FINCHforum

i just took a good look at my hen because i notice that the feather lost was on more than just her head. when i had her in my hand i found she had no feather on her back.she only has feather on her under belly and wings and she losing her tail feathers. i also notice a sacs on her neck the one on the right is bigger than the one on the left. she active and eating but all her feather seem to be falling out. do i need to separate her from my male he is fine im trying hard to hold back tear please help

moe

Are these Zebras? The only birds in a cage? Someone is probably plucking her feathers out--she needs to be put in a cage by herself and she will have to stay by herself for quite a while, till her feathers grow back in. Keep a close eye on her, she may need to have a bit of heat, since she doesn't have feathers to keep her warm. You can put her in a small cage, place a heating pad on low around the back of the cage, and put a towel over it to keep in the warmth. I would also give her egg food and lots of greens or any supplement that has lots of protein in it to help her grow new feathers. There are supplements out there like Featherup that will help with new growth, too.

Moe -

Don't worry about the sacs you see - it's her crop, and is completely normal. You usually can't see it when the bird has its feathers. Sally's advice is excellent, and if you don't have a heating pad, use a light bulb to give her additional warmth (though direct it to one side of the cage so she can get away if she gets too hot). I had a zebra hen who was pretty badly plucked by her sisters - it took about 3 weeks to feather back out once she was separated from them.

ok thanks after i read around on the board i figured the sac were normal but the feather i dont know what happen there they haven been fight since the started matting they have been getting alone very well i will get a small cage to put her in thanks

It's probably the mating, not any fighting - I'll bet the male is plucking her to line their nest.....

hi moe
this is the worst habit that zebra finches have!feather plucking they will grow back of course..you only have to see my canaries at this time of year when they are molting they look so bald and sad but when they come through thier molt with the new feathers they really look the business ...so dont worry they will grow back

ken

I've had a hen pluck herself to line the nest. I thought it was the male until I saw hen do it. She also had perfect feathers on her head where she couldn't reach. Crazy little bird, I gave her a few feathers, hoping she would stop but she was already pretty bald.
Gunnar

thanks everyone

like i said she very active and she eating so may be it was the matting
im sitting here just after eating dinner and she is jumping around happy.

the house is pretty warm so i dont think i need any extra heating elements
so i will keep watching and see if things get better

moe

thanks again

hi moe
keep us informed how she gets on her feathers will not take long to grow back..they will be back before you realise it

ken

well so far her feather problem is not getting worst i dont see to much growth either but she is laying eggs again so that is good

hi moe
thats great news

ken

well the egg i saw was cracked but like i said at least i know she ok

she is still alive but the feather have still not grown back it doesn't seem to bother her but it not pretty to look at

how often do zebra molt i notice lot of feather every now and again and his coat look new but im not sure when it come to her i dont know because if she is growing new feather why wouldn't the ones on her head and back grow back too

all help is appreciated
thanks moe

well she is still alive but the feather have still not grown back in i haven't seen them mating in a while and there are no egg shells around i just wish her feather would grow back.

Wow, they still haven't grown back! My guess is that if they haven't grown back by now the damage may have been too great and they won't grow. I have a strawberry hen like that - will probably never get her breast feathers back. You can try lots of protein (eggfood) and something like Feather Up - you never know. Glad she's doing well otherwise, though!