[Dante1010]

Hello. I noticed a few times that while preening, my cockatiel plucks the very very tiny white feathers near his skin, underneath the larger feathers. Her feathers appear really dry.

He plucks them, chews on them, then swallows them.

Please help!

 

[Daytontiel]

The feather you refers to called powdery down, which is means to be broken down into powder for various purpose. What you described is normal behavior, nothing to worry about.

 

[Dante1010]

The feather you refers to called powdery down, which is means to be broken down into powder for various purpose. What you described is normal behavior, nothing to worry about.

so it’s normal for him to actually be chewing on and swallowing his down feathers?

 

[Daytontiel]

so it’s normal for him to actually be chewing on and swallowing his down feathers?

I don't think he is swallowing the powdery down, he just break the down feather, so he can spread the powder all over his body. Nothing to worry.