thanks I would have never thought those were new feathers! Carly is coming out of her shell daily! She loves to sit on the back of the couch (it is higher than our heads) last night she would get in my hand and bite at my nails! I was able to just love all over her! It was great. Thanks to all of you for all the help.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww it sounds like Carley is really setteling into being one of the flock..

what a beautiful bird. Sounds like she is really settling in alright!