Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
Post Reply
Eccentric T
Pip
Pip
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:44 pm

Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Eccentric T » Sat Aug 24, 2013 11:56 am

So here's my buddy Jake again hanging out in his cage with Marcy. I actually ended up putting these two back together to see if they would get along again. And what do you know? They are getting along surprisingly well! The other day I saw them cleaning each other and thought it was the cutest thing.

Well this isn't about that. Today I saw Jake who appeared to be balding! I'm not sure if it''s the change of seasons doing it, but he appears to be losing all of the feathers on his head. I checked him out, and he isn't bleeding anywhere, so Marcy isn't hurting him. (Which is a relief, really) They're both sitting here now cleaning themselves up after a bath, check the video out and see what I mean. He's losing them feathers!

Should I be worried?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4s2wn3y9t239 ... .48.04.mp4

User avatar
Angela&Shalamar
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 405
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:08 pm
Location: Maryland

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Angela&Shalamar » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:01 pm

looks like plucking to me.
Angela&Shalamar

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by debbie276 » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:05 pm

That happened in a day?? :shock:
Sure looks like Marcy is plucking poor ole Jake to me :(
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

Eccentric T
Pip
Pip
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:44 pm

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Eccentric T » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:05 pm

Should I be separating the two again? They don't seem to be attacking or hurting each other, could it just be an accident?

Eccentric T
Pip
Pip
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:44 pm

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Eccentric T » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:06 pm

debbie276 wrote: That happened in a day?? :shock:
Sure looks like Marcy is plucking poor ole Jake to me :(
No it didn't happen in a day, but I noticed it today.

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by debbie276 » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:07 pm

That's no accident. I'll let the zebra experts answer to whether it's acceptable behavior or not.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Ginene » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:05 pm

Yeesh :shock: ...she's a plucker!!! Zebbies can be so naughty :( .

Eccentric T
Pip
Pip
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:44 pm

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Eccentric T » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:11 pm

Right now the two are just cuddling together. I don't know if I should worry.

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by Ginene » Sat Aug 24, 2013 2:40 pm

Maybe she is looking for nest materials? Some birds pluck themselves or their mate for materials. Do you have any white feathers you can put in the cage to distract her??? Might help...

User avatar
cindy
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 18754
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: west central Florida

Re: Molting or Over-plucked feathers..?

Post by cindy » Sat Aug 24, 2013 3:43 pm

The entire article for the site below is very helpful.... plucking in this case is more of a dominance thing. You said you had them separates then put them back together...did you put the male into the female's cage?

http://zebrafinchsociety.co.uk/index.ph ... &Itemid=68

"Plucked Necks...This is the type of plucking I least like to encounter as it is quite often indicative of a defenseless and therefore unwell specimen. When zebs socialize they will often preen a fellow bird across the back of the neck and around to under the chin. The bird doing the preening will often be strengthening its social bonding, but I have noticed that in a lot of instances this won't necessarily be the subservient bird. Dominant characters will also preen, especially if they stake a claim to the perch, but after a short preen they then expect some reciprocation and if this is not forthcoming they will tend to give a little nudge by plucking out a feather to get attention. If this attention is not forthcoming because the bird being preened is too weak, it can escalate until the bird is evicted from the perch to a lower one. If the bird isn't weak it will stand its ground until whose perch it is becomes settled by a quick squabble and chase. The weaker birds then proceed to lower perches, but this is often another birds domain and so gets similar treatment until the bald patch emerges and the bird reaches ground zero. If I ever notice this I will remove the bird altogether to a warm isolated cage for observation. Once it I have heard many a dealer and breeder pass such birds off at sales with the banter "that one must be coming into breeding condition as its being pursued by a male, hence the bald patch" - this is complete rubbish as far as I am concerned and has no foundations in truth. Never have a seen any relationship between bald necks and breeding condition, their claims that it is caused by the cockbird "holding on" is rubbish, zebs do not hold on with their beaks when treading hens."

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


~ My Facebook groups ~

*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments

*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only

Post Reply