Plucked tail feathers...do they grow back???

Paulie · Post by **Paulie** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:14 am

I've been meaning to buy some society finches cause i thought they are such interesting little birds and so i visited a new aviary/breeder who sold some finches.

When i saw how many finches [various species] were to a cage that was rather small i was kinda shocked....i saw one little fawn society with ALL its tail feathers missing...i assumed that it has been plucked cause i witnessed other finches doing some plucking then and there...i instantly chose the little guy and opted for 3 other finches to keep him company.

NOTE: i've kept an eye on the little group and there is no feather plucking going on so all good for now.

Question is: Do tail feather feathers grow back?AND does it take much longer because they have been plucked?

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:04 pm

Paulie
I have several societies that are missing tail feathers they will grow back,
I think mine pulled them for nesting material,because I won't give any nesting material don't want more babys

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:00 pm

Yep, as BCamp says they will grow back.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:39 am

while they will come back you'll need to be patient as it doesnt hapen overnight. depending upon the species of finch it could be weeks or even months

sean · Post by **sean** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:02 am

my star finch hen had her tail plucked out by the male. that was almost three months ago and they still havn't started to grow in. i noticed little spiny feathers begin to grow though-i'm betting within the next six months they will come back.

keep in mind that little society, and you, will most likely have a LONG wait ahead.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:03 am

Good for you taking that little finch!

It was a very lucky little bird.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:39 am

sometimes I pull a few feathers off my young gouldians chest, if wanting to know chest colour while waiting for there moult.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:19 am

gomer wrote:sometimes I pull a few feathers off my young gouldians chest, if wanting to know chest colour while waiting for there moult.

OMG - you're kidding me! Why would you do that to any bird? OUCH

I know you can pull a couple of blood feathers for DNA testing - but I wouldn't do that either. Clipping a toenail is easier on the bird IMO.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:27 pm

If you have bought gouldians elsewhere you cant tell if they are splits,until they have young.When the have young I don't wont the splits mixing and possibly mating with the pures.ruining the gene pool.I only do it to suspect birds.Except when doing it for DNA results.I keep about 14 breeding pairs of different gouldians plus others so it makes it a bit difficult to keep track of history.I currently have one pair of gouldians that have young in a holding cage,Luckily there's only a dozen or so uncoloured Gould's in there so I hope to work out who mum and dad is.Cage size 7m x2.4m x2.1m.some of these birds I have held for nearly twelve months waiting for them to moult.A Lot of juggling and shuffling happens over that period.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:38 pm

Okay - can you explain how pulling some (how many) of their tiny breast feathers helps determine their colouring before they have moulted?

Educate me, pls.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:09 am

This is very true. I didn't pluck any of my just recently weaned gouldians, but one of the fostering societies did until I noticed him doing it.
He would feed them and then immediately start pulling chest and flank feathers. Within a few weeks, they are growing back. From what I can tell, the yellow backed chick is going to be a hen with a purple breast.
The other normal backed chick is also a hen, but that was a known from her parentage. I don't know if she'll have a white or purple chest though.
It only takes 2 or 3 small feathers to be plucked to know what you have.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:55 am

As Atarasi said a couple on the breast is sufficient,in the same area.fully grown feathers are basically dead structures.And are not renewed continuously from the base,they are pushed out before the new one is grown.Juvenile birds may start there moult after eight weeks but as you know its a slow process and can take several months.belly than rump, head than breast moult,and finally back than wings.So by plucking a few feathers it speeds up the process.Like I said before I only do this when warranted,Approx 1 in every 20 birds,as I am happy to wait for the rest to moult naturally.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:14 am

Oh I get it! When you pluck 2 or 3 chest feathers (once the juvie has reached at least 8 weeks of age) then it basically forces the adult feathers behind to grow in earlier and therefore you'd know the breast colouring sooner!

Huh! Still learning from all of you.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:33 am

had heard of that being done but have never needed to do it myself.
definitely one to remember for the future

sean · Post by **sean** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:48 am

well, 4 months after my female lost all over her beautiful tail feathers they are finally growing back!!!!
she has had those "spiny" little feather for about a month. They have finally began to mature into real feathers. I'm so HAPPY that my little female isn't going to be a flying oval anymore.