Dry feet and sticking up feathers

[DesmondTheFinch]

This is Castiel, ever since I got him he's been having troubles with his feet. They're very dry and he tends to pick at them a bunch. I've treated all of my Finches for Scaly Face mites several times and I'm not sure if that's what it is or not, I don't think he has bumble foot because he doesn't have wounds until he's picked his feet to death. He also has these wing feathers that stick up and they don't go down, I'm very concerned they're hurting him but he doesn't seem to pick at them or knowledge them, he is also missing all his orange cheek feathers on one side, will he grow this back? Please help me with any tips to help my poor baby. I'm sorry you can't really see his feet in this pic but all I can describe them as is very white and dry looking, they are a little big and they have wounds from him picking.

[lovezebs]

DesmondTheFinch

When my guys get dry feet, I grab them and give them a foot massage with a tiny bit of olive or coconut oil. I rub it in gently all around the foot and leg and between the toes and along the nails.

Use just very little, seeing as you don't want greasy feathers.

Even if he nibbles on or licks his feet, it's not going to hurt him.

I would also offer a daily bath of luke warm water.

Regarding those feathers, that's something I've never seen before. What do his wings look like when you spread them out? Are the wing feathers normal?

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About the missing cheek feathers:
Is there another bird with him who might be plucking him?

[DesmondTheFinch]

Oof I haven't spread his wings out, and when I've seen him do it himself the feathers are normal but once he put them back into resting they stick up. And I do think his cage mate is picking at him, is there a way to stop that? They're like best friends and don't fight , he just picked them all off and then stopped. I'm just concerned he won't grow them back.

[DesmondTheFinch]

He will sometimes fall to the bottom of the cage and struggle to fly back up, he's gotten out of the cage and wasn't able to fly for very long.

[lovezebs]

DesmondTheFinch

The feathers will grow back, but if his friend keeps plucking the same feathers over and over, eventually it will cause damage and these feathers will not come back.

The obviius solution, is to seperate them into two cages, until the feathers grow back.

However, if they are very closely bonded, this will cause stress to both.

I would recommend introducing a foraging box into their cage, which will alleviate boredom, and give them something more interesting to do, rather then feather plucking. Also adding some fake vines and greenery into their environment might help keep them occupied with more than just one another.

Regarding the wing feathers sticking up like that... I was wondering, does he fly normally?

[lovezebs]

DesmondTheFinch

Just saw your other post.

If he struggles with flying, my guess would be that his wings were either damaged at a young age, or not formed properly in the nest.

This situation can be helped by offering some perches that are crisscrossed from the bottom of the cage to the top. This way, he can hop from perch to perch and get to where he wants to go without having to fly too much.

I have a Society girl with a bum wing, and doing this for her has done wonders. She still falls occasionally, but not as often.

I would also remove the grate from the bottom of the cage, or cover it with newspaper or paper towels. Very often when birds fall, they tend to get a wing caught in the grate, which can cause sprains, breaks, or even death if they remain trapped in that position for too long.

[DesmondTheFinch]

lovezebs I do have newspaper at the bottom, and I can probably fit another perch in the cage to help him, thank you so much for your help

[lovezebs]

DesmondTheFinch

You're most welcome.