Female Gould Losing Primaries

[waxbill lover]

Hello All,

Hope all your finches are happy, healthy and well as we're coming out of the breeding season (depending on where you are!)

I have a question. I have a female Gouldian, who went through a complete moult about 2 months ago. Lost all of her feathers (or so I thought)...
Over the last 2 weeks, she has lost 5 of her primaries from the edge of her right wing only, all the way down, completely hampering her flight ability. I caught her and looked at where the feathers came out. No new growth of new feathers, just empty follicles, and no signs of feather mites, disease or growths of any kind. Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing? I regularly put calcium in their water 3 times a week (as these are breeding birds) they are given a complete pink free mineral, egg food, veggies/fruit, millet, and their seed, so there shouldn't be any nutritional deficiencies. She is currently raising 2 chicks with her mate. Does stress from raising chicks ever cause this kind of thing to happen?

Let me know your thoughts guys!
Have a great weekend, and happy St. Patricks Day!

[DanteD716]

I do not know if stress causes finches to rip out there own feathers like hookbills? Or can her mate be ripping them for the nest?

[waxbill lover]

There is no reason for her to be stressed, and she doesn't appear that way. She's a very calm trusting curious bird for a finch. Loves people.
Her mate has not been tearing out her feathers as far as I can see. She is in perfect plumage (especially compared to when I bought her from the Pet store a year ago) except for these primaries missing.

[DanteD716]

That is strange. Did they all go missing at once? MYbe she had a niht fright, and banged her wings a bit?

[Bluebonnet]

Really sorry to hear your female gouldian. I just recently learned about gouldians and hormone issues if a hen breeds before she's in full breeding condition. I don't know if this applies in your case, but is she in full breeding condition? Knowing this might help narrow down the possible issues.

[waxbill lover]

Dante: Yes, they've all gone missing at once. I suppose a night fright is a possibility, but I have a night light on in the bird room, for these kinds of things...and its not a dim one either.

Bluebonnet: Hormones could be an issue I'd not thought about... The female went out of breeding condition from Nov-Feb... and then immediately after her moult, went back into breeding condition (beak turned black, and started nest building/breeding/laying eggs etc) I wonder what hormones she'd be lacking? I know for sure she lost her primaries when she moulted in Dec/Jan, because she was in an aviary and was unable to really fly at all while she was moulting, and just hopped/skipped/jumped her way around. She's now in a breeding cage with her mate. Also forgot to mention the birds are under special full spectrum daylight bulbs that are set on a timer to go on/off. (they were previously set for 0600-2100 for the winter, but have now been changed as of today to 0700-1900 as I want the breeding to taper off and give the birds a rest)

[waxbill lover]

Just an update on my sweet little Bianca.

I see she's grown in 4 or 5 new primaries, after losing them a few weeks ago. They are blood feathers at the moment, so I'm really hoping she's careful and doesn't break them, jumping around and being curious.

[DanteD716]

That is good news!