FINCHforum

Hi all

Ive just noticed that one of my societies has been paying a lot of attention to grooming his/her chest. I am unsure why this is. Could he/she have feather mites? If so why isnt the other finch showing signs of this?

Also if it is mites, how do I treat them?

Thank you for your time.

Mite and Lice spray is your friend

You'll find it in the bird health section of your bird section of any good pet shop They are usually in sprays

Yes, get lice & mite spray, my societies preen theirnchests but not over excessivly.

Thanks.

Is there any treatment for the mites that I can add to their drinking water as I dont hold my finches.

Hi red panda the problem is if a bird drinks the contents are going inside while the mites are outside so it is much more easier to tackle the problem with a spray than putting meds down their throat and who knows if they will drink enough to kill all the mites. Another product that I use to help with mites is ivomec, one drop on the neck and repeat in two weeks seems to get rid of them and no real problems.

The mite spray for feather mites like Avian Insect Liquidator just gets sprayed on the bird, no need to hold them. You should also spray their environment, especially in all the cracks and crevices where insects may hide and lay eggs.

Thank you for all your help. I shall have a look for the mite spray in my nearby pet shop.

Should you treat as a precaution just in case, even if there are no signs?

This is assuming what the bird has is in fact feather mites.

If you can catch the bird and spread the wings out, the damaged caused by feather mites is pretty obvious on the primary flight feathers and would appear as patches or chunks missing or appearing degenerative in structure.
http://www.powdermillarc.org/graphics/h ... g/rcki.jpg

They're not all that common in indoor captive birds unless they've been exposed or an infected bird has been brought in.

I would first suspect perhaps your bird is just molting.

I am a new owner of one, now two, society (or bengalese) finches. My female was alone for some time and became very unhappy. She was doing a lot of grooming during this time, pulling feathers out. I adopted a male for her, and she is very happy and lively now, even her feathers that stand up on top of her head are more perky. The pair is nesting. However, Myrtle and Spice are both now grooming a lot. Not all the time, but intensely when they do. Myrtle, my female, opened her wing when grooming and I noticed that along the wingbone from which all the feathers begin and hang down, there are bright pink spots almost like blood under the skin. Previously, I took her to the vet this past weekend (along with her mate) and the vet did a physical exam and said she did not see any feather mites. I was happy to think that at this point it was nesting, or moulting, or both. But with the new pink spots, I am concerned again. I don't even know what to think. Are the mites too small to be seen? Is this just compulsive behavior? Should I try a mite spray? The stuff you put in the water (S76?). Assume this will pass? I know this thread is kind of old at this point, but I also know this is an ongoing problem for owners, from reading this and other sites, so I'd welcome any input.