FINCHforum

My six Society juvies are having their first molt, and I saw something a bit troubling on the youngest baby. I was doing my typical morning routine with them (new food, drinking water, bath water etc.) and as usual all six babies took a bath right away. I noticed the youngest baby, when wet, has a bald breast and the skin looks red and kinda lumpy. I tried to see on the other babies if they looked the same way, and they do a tiny bit, but not nearly as much. Our youngest was a bit of a runt and took longer to develop and I am wondering if this is the cause for the extra baldness. I will try to get a picture tomorrow morning, but there was no way I could get one this morning. S/he does not seem to be bothered by it, but I have never seen anything like this on any of my molting birds before. Is there some kind of skin disorder that attacks the skin of the breast? Or is that just how their skin looks under all those feathers?

Are you perhaps seeing the crop?

I was thinking that too, Gary. Possibly seeing the crop and when breast feathers get soaking wet it's very possible to see the chest area fairly easily until they dry again.

So of course today my little one does not take a bath right away and I had to leave for work! I guess it is possible it is the crop, but the size and location seem off. I will still try to get a picture. It is probably nothing, but I am high alert for problems with my birdies. These birds have done quite the number on my worry wart levels. I pity any biological children I may have in the future. It's gonna suck for them!!