FINCHforum

Hi All, Merry Christmas!!!

Yesterday when my sister was over I took some pics of my birds finally. Upon uploading the pics I'm looking closely and I notice the feathers on my male is looking kind of shabby. They look worse in the pics then in person but I noticed on the edge of his wing it looks very strange almost moth eaten or something. My first impression is maybe they have some sought of mites but now I'm wondering if they are starting to molt? I am
with them all day long and always looking and talking to them and I never noticed this and they've always looked and acted very healthy. They seem normal although they were a bit freaked out when I was taking there pics yesterday. They were both lifting their heads up and back and acting a little funny but they seem fine now and eating well, etc.

Here are a few pics. There is one inparticular that shows the males wing and that moth eaten look. I don't understand, I didn't notice this before yesterday. I hope they are just starting to Molt.









They don't look this bad in person. I'm not a bad finch mommy. I just can't get over how shabby and bad they look in these pics. I don't understand what's going on. I hope someone can enlighten me.

Renee

Maybe they just had a bath or they're going through a moult. I don't think you're a bad finch mommy at all. Try to relax and if they are active and eating and drinking - just keep a bit of an eye around the cage for moulted feathers.

Could be they were just a little upset with the camera too and maybe fluffing their feathers at you a little. Really lovely pictures!

Thanks Liz I do find quite a few feathers around especially when I'm cleaning around and outside the cage. I hope it's just that they are moulting. I used to leave a bath in there for them and they've never used it now I use the bath for chacoal and oyster shell. I know they were a bit freaked when I was taking pics. They look much better this morning and they have a very good appetite and drinking well too. I will definetly keep a closer eye although I'm looking at them most of the day, lol!

Tomorrow I pick up my societies and plan on keeping them on the other end of the house. I'll be ordering a new cage and supplies sometime next week and wonder if I should get something for mites or whatever for the goulds and new birds just in case.

Renee

It looks to me like they are molting. If you don't notice excessive preening I doubt it is mites. Merry Christmas! Great pictures.

Thanks Donna. I hope so. I haven't noticed any excessive preening. Everytime I look they are eating, lol! Not happy with the pics because it really doesn't do them justice but hope soon I can post better pics with my own camera.

Enjoy the day all!!

Few more pics of their cage

They love the natural branch


My Cockatiel Canolie



Renee

Great pictures Renee! I love the little cockatiel. Cute little buggers.

Nice photos!

I used to have Cockatiels but had to rehome them because my lungs couldn't handle the dust they produced.