fledglings preening alot

[Airlyn]

My Gouldian babies are almost 5 weeks old and seem to preen constantly. Is that normal?
Parents don't seem to be preening as much as the babies. I am worried they have some type of mites are something.
Airlyn

[Airlyn]

I guess those new feathers are itchy?

[KarenB]

It's normal, because they are growing lots of feathers right now. As the feathers come in, they have a sheath of keratin covering them that needs to be removed as the feathers get longer coming out. The birds will do the same thing when they go through a big molt.

[Airlyn]

Whew, thank you!