European goldfinch smell?

[Harley2013]

Just acquired two european goldfinches. They are in molt, and only have had them one full day. My husband mentioned today he smells a musty smell around their cage. He said it smells like wet seed? I can smell it faintly, as my nose doesn't work as it should. Are European goldfinches a musty smelling bird or is it something else? They only other thing different is the seller gave me some canary complete, with thistle and some other seeds as well. Could it be that?

[Sheather]

I find new birds sometimes carry a musty smell if they come from a dirty or crowded environment. It goes away after a few baths and some preening. Normally, birds in a clean environment are odorless.

[MiaCarter]

Agreed with Sheather.

Birds that come from a dirty, smelly environment will have a smell that reflects their environment's odor. It gets trapped in their feathers.

Feathers and hair are very effective at holding scent (which is why you should always spritz your hair with perfume. Holds the scent beautifully!)

I've had new fosters that smelled like smoke from heavy smokers. Others who came from a dirty, crowded environment and just smelled of general awfulness. Not sure if it was musty exactly, but definitely unpleasant.

As mentioned, it tends to fade away within a few days. I'd put them on my screened in-porch for a few hours for a couple days in a row and that usually did the trick.

But no, they're not like Ferrets, which have a naturally musky odor from the skin oils.

I'd ensure the foods are all good. A quick sniff and visual inspection should do the trick.

If the odor persists, I might inspect the birds. Some skin conditions and skin infection can cause an odor. The feathers can be quite effective in hiding problem spots. It's not a musty or musky smell, though. It's more of a sweet organic smell, more similar to decomposition (which is technically what's happening in some cases - the tissue is decomposing and the infection bacteria releases an odor too.)

Also, make sure if you have a slide-out tray on the cage that you ensure it's clean. Some cages with a metal or plastic base, with a tray that sits within that base could be an environment for mold or decomposition of seeds if water gets in the space between the bottom of the tray and the plastic base. I've never had any mold problems as I clean the catch tray daily, but I've had some enthusiastic bathers who splashed water enough to seep down into the area between the tray and the base, so that could have theoretically been a spot for mold if I left it for more than a day (especially in humid Florida!)

[Elsidewe]

sometimes , when molting European goldfinches have a smell because of the feather they drop off to the bottom of the cage mixed with their poo... especially that during the molting some birds might have diarrhea ....
keep its cage clean and after the molting period pass you will get an odorless, beautiful bird with a great songs:)

[Harley2013]

Thank you. I will! I haven't heard their beautiful song yet, only a few quiet trills. Sounds like a squeaky wheel. Lol!

[Elsidewe]

#Harley2013 you will definetly hear their songs after they finish molting....
a separat tip.... put for them goldfinch songs while molting they will learn them ;) you can find them over youtube.... their is perfect goldfinch songs that you can teach your birds from.

[BigBear0007]

Give them some fresh water to bath in and put in a few drops of oregano oil and mix it well. This will help get rid of the smell and any mites that may have clung to the feathers.

Jerry

[Harley2013]

Oregano oil? I have never heard of that! Thanks.