FINCHforum

Is it possible for finches to suffer from a French molt? As some of you might remember, I have a society finch with an unknown feather condition. He will sometimes grow in pin feathers or actually get in a fill feather only to lose it a week or two later. I have been looking for information on the disease, but I only find references to it in parrots. We are looking to breed this bird soon, but I want to make sure his condition isn't something that can be passed to the offspring.

That does not sound good.

Has a vet had a look at your birds condition?

monotwine wrote:That does not sound good.

Has a vet had a look at your birds condition?

I had a vet look at him once, but she just said she thought he damaged his feather tracts.

I think I would get a second opinion. The growing and loss of feathers is likely a glandular, dietary, or hereditary, if the finch is not ill.

finchmix22 wrote:I think I would get a second opinion. The growing and loss of feathers is likely a glandular, dietary, or hereditary, if the finch is not ill.

I did once email the woman that runs finchaviary.com and explained the situation to her. She seemed to believe that he damaged his feather tracts one day when he escaped and wedged himself between a bed and the wall. He went from being fully flighted to being in his current condition shortly after this incident.

As his owner/carer you are going to have to make a final decision, but these are things I would consider.

If you are sure his condition is from injury and not genetic / disease yes you could probably breed him.
However are you satisfied that the additional strain placed on his little body to replace feathers, keep warm and feed and warm youngsters etc. will allow him to rear young? (I'm not sure on the extent of his feather loss. If he looses all his feathers regularly I personally would not breed him.)
Perhaps try only one clutch per season, but if it is genetic are you willing to keep all the young and the responsibility that goes with that i.e. either euthanize them or keep them with their disability and provide the correct environment for their healthiest state of living?

Obvioulsy you care for you little boy or you would not ask in the first place. Best wishes for your final decision.

Here are the most recent pictures I have of him.





Ignore the long toenail here, it has been cut.