FINCHforum

Hi,
I bought a pair of Java sparrows about two weeks ago. I kept them together with 3 pairs of zebra finches. They are normal grey ones. I'm totally new to java sparrows so I'm having a lot of questions in my mind.
1) I read in a famous site that it is an unhealthy Java if there are white ticks on their throat (mandible) area. My female is having those ticks and recently it started appearing on my male's head and throat. Is this a problem that I concerned of? Should I replace them with new ones or will they recover on their own?
2) The pair always sleeps together, eat together and stay together every time. But they don't seem to be using the nest that I provided them with. They sleep close to it but don't go inside. Is it just happening because they are new to my cage? Will they breed ? I don't know their age and if they are ready to breed but they are adults.
3) The female recently got a couple of brownish-grey (like the color of fawn/Isabel) patches, is she going to molt? Or is that another issue to be worried of?
4) Physical symptoms in my female one: 1- she closes her eyes most of the times, even when I'm standing close to the cage. Others get frightened and become active. 2- she sometimes stands with one leg and the other one lifted.the male does this too but not often. Even sometimes while sleeping. 3- the texture of the white patch on the cheek isn't fine and smooth. It likes like something ripped off some feather on its cheek. It just doesn't look smooth like how the male has. 4- her wings are not kept in position most of the times. She just drops it. <~~~ Is she sick and are these the symptoms of illness? Should I exchange her with another female Java sparrow? Plus she always cleans or trying to take out something from her body, maybe....bug?
5) why doesn't the male sing? He only makes some clicking sounds, like my female one. He isn't ready to breed?

I'm sorry for such a long post. Thanks in advance.
#my first post

these are normals,any white wing edges if so they are split to pied, one tiny dot of white could be it can be split to pied but wait until it molts to see if that goes away..... Javas as hardy as they are are sensitive...normal to sleep on one foot.

are the droppings runny? you can post a picture if you like, does she feel thin, can you feel the breast bone, is it sharp?

cindy wrote: these are normals,any white wing edges if so they are split to pied, one tiny dot of white could be it can be split to pied but wait until it molts to see if that goes away..... Javas as hardy as they are are sensitive...normal to sleep on one foot.

are the droppings runny? you can post a picture if you like, does she feel thin, can you feel the breast bone, is it sharp?

The droppings are normal. She seems fine with her weight. I don't think so...Do I really have to catch her and check?

There are now a little more of those white feathers on her

is she molting?

to be honest, I raise a lot of javas and have never heard of the "white ticking" theory related to illness. Usually if it suddenly appears the bird might be going though a molt. Check for little gray feathers. Is the white spotting also on her head?

cindy wrote: to be honest, I raise a lot of javas and have never heard of the "white ticking" theory related to illness. Usually if it suddenly appears the bird might be going though a molt. Check for little gray feathers. Is the white spotting also on her head?

I think that is a false info then... Yeah there are About 2 brownish patches on the sides of her chest and the edge of one of her wings is also of the same color.nyhose white ones are under her beak.
The mele has those white feathers on his head and a little under his beak.

signs of split to pied, white wing edges, white spots under chin and top of the head. They usually show signs of split to pied at a young age before first molt.

cindy wrote: signs of split to pied, white wing edges, white spots under chin and top of the head. They usually show signs of split to pied at a young age before first molt.

So these birds are still young? Will they breed during their molting stages? I have a big doubt on molting, does it happen when the season changes on on particular period of time after the bird was born?

java should not breed until after 9 months, I would not breed them during molting, molting is stressful enough on the body.

cindy wrote: java should not breed until after 9 months, I would not breed them during molting, molting is stressful enough on the body.

Thank you for he info but apart from these, she looks more tired and lazy than the male bird

If she is sitting low on the perch, head tucked check the droppings. if you want post the droppings here. Is she eating and drinking? Put a heat lamp on one side of the cage for some direct warmth for her to go to.

She sometimes tucks her head under her wings, mostly while sleeping.she eats well and the droppings are normal. The cage is kept near the balcony, it is perpendicular to the door of the balcony. So there is light on one side. Both of them stay only at this half.And sometimes stare outside and start clicking.

hat.him, I have a split to pied female and a normal male. She has white ticking on her head and she is a healthy girl. When she is not sitting on eggs, she often sleeps with her head tucked under her wing. I would put a heat lamp next to the cage and if your bird is not feeling well, she will go sit next to it.

Shannylee wrote: hat.him, I have a split to pied female and a normal male. She has white ticking on her head and she is a healthy girl. When she is not sitting on eggs, she often sleeps with her head tucked under her wing. I would put a heat lamp next to the cage and if your bird is not feeling well, she will go sit next to it.

cindy wrote: If she is sitting low on the perch, head tucked check the droppings. if you want post the droppings here. Is she eating and drinking? Put a heat lamp on one side of the cage for some direct warmth for her to go to.

Thank you so much for guiding me Cindy and Sharon. One last question, how long does it take to molt?