FINCHforum

I rescued a canary about a year ago, and because she had been caged with another canary in a very small cage, the other canary had left her almost bald. the flesh was black and discolored, so I think this had been going on for a while.

However, it looks like she may be getting some feathers back on her head. Is this normal, aftr a year? Why would it be so long?

I really can't answer that. Some birds get plucked so badly that they remain permanently bald, as the feather shaft gets damaged. I have several like that, their skin stays dark. If she is growing new feathers, be sure she gets lots of protein, like eggfood or a feather supplement.

I have a very similar situation to yours with a rescued, very bald little canary. When I first got him he looked just like a little vulture, no feathers on his head or neck and also some body feathers missing. He didn't have any dark sin though. Slowly some grew back in on his cheeks, neck and above his eyes to give him little eyebrows, the head feathers grew in around the crown of his head and made him look like he had male pattern baldness. It is now a year and a half later and he just started sprouting even more new feathers on the top of his head where none had grown in yet. Although I never expected much of it to grow back, I think I may be wrong and one day he could be a fully featherd guy again. I doubt that answers your qustions at all, but I hope it helps in some way. I definitely find it interesting that your canary has the same delayed feather regrowth that mine has!

A lot of people use powdered kelp for there gouldian to help with feather growth and also a product called feather fast But I really am not sure if these would be sutible for canary maybe someone will know for sure??????

I know that feather fast is for all birds. It shouldn't harm the canary.