FINCHforum

Okay, so Cindy once said that black flecks on a zebras breast can be a sign of the bird being malnourished. Well, my English hen has faint stripes (like the males) on her breast, and they have seem to pop out a bit more since I got her, but still involve me grabbing her and getting a close look to see them. I tried getting a picture but it won't show up on camera. Is she malnourished?? I hope not! This is their diet on a daily basis:

Seed
Cuttlebone
Crushed Eggshell

They also get fresh veggies (currently celery and carrots) and eggfood several times a week, and fresh greens grown from their seed every now and then. I hope she is not malnourished!

(I also know that these faint lines and flecks of black can be a sign for split to black cheeked. She was with one black cheeked hen, and one split to blacked hen, but I do not know if that is why she has the lines) Help!

Hi Dante,
I wouldn't worry too much about your hen being malnourished. that sort of 'under nutrition' comes from a lifetime of poor diet and poor living conditions in general. those birds may have only gotten one type of seed their entire life - think what it would do to a bird to eat nothing but spray millet for instance, never tasting anything but that from birth onward. it creates serious nutritional deficiencies.

the fact that you feed some fresh greens daily and egg food makes a huge difference. I'm guessing your seed is probably a mix of different seeds, and that helps too. I'm betting your hen is just showing some faint, normal markings.

Thanks Ria, glad it is normal. They get forti diet mixed with extra white prosso

Dante, it is also a possible sign of D3 deficency or its inbility to process it (I will find the post on the bird). It can happen to 1 bird in a clutch of otherwise healthy birds. It also can be due to lack of sunlight. It can mean poor nutrition. Your bird does not sound like it is an issue...picture will help.

Here is the thread on it...2nd page mentions what I discussed with Roy Beckham.

I tried taking a picture, they do not show up. It is too faint. Her cage was farthest from the window, with a cage next to her and stacked on top may have been blocking the natural light? I koved her into the cage closest to the window earlier. What is D3?

cindy wrote:Here is the thread on it...2nd page mentions what I discussed with Roy Beckham.

no link

sorry about that, http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=18119

Good info. Cindy! I think I may be worrying over nothing. How is Scribbles?

He is with a friend, he is enjoying sunshine!! I saw him last week, still the same, often if it is something sun will fix then it is not apparent until after a molt!!!

I guess time will tell