Owl Finches

[jeanne223]

My little female owl finch is looking a little rough these days. Her tail feathers are all gone but one and her wings on one side of her looked frayed. Other than this she seems in perfect health. I scooped her up last nite to have a look and am wondering could she be moulting? She is eating great and looks happy otherwise. Any suggestions?

[Sally]

Molting shouldn't cause her to lose her tail feathers. What other birds share her cage or aviary? Could someone be picking on her?

[FeatherHarp]

Hi Jeanne.....don't you just love having Owls....I do!

Maybe more information is needed before others can give you some helpful advice.

Are your Owls in with other finches and is there good room for flight? Do they sleep in a nest at night?

I know my Owls drop feathers now and then but I have never noticed them having ragged feathers and no tail feathers. But maybe yours is just molting really fast?

If she is eating well and acting normally that is good.

Hopefully others will offer better information for you.

Off Topic:
I see you have a Boston Terrier....how lucky you are! I have been wanting one for years. My Sister has 2 Bostons and my Dad had one for many years. When all three of them got together we called them the "Boston Train"....they never stopped following each other all over...it was so funny to watch!

I am still working on Hubby to let me have one....we have always had big dogs cause he likes bigger dogs...but I have always like smaller dogs. I think it is MY turn to get what I want this time...lol! Now....just to convince Hubby of that! If you have a photo of Emma to share I would love to see her!

[jeanne223]

I have watched the finches over this weekend the only thing I can figure out is that the Societies are taking over their nest as we know they are famous for but I do no see any aggression. She actually looks a little better today. Featherharp, I have had Emma for 6 years and she is the best dog ever. I do not have a camera to post pictures but she is a stocky compact type in the small category weighing about 18 pounds. She is the love of my life my companion/ As for the type of finches I have in with the owls it goes like this three societies, 2 RCCB's and the owls. All pretty much passive birds.

[Sally]

There should be no aggression problems with the mix you have, as you said, they are all passive birds. The Societies could be plucking feathers to line the nest. They are not normally pluckers, but when they are lining a nest, they will use whatever they can get their little beaks on.

[jeanne223]

Yes,
I think I will put some more nesting material in when I get home tonite. I know they use whatever they can to line their nest. Thanks for all the responses. I just love my owls.
Jeanne

[cindy]

My owls have been very slow to produce, the build and court and build and stop. I've seen mild attempts at mating but I think when the nest is done they may get a little more serious about it.