FINCHforum

I recently bought 2 male java sparrows (one white one wild coloured) for a friend who is soon to be getting a new garden aviary. I am keeping the birds in a canary type cage untill thier new home is ready.

My problem is, they appear to have a lot of "pin feathers" and look fairly scruffy. I'm not sure if tthis is normal of a sign of some type of defficiency. Is this the right time for moulting (in Australia)?

I am feeding them on a 'special" seed mix i made up for my mule finches which contains among other things oats, chinese millet, linseed, rapeseed, niger thistle seed, aniseed and grass seed as well as spray millets. I do not have any fresh seeding grass available, but I would offer it if I could. I will try to give them some swiss chard. Do Javas like that sort of thing? What else could/should I be doing to improve thier condition?

Adam

Adam,

Your Javas sound like they are just moulting. They may also look "scruffy" because they need a bath. Javas absolutely love to bathe and they may be missing that, if their previous owner gave them bathing "facilities". If you have a small basin or clip-on bird bath, try that. They may be afraid initially but they should take to it soon.

Javas like greens so the swiss chard should be good. Mine like fresh dandelion leaves - that I collect from places where no pets urinate - and I wash them thoroughly anyway. Any kind of edible green is worth a try.

Mine just eat regular budgie seed mixes and millet spray. They do like egg food too (home made from hard-boiled egg or dry) and really seem to love sprouted seed. If you can get yourself a seed-sprouting kit and something like ABBA Soak Seed mix, they will be very happy.

Here are 2 males I have that must look similar to yours. They were tamed as babies (but I wouldn't bother attempting to tame yours if they are un-tamed adults - I think it's pretty impossible).

Oooh they are so pretty!

Thanks nipper,

Yours look just like sleeker versions of the two I'm looking after!
I have offered them swiss chard, alfalfa and dandilion greens but the only thing they will touch is white millet and oat seed.

I have also offered a water bowl for bathing but they wont touch it. I think they come from a deprived home

Adam

Adam.

Don't give up on either the greens or bath. You Javas will probably take to them, in time. Java are very smart and don't miss a trick. But they can also be very cautious.

I put one of those clip-on bird baths on my Java's cage. They ignored it for a week or more. Now, they jump in to bathe, as soon as I clip it on.

Same thing with salad greens. They used to be terrified of them. Now they start eating as soon as I shove them between the bars. Just make sure the greens are always clean and fresh - so start will small quantities.

Sounds like they are molting. A bath is essential for them, they love it, my Javas bathe continuously but they are very fussy, if there are any seeds or jobbies in the water they will ignore it so I got them a fountain with a filter, makes my life easier, now I don't have to change the water 10 times a day.

Greens are also essential, but each bird has it's own preference, my Silverback loves cabbage and my fawn loves carrot, they will both nibble on broccoli as well so experiment a bit, they both go crazy over beansprouts and cress.

Here are my two little buggers: