FINCHforum

Hi ,

I'm new to this forum & new to taking care of birds.

I have a zebra finch couple <male and female>.The male is loosing feathers from his tail.they clean themselves and each others alot. As if there is something pinching them because they jump from their place sometimes.& the female get puffed sometimes when she's cleaning herself.

I'm not sure if it's normal Zebra finch behavior or I shall worry.

I was given at the pet shop "Aerosol spray for cage birds safe and easy"...A red bottle to spray them every 15 days.I'm very hesitant to use because they are happy and active....

What do you recommend.


Thank you very much,Glad to find this forum that cares about finches.

Welcome to the forum! Lots of good reading at the Finch Information Center, linked at left, and the members are always ready to offer advice. If you put your location in your profile, it helps to answer locale-specific questions later on.

It's difficult to tell from your description, but your Zebras could be exhibiting normal behavior. They do preen themselves and each other a lot. Zebras especially will carry it to the extreme sometimes, preening to the point of plucking (often they are wanting feathers to make a nest). When preening, they will fluff all their feathers, similar to how a dog shakes off the water after getting wet. And it is normal for them to be very active, jumping from perch to perch.

Personally, I wouldn't use any mite spray every 15 days. I don't like to use any of this type product unless I feel it is necessary. I'm not familiar with the spray sold in pet shops, but one of the best and safest pesticides for birds is Avian Insect Liquidator--don't know it if available to you, it usually has to be ordered online. Most finches enjoy a daily bath, which also helps them keep their feathers in good condition.