Java sparrow feather problem?
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:33 pm
Hello everybody.
I am a newbie into aviculture but not into ornithology so I am aware about bird biology etc. but still I would like to ask because when talking about my animals I am always maybe little too worried.
At first let me introduce you to Princess Mononoke. She is a nice lady of java sparrow which was given to me as a present (not that kind of present when people give animals to other people which did not wanted them and do not know nothing about them) with another one, a male. The reason I'm telling you is that those birds were bought in a pet store and they did not know nor their age nor their sex. I did the sex determination so maybe I have made a mistake. I suppose the birds might not be very old since the were I did not see them in the pet store for a long time.
But the true reason why I am writing here is this: I don't like her plumage. Compared to him she is much less elegant. She looks a little untidy and she even looses some of her feathers. It is mostly visible on her head and tail feathers. I would like just to ask, if this is a normal process of how do the birds look like during the molt or if there might be some issue.
I am sorry I did not seen any of these birds during the molt before so I might ask stupid questions. I suspect it is a molt because of these factors:
So please, is this just regular molt or is there any possibility of a incoming problem?
Thanks for reply!
Here are the pictures:
P.S. She might look a little more untidy than she normally looks. That is because of her battle with my pillow she just seem not to like. But those "strange" feathers on her head and tail are pretty visible.
I am a newbie into aviculture but not into ornithology so I am aware about bird biology etc. but still I would like to ask because when talking about my animals I am always maybe little too worried.
At first let me introduce you to Princess Mononoke. She is a nice lady of java sparrow which was given to me as a present (not that kind of present when people give animals to other people which did not wanted them and do not know nothing about them) with another one, a male. The reason I'm telling you is that those birds were bought in a pet store and they did not know nor their age nor their sex. I did the sex determination so maybe I have made a mistake. I suppose the birds might not be very old since the were I did not see them in the pet store for a long time.
But the true reason why I am writing here is this: I don't like her plumage. Compared to him she is much less elegant. She looks a little untidy and she even looses some of her feathers. It is mostly visible on her head and tail feathers. I would like just to ask, if this is a normal process of how do the birds look like during the molt or if there might be some issue.
I am sorry I did not seen any of these birds during the molt before so I might ask stupid questions. I suspect it is a molt because of these factors:
- she doesn't seem to mind – she behaves normally, she is active, she eats and drinks well, she doesn't seem to seek for parasites in her plumage all the time
- the fallen feathers looks alright – there is no sign of any damage to them. The are not "half-eaten" or loppy etc
- I can see among those feathers also some primaries etc. which could suggest molt (but that's not a proof)
- there are no bald spots
- even if i can see occasional squabbles, it is mostly bill fencing and none of the birds is attacking one another or pulling the feathers of the other one
So please, is this just regular molt or is there any possibility of a incoming problem?
Thanks for reply!
Here are the pictures:
P.S. She might look a little more untidy than she normally looks. That is because of her battle with my pillow she just seem not to like. But those "strange" feathers on her head and tail are pretty visible.
