Flutter's feather loss

[EyesofFreedom]

So one of my hens is losing feathers...

I have already ruled out mites because she is the only of 4 affected...

I haven't noticed any sores or bumps on her skin either...

She is also missing feathers on her lower back side under her wings...

I am almost suspecting a molt...

Sorry for the low quality pics...

[Ginene]

Poor Flutter...Do you think that one of her cage-mates is plucking her??? Zebras can be naughty...I speak from experience unfortunately...Maybe Vargar will see your post and comment. He's a big-time zebra guy. Otherwise pm him with a pic and ask him. Good Luck, Will....

[Lisa]

It looks like plucking to me too.

Sometimes the male will pluck the female if he wants additional nesting material or it could just be outright aggression.

[EyesofFreedom]

yeah her partner is a suspect... he is constant preening her... he just may be plucking her...

[Vargur]

yebb, looks like someone is plucking her,
the back of the neck, under the wings and sometimes the tail
are most popullar area to pluck.
IS there a nest inside the cage?
or are too many birds in too small cage?
And I agree with Lisa; aggression or someone is "using"
Her as a nesting material.

[EyesofFreedom]

There is no nest in the cage... there are 4 birds (two pairs)...

The cage is a pretty good size... its 31"W x 20"D x 53"H

Both pair have been mating...

Weird thing is that when I clean the cage I don't find feathers all over the bottom???

[Vargur]

what about on the floor?
when the birds flutter their wings
the plucked feathers usually
dont stay long in the cage.
And the plucker hide his behaviour very well
But I hope they stop this, its stressfull.

[Chocolatebex]

She looks so sweet! I'd separate her into a different cage for a while so she can grow them back in peace! Keep her warm as well... Good luck

[Zebrafincher]

When I got my second star finch, Merlin, from a cage of finches, he was as bald as a badger! Finches just seem to be prone to feather plucking, esp. in numbers. I'd watch your little female carefully, or keep her in a separate cage until she grows her hair back

[Ginene]

Hey Will...how's flutter doing? Did you ever find out what happened with her bald spots?

[EyesofFreedom]

I never did find out what was really going on... Flutter is doing good... her feathers are growing back

[Ginene]

Great news

[EyesofFreedom]

Well that was short lived...

Spaz has been plucking Flutter and now she is almost bald on the back of her head...

It has gotten so bad that when she was on a perch he plucked her and she squeaked and Scratch came and intervened...

I have thought about it all day and decided I am going to get another smaller cage and separate him...

[Ginene]

I have thought about it all day and decided I am going to get another smaller cage and separate him...

Good idea...poor Flutter...What's wrong with these zebra men??? So aggressive . One of my male zebs, Marty, is so pissed off that I removed the girls, he is taking it out on everyone else in the flight. Dive bombing everyone...even my poor societies. God I would love to get rid of him...he's lucky that he is so handsome...

[EyesofFreedom]

Well Spaz is in solitary confinement...

I don't want to but I have decided to sell him and try another male... maybe I can get one more like Scratch... he is quite laid back...

When I got Spaz he was in a cage with Flutter and two others and was aggressive towards all the others... I just thought it was "pet shop" behavior... I should have trusted my gut...

It really was bad when Scratch got between Spaz and Flutter last night and stopped him from plucking her feathers

Its a hard decision to make but if he is this aggressive now towards her what does the future hold... I don't want him to be worse to Sniff or forbid some future chicks...