Mathew Wiese answered question 1/27/2011 My Cockatiel Is Always Biting & Scratching Herself. She Has Very Heavy Powder Dust & Very Flakey Skin Otherwise She Is A Very Playful Happy Contented Little Girl. She Is Approximately 2yrs Old. What Could It Be? I have the same problem with my cockatiel. Hes 6 years old and is scratching himself and biting himself a lot. White powder dust is falling of him and hes scratching some of his feathers of if.