FINCHforum

I wrote last week about my little orange-cheek waxbill that had suddenly lost alot of feathers: on the thigh, bottom, and side up to the chest. Well, now the cagemate is missing feathers too! Same place. Same side. I sprayed the first one with mite spray a few days ago, and now I've just sprayed them both with it.

Could this be mites? Could they be fighting? I've seen no bickering and no plucking. They snuggle and eat and sleep. They are alone in a 30x18x18. I was going to separate them but couldn't find the money to get another cage just yet. I've not sure I'm convinced that they're doing this to each other, as the first started losing feathers back when the pair of them was in my mixed flight.

Help?

If the mite spray isn't helping it would suggest something else is going on. Seems odd places for plucking but maybe. Can you can consult with a vet near you?

I'm not sure, but I wonder if there is something irritating their skin and they're scratching too much, so they lose feathers? I'd look around the environment for anything that might cause an allergic reaction to skin...Hmmm.

How are they doing now?

One of them seems completely healed up. The other is looking better, so far. I'm hopeful that it'll just heal up and this will be the end of it!

One of my star finches recently lost a lot of feathers on his bottom, and it was because his feathers in his tail and wings were finally coming through. Could be a late moult?