Question with plucking/tumors
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:09 am
I will try to keep this short as possible..
I have, over the past few years, encountered a problem with my finches. Some of them will pluck out the feathers on their lower back to the base of their tail, exposing the preen gland. This has happened with two society finches, two spice finches, and now with a zebra finch. All also developed tumors that eventually killed them. Most lived for some time with the plucking before the tumors were evident. Because this same thing has happened with multiple species, I always assumed it was from a shared source - our water is known to have a high radium count, and while it is safe(ish) for human consumption, the birds were switched to bottled water-only some months ago. No one in the home smokes. No chemicals are used near the birds. They are in a new flight and since the first society showed these signs, there have been three different apartments.
I know for certain that the first finch to develop these problems died from a massive tumor on her abdomen - a necropsy was done after the shock of taking her into the vet killed her (literally dying in the vet's hands). Since then, I have decided to let the afflicted birds live out their days in less stress with their friends, rather than another vet visit.
Some of the finches live a long time while the tumor swells - the second society carried one so large I was surprised he was able to fly with it, and lived with it for a long time. One spice finch passed quickly (before the plucking and tumor were noticed, to be honest - it wasn't until I found the body that I found the problem), but the other has had the problem for months now.
Has anyone had experience with this phenomenon? Any advice?
I am especially concerned at the moment because the afflicted zebra - just discovered yesterday - may be trying to lay. I am concerned that if it is tumors she may become egg bound easier. If there is something that I can do to prevent more of my birds from developing these problems, I certainly wish to do so.
As I said, all are on bottled drinking water, but aside from owls from out of state and a clutch of zebras that were bred after the switch, all the birds (six of the thirteen - zebras, societies, spices) drank the tap water, some for years without showing any signs of back/tail plucking or tumors. Could it be that some of the birds are just predisposed to this?
Any advice or insight is appreciated.
I have, over the past few years, encountered a problem with my finches. Some of them will pluck out the feathers on their lower back to the base of their tail, exposing the preen gland. This has happened with two society finches, two spice finches, and now with a zebra finch. All also developed tumors that eventually killed them. Most lived for some time with the plucking before the tumors were evident. Because this same thing has happened with multiple species, I always assumed it was from a shared source - our water is known to have a high radium count, and while it is safe(ish) for human consumption, the birds were switched to bottled water-only some months ago. No one in the home smokes. No chemicals are used near the birds. They are in a new flight and since the first society showed these signs, there have been three different apartments.
I know for certain that the first finch to develop these problems died from a massive tumor on her abdomen - a necropsy was done after the shock of taking her into the vet killed her (literally dying in the vet's hands). Since then, I have decided to let the afflicted birds live out their days in less stress with their friends, rather than another vet visit.
Some of the finches live a long time while the tumor swells - the second society carried one so large I was surprised he was able to fly with it, and lived with it for a long time. One spice finch passed quickly (before the plucking and tumor were noticed, to be honest - it wasn't until I found the body that I found the problem), but the other has had the problem for months now.
Has anyone had experience with this phenomenon? Any advice?
I am especially concerned at the moment because the afflicted zebra - just discovered yesterday - may be trying to lay. I am concerned that if it is tumors she may become egg bound easier. If there is something that I can do to prevent more of my birds from developing these problems, I certainly wish to do so.
As I said, all are on bottled drinking water, but aside from owls from out of state and a clutch of zebras that were bred after the switch, all the birds (six of the thirteen - zebras, societies, spices) drank the tap water, some for years without showing any signs of back/tail plucking or tumors. Could it be that some of the birds are just predisposed to this?
Any advice or insight is appreciated.