Helping Feathers to come in

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:03 pm

Hey Everyone!

I have a question. I have a few birds that are missing feathers for one reason or another.

I have a female indigobird that has some missing around her neck. She was missing them when we purchased her, but I figured some good food and getting her out of the cage of those others nasty pickers would do her a world of good. But it's been 3 months now, and she's still missing neck feathers. She's been getting a few drops of cod liver oil and wheatgerm oil in her seeds everyday, as well as eggfood, and now just recently I'm trying somethign called profeda, specifically designed to aid feather growth in molting birds. I'm not really seeing any improvement.

The other is my male indigobird, and he's molting back to his 'out of breeding season' color, which is to say, he's losing all his lovely black feathers, and he's turning brown like a sparrow. He's also getting profeda, and eggfood and wheatgerm oil/cod liver oil in his seed.

The little lavender that was plucked from the store reacted well to this treatment and she/he has all their feathers in full 'bloom' now. A brilliant red and grey.

Third is my little female cordon bleu that in the last 4 months has laid 4 clutches and not one was fertile, or got as far as hatching. We've removed all nesting materials and she has cease laying eggs, but I believe as a result her head feathers have thinned out. She's getting profeda as well, and eggs.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions on what might help improve/speed up the feather growth? I have no access to thinks like 'feather up' unless I purchase online. I can't get alot of the items that Americans can get off the shelf in the U.S.

Any help would be appreciated

Jeannette

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:15 pm

Hi Jeannette,

I can't say if this applies to the species you have, but I was told to give my birds with feather loss liquid kelp (iodine). The gouldian hen I bought back in Dec. was completely bald. Now four months later, she and the other Goulds have gone through a molt and the hen has regrown all her head feathers. Hopefully someone will have better advice for you. I know how annoying plucking can be as my zebs used to be horrible about it and my cb hen has plucked those beautiful blue feathers from her mate's neck!

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:59 pm

THAT I can get! At least I think I can. I think I've seen liquid kelp at the healthfood store, but just in case. Where do you purchase your liquid kelp?

Right about now I'm willing to try anything. My poor little female indigo was isolated by herself for so long, now the molting male indigo is in with her so I think they're happy, if not isolated to a small hospital cage until those feathers come in better.

The Cordie is looking better I have to say,although it may be just wishing thinking and wanting to believe she is.

How much liquid kelp do you give them, and where do you apply it? IN their water, on their seed, in the eggmix??

Jeannette

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:10 pm

I bought my liquid kelp via the internet, can't recall who from though. You should be able to use the stuff at the health food store as the bottle I have is marked for human consumption. You put two drops in a quart of water. I keep mine on this dosage all the time because Diane said the Gouldians need it and it wouldn't harm the other species.

Hope that helps ya.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:44 pm

Yes it does! thank you!

I dont give them a quart of water so i'll have to mix up a quart and then just fill their water dishes as they need it. I hope it will keep in the fridge.

Two drops doesnt sound like very much in quart of water, but heck, I'll try anything about now.

Jeannette

Sable · Post by **Sable** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:23 pm

Hi do you think that the powered kelp would do the same thing. i have a gouldain female that had all her down feathers plucked out. she looks terrible but is happily eating and flying around with her mate.

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:03 pm

I would think so, as long as she does eat it. The nice thing about liquid kelp is that it's added to water and they eventually will always drink the water. I do both - I keep kelp in a treat bowl with a little charcoal and trace minerals, and add the liquid to their water once a week or so.

Christopher Smith · Post by **Christopher Smith** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:32 am

Have you had the bird checked out for mites?

Maybe it’s the supplement that are causing your problems. For instance, maybe the cod liver oil is making your birds too fat to breed. This is very common in some parrot finches. Maybe the iodine will screw up your birds thyroid. Vitamins and supplement can do harm

Why not back off all of the supplement and give your birds a normal diet of seeds, greens and a little egg food. Give the bird up to a year to molt out or take it to the vet.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:16 am

Gouldians require more iodine in their diet. The feather loss is a normal symptom of iodine deficiency. I've noticed also, that hens seem to be affected more than males. I wonder if that is true.

Christopher Smith · Post by **Christopher Smith** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:05 pm

tammieb wrote:Gouldians require more iodine in their diet.

More iodine in their diet than what?

I have raised goulds for several years and I am well aware of the rumor that “they need more iodine”. But I have to question this. Have you ever read a scientific paper or seen a study that indicates that captive goulds are iodine deficient? Have you ever seen the results of blood work that stated that a Gould was deficient in iodine?

Every one of the widespread iodine deficiency claims that I have heard leads back to someone selling supplements.

There are many other causes of feather loss. Genetics, hormones, parasites and stress are also very common causes. Personally, I won’t medicate my birds unless I’m sure of the cause and the cure.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:16 pm

More iodine in their diet than what?

Most other finch species!

All I know is when my Goulds were not getting liquid kelp, they were bald. When they are given liquid kelp they are not.

It's pretty clear to me, they need the iodine the kelp provides.

You are most certainly free to do whatever you wish with your birds.

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:37 pm

Kelp powder is fine, too. I get powdered kelp from a garden supply store and put it in treat cups. It is stinky, though.

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:14 pm

I'm using liquid iodine for my balding gouldians. How long is it supposed to take for their feathers to grow back?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:56 pm

It depends on how bald they are. Mine took about two months before all the feathers had been replaced.

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:13 pm

Geez...it just seems like my birds are getting worse, not better..

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Helping Feathers to come in

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