FINCHforum

My Star Finch hen (Light) is about 2 years old and her feathers (and lack of) are starting to worry me. She seems to be missing quite a few around her rump and tail but upon closer inspection she is getting a ton of new tail feathers too. Her right-wing feathers appear 'messed' as do some feathers on the right side of her breast. Any suggestions as to what could possibly be going on? Her mate looks fabulous.






Edit: She has been and is acting and eating/drinking as normal and her droppings look fine too.

Hi Liz,

I have a pair of stars and I am not sure about their molt.... do you think it is just a molt? I have had mine for over a year and haven't noticed them going through any type of difficult molt.

I would think it is either molt or mites. Maybe you could treat her for mites and give her some feather fast and see if that helps.

I did think of both mites and moulting, Donna.

I treated her with Scatt yesterday, just in case and I haven't really seen much in the way of feathers in or around their cage lately. I normally see moulted feathers on the ground when I vacuum or in the cage when I change the papers... but nothing recently. If it's mites - I can't imagine how she would have got them (and not her mate) as they have not been exposed to any new/unquarantined birds in over a year. All the other birds in the birdroom appear fine.

I would say that it can't be a molt--I've never had one look that bad during a molt, as theirs tends to be more gradual. She definitely looks like her right wing is out of kilter, exposing her bare rump, and then that area on her right breast doesn't look normal at all. She almost looks like something has been after her. Could the male be picking on her? Are they in their own cage, or in with other birds? I'm just thinking that it is some sort of external problem.

I have the same issue. Keeping a log of the issue and what I am doing in my old thread that I started up last week. Liz, I have pix now too. Check it out. I think they are just molting..
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5175

I am with Sally.... I do not think this is a normal molt. It appears something else is going on here.

I did check your pics Finch Fry and it could be over-preening for your hen since it's only in the one area.

I also don't believe it is a moult but I tend to lean towards my hen being plucked either by herself or by her mate (the only other bird in their cage) as suggested by Sally and Donna. I did remove the nestbox and carefully checked inside it - none of her feathers whatsoever are in there. I have not noticed any chasing between the two of them but I'm not in the birdroom much, especially Monday - Friday when I have to go to work.

I think my hens preening gland probably is normal for a finch - I may try to get a pic of it late this afternoon when I get home.

Here's some pics from today. You can see the preening gland quite well in some pics. I believe it to be normal or close to it. Otherwise there is not much change in her. Tailfeathers are coming in and she is still very bright and active... just the feathers on her right breast, right wing and butt seem a bit off.

She looks slightly better in these pictures to me Liz.
Hopefully she will get better soon.

Learn something new every day on here..... didn't know they had preening glands....

Thanks for the pix Liz
I've been wondering where that gland was.

I'm moving this thread to Health, as those great photos of the preen gland would be of interest to many, plus the problems you are having with your Star hen could be common to many other species.

Whats a preening gland?

All birds have a "preening gland" and it secretes an oil that they use with their beaks to preen and condition their feathers. It's also how ducks can have water "roll off their backs". Birds are built, no matter what specie, so that they can reach their preening gland with their beak.

I'm thrilled to show you how much better StarLight is doing these days. She has feathers on her rump and breast now! I was really worried about loosing her for a while. But it seems she's on the mend.

So happy to hear this news!