Scaly face?

[CandoAviary]

It could very well be a vitamin deficiency. Of course finches with vitamin deficiency are more prone to scaly mites, as well as other problems.
If the bird is not scratching..and it appears there are no feathers rubbed from the nares so I would lean more towards the lack of vitamin A as the culprit. If you take it to the vet..or have a look under the microscope you can see the mite within a scraping. Many times the vet will give ivermec as a safe guard but I have brought zebras beaks to top condition with the simple addition of vitamun A and some iodine. Zebras are an australian bird, much like the gouldian and the requirements for these in their diet seem to be very important.
Hope you little zebra gets his red tone back in no time.

Here is an article from a fellow breeder:

Vitamin A deficiency in finches.
by BMustee on Tue May 13, 2008 11:37 pm

.I wanted to post this info for anyone that notices a discoloration in the beaks of their small birds (and maybe their big birds too)

My original breeder female Star Finch came down with a mysterious symptom right after her first breeding season and unfortunately did not make it. After I replaced her and got a second set for genetically non related offspring to sell, another female Star started to get the same color change in her beak. Because there was no info on the web ANYWHERE and the only thing breeders I talked to said it sounded like was scaly face mites I talked to an Avian vet when I took Elmo in for a well-bird visit. He asked to see some pictures and sent me home with some Ivermectin to be sure. I sent him the pics and he was a bit stumped as well, but did not think it was S.F. mites...as was I because non of the other finches had signs of infection. He thought that maybe…just maybe…it could be a vitamin A deficiency. I started giving ALL the finches Necton-S in their drinking water. Necton has the best levels of A on the market and it is a popular brand with breeders. Low and behold, just 2 months later her beak is back to normal. I have sense started giving Necton-E a few times a week as well to boost fertility and I have three nests with eggs..

[Ameza]

Thank you Candace!

I am going to go to the petshop tomorrow and buy some vitamins, especially vitamin A. Also I was thinking of trying out using that oil that is supposed to work on scaly face and put some regularly on his beak as well.

Hopefully he will get better, I'll let you guys know how it goes!

And thank you all for the great help and input!

[cindy]

Besides the A try D3 also

[Ameza]

Will do!

[CandoAviary]

Ivermec dosage for air sac mites is one drop on the back of the neck...I would be extremely cautious with applying it daily as you could overdose the bird. Also getting ivermec in the nostrils would not feel good...I have gotten it in my eye and it is a real irritant!
Here is an article on the scaley mite treatments
http://www.avianweb.com/scaly.html#face

I have aquired zebras that had beaks like that...just not as much. The bird did not have mites and I treated them completely with vitamines and iodine. I only use the insecticides if necessary.

This was a picture of a zebra with a beak problem. It was isolated and supplied with vitamins 3 days a week in the water. along with iodine/kelp added to sprouted seed. Also was given all the cantaloupe it could eat. No chemical/insecticide treatment was given. With 3 weeks the bird looked great. Once added to my stock it received a well balanced diet and never had a reoccurence.
The frail beak had some hair line cracks in it also but even those were gone within 6 weeks.
My adopted finch:

[cindy]

Ameza
Can you get Ivermec in Iceland...do you have a feed store near you?

Candace...ouch!!!!!

If a bird is very lacking in certain vitamins it can actually cause the beak to go soft (rubbery). On the other hand to much of certain vitamins can cause issues also...these little finch children do worry us so!!

Hope your little one gets better soon!!! Keep in mind to that inury, like flying into something can also mark the beak sometimes causing hairline fractures in the top layers of the beak. I would still give the little one a bit of vitamins.

[CandoAviary]

Too much Vitamin A can cause liver failure. Many people color feeding their red factors canaries over do it and actually cut their little lives short
I only use vitamin suppliments if I get finches that have been depleated. Then only 3 times a week, every other day. If fed a correct diet, this is seldom, if ever needed as the bird won't develope a problem to starty with.

Best wishes for your Finch, Ameza

[cindy]

forgot to add.....keep us posted on his progress!

[Fraza]

Today I have noticed all my birds look although they have been struck with scaly face and one my black breast has got its chin sort of area bottom of beak missing feathers I have give them iodine as I did this to treat a swollen foot and it was my only option will it work straight away

And can it pass to my society’s

[lovezebs]

Fraza

Hi Fraser,

What's going on with the kids?

Usually Scaly face, is not something that would suddenly appear just over night.

I found some good information here for you on Scaly face, so that you can compare to what you're seeing in your birds. Give it a read...

https://ladygouldianfinch.com/features_scalyface.php

However, I'm not sure if that's what's happening with your kids.

Any pictures?

[Fraza]

Hi lovezebs I will take some pics when I am back ther and I’m not sure myself but basically all my zebras aprt from one has got a discoleration on ther beak and then one has feathers missing below the bottom beak

Can they pass to the society’s

[lovezebs]

Fraza

It all depends on what is going on with them.

Pictures may help to possibly identify what's going on.

[Fraza]

I know I’m just worried hope they all okay I have give them iodine holding this will help

[lovezebs]

Fraza

Don't over do the iodine Fraser, don't want to poison your birdies, and if it is scaly mites, it won't help.

[Fraza]

lovezebs Ohright okay I put in a outback the size of a smartie crumbled up into there water it’s a bowl about the size of a melon