poor female finch

[Sue55]

The male just won't stop plucking her. She is gonna be totally bald soon, well, not really but it's now going down her back. She looks like a plucked chicken. She is fine otherwise. She is a bit more skiddish than the male, but she is doing okay. She just looks so weird. Once these eggs are done, intend to remove the nest and hopefully he will leave her alone. I spied on them and he seems to pluck her while they are both in the nest. Is this normal. I've never seen any pics of bald zebra finches and I haven't read about any.

Susan

[wilkifam]

have you tried giving them more nesting material? That might help.

[lovezebs]

Sue55

Hi Sue,

As Lori mentioned, sometimes pairs will pluck one another for nesting material.

Sometimes it's out of boredom, sometimes it's for lack of protein in the diet, and at times it's just a bad BAD habit.

Once the eggs hatch, and the younglings are fledged and weaned, you may want to seperate these two for a couple of months to give her feathers a chance to grow back, and to get him out of the habit.

[Sue55]

Hi, I have given them more nesting material, yesterday, the male went right for it. So I'm hoping that helped. I have also started making them up and egg mixture (egg, peas, carrots) and they love it. So I'm hoping this all helps. I do plan to seperate them once the eggs are done. Whether they hatch or not. I don't have a specific date to when they were laid, but I will give sufficient time. I believe there are only 2. It's all I can see with my flashlight and I don't want to disturb them.

[lovezebs]

Sue55

Sounds like a plan

[Sue55]

Who would have thought tiny little birds would be so complicated. A friend of mine has 2, one I got her at the same place I got my female. They are fat and healthy and fine.

My next question is, if the eggs do hatch, when can I remove the male from the cage. I'm assuming I can't do it now cause he is helping the female. Does he help feed the babies too?


Sue55

[lovezebs]

Sue55

Hi Sue,

Both parents will raise these babies, so both should stay together until the babies have fledged and weaned.

I mean, in case of an emergency, you could seperate them, but this is not an emergency. The feathers will grow back eventually. If however he starts to pluck the babies once they hatch, I would remove him for a while.

Let us know how it works out.

[sparrowsong98]

Sue55i have the same problem, but vice versa. Poor Mr. Zeeb! He has a bald spot in back of the neck, and right between the flank and vent area.

[Sue55]

so taking the male out right now is not good? I can't tell if he's plucking at the babies cause I can't see them. I separated them, should I put him back in. Mom is sitting with the babies, dad is not too happy though.

Sue 55