FINCHforum

So it's been a minute since I've been on here. We had decided on zebras but I wasn't expecting any anytime soon. Hubby surprised me today by bringing home a flight cage and 4 finches. They were supposed to be all female, but hubs didn't get to look at the ones that were picked before being put in the box. So we got one male. Then there's this one girl. All the birds looked healthy, but I guess this one was missed. There's a no return/no refund policy so obviously we're keeping her. We're keeping an eye on her but the bare back and lumpy neck really has us concerned. Any advice for me for care or what to watch for?

LadyCrow
The lumpy neck is the crop full of seeds; this is normal. The fact that it is showing is the problem. Watch for one of the other birds plucking her, because it is unlikely she could have plucked her neck on her own. She should grow the feathers back fairly quickly with the help of some egg for protein.

Thank you. I figured it's from other birds picking her. I'm hoping it won't be a problem with the extra space. She's doing well so far. I'll keep an eye on them. And I'll be sure to offer her some egg.

LadyCrow

Congratulations!
That was a nice surprise from hubby.

You mentioned 4 Finches, but only one boy and one girl Zebra. What are the other two Finches?

As was already mentioned, the lump which you're seeing with the seeds in it, is her crop (where birds keep the food they eat until they digest it). Normally it's covered by a birds' feathers, but in this girlie's case, the feathers have been plucked away.

If she has been removed from the plucker, these feathers should be growing back in several weeks time with a good diet.

Good luck and enjoy your new birds.

LadyCrow
I have heard it is recommended to offer egg only 2-3 times a week to keep them from going into breeding mode. Make sure they have a calcium source, such as cuttlebone or ground oyster shell, available at all times. They may also appreciate broccoli or spinach, which can be offered every day so long as it doesn't give them diarrhea.

lovezebs Icearstorm

The other two are also zebras.

We've seen no plucking so far and we check for feathers in and around the cage too.

There have been a couple of squabbles, though nothing serious. The little girl that's been plucked clean definitely isn't taking any crap though. She's not even afraid of the cats. She throws seeds in my cats' faces if they decide to check out the cage.

Thank you for the advice on the eggs. We have a cuttlebone set up in the cage already and they are going to town on it, more than any of my parrots ever have. Hubby bought them broccoli today too. I'll try offering some egg and broccoli tomorrow.

LadyCrow

Glad to hear that things are coming along.

Your little girl may have been plucked by other birds wherever she came from originally.

At times, plucking is just over enthusiastic preening, not necessaily an aggressive thing.

There are however situations, where you have an habitual plucker, who will pluck itself, and any other birds around. This can be a hard, if not impossible habit to break.

It can also be due to dietary deficiencies. Feathers are made of mainly protein. When protein is not available in a bird's diet, it may resort to plucking and eating the feathers.

Another reason for plucking, is when birds wish to nest, and there are no nesting materials available. They will pluck themselves or their mate, to line their nests.

Just a quick note regarding kittie cats.
Having cats as pets, I am sure that you are aware that kittie is a panther in miniature, and a natural born hunter.

Although very often intimidated by parrots and larger birds, cats can be extremely deadly when it comes to Finches, who are tiny and completely helpless when it comes to to felines.

My gentle sweet kittie (who wouldn't hurt a fly), managed to use her claws to halfway pull a Shaftail finch right between the bars of the cage. The poor bird, was mangled terribly and died a day later. My lovely feline, also managed to swipe a juvenile Gouldian chick through a tiny space between the door and the floor and break it's neck in a matter of seconds.

Just a word to the wise, keep Finch cages or flights well away from the kittie cats, or the kittie cats well away from the Finches.

I appreciate the info on feather plucking. We dealt with a mutilator (a tiel) before, but hers was from anxiety and she often skipped plucking all together.

I am well aware of the issues with cats. My husband's is terrified of all birds, including these tiny things, and I swear has no idea what hunting even is. My cat is used to parrots. She used to sleep next to the cage and would follow them around (and be followed) when the parrots were out. She hasn't given them an issue but we're watching her. Our kitten has no bird experience and has already proven herself untrustworthy. If the cage isnt in line of sight, it's locked away from the cats. It's an issue we want to avoid.