Orange Cheek Missing feathers

[tovis]

My female orange cheek has had some feathers missing on her cheeks. Is this something I should be worried about? Any idea what it could be from - or how long it might take them to grow back?

[finchmix22]

Can you post a pic? My OCW's had Scaly Face and it showed up on the cheeks. I gave them Ronex 12% for five days in the water. If not, it may be getting plucked by anther finch. Watch and see what is happening.

[tovis]

Took this with my wife's ipod, hope it is clear enough. Quick little gal.

[tovis]

When I purchased the finch, it was in a small cage full of zebra finches, now its with its mate in a much larger cage. It seems happy wagging its tail feathers. Perhaps it was other finches plucking it - but perhaps it might be something else.

Do they just grow back or do I have to give her something?

[finchmix22]

If you give her some crushed eggs, whole with the shell, that will help her grow back the feathers. IF they don't seem to get better or she seems to get worse, you're dealing with mites and need to treat with Ivermectin, one dab on a cotton swab to the skin of the thigh and repeat after three days.

[tovis]

Where would I get Ivermectin?

I'll try eggs, but last time I put them in the cage none of my finches touched them.

[DanteD716]

My orange cheeks won't touch eggfood, but try putting it in a treat cup eye level to their favorite perch, I have a male being picked on by a nesting pair, I have to move him with the male societies tommorow

[tovis]

I'll give that a try. Checked for mites yesterday and didn't see any on the bird, Perhaps they would be too small to see.

[finchmix22]

You buy Ivermectin at ladygouldianfinch.com or ladygouldian.com. I sprinkle some seeds over eggfood for new finches, so they try eating the eggs.

[tovis]

Thanks a million. How often do people clean birds?

[finchmix22]

I clean my paper towels, which are set over the grates, as often as I see the poop and not the paper towels, as I don't want them eating seed off a dirty paper towel. Usually, I change those paper towels a couple times a week. The dishes and water bowls I rinse and brush clean twice a day with every water change.
Overall, I guess about once a month, I do a thorough cage/aviary cleaning including: disinfect the grates, bars, perches, change out nests (if no babies), and sanitize all dishes/bottles in my dishwasher. Sometimes, I rotate this schedule and do half the aviary one day and the rest another, as I have over 50 finches. I try to daily clean one cage or something like that, to cut down on the time and keep them clean more frequently. Basically, I don't want dried poop on the bars, floor, or in dishes and water. So, I check the cages/aviaries when I make the feeding/watering changes each day and see what needs to be cleaned on an as needed basis.

[tovis]

I was talking about the actual birds, do you spray them with anything on a regimented basis?

[finchmix22]

No sprays. They get bath water daily and I just treat for ASM with Ivermectin yearly. Cocci-Care quarterly; and Worm Away yearly as well.

[tovis]

they never go in the bath.

[Lisa]

Tovis, have you tried giving them warm water to bath in and is the dish shallow enough that they don't fear jumping in?

I give all of my birds fresh warm bathwater every morning and after about 15 minutes, someone will take the plunge. The funny thing is that the sound of fluttering from drying off seems to start a chain reaction and as soon as 1 bird bathes, the rest soon follow. Next thing I know, I've got 20+ birds fluttering at the same time. Some will even sit nearby while others are bathing and get a little spray shower themselves from all the splashing.