What are the chances?

[slmackin]

I got four orange cheeked finches two weeks ago at Petsmart. They were in with Zebra finches and there were nests in the cages. In the past week I have noticed (don't want to call it a lesion), but dark discoloration on one's cheek and it has some slight pluckingon its side slightly underneath its wing. There are no other signs. Appetite is good and behavior is good. It appears that I have four males and I would have to say 90+% of the time they get along.

[slmackin]

Sorry...didn't finish...what are the chances this is mites?

[cartel]

It could just be a bird plucking the OC. What size is the cage and how many zebra finches and nest do you have in the cage. Do the birds act like if they have mites?

[slmackin]

I just have the 4 OCs. The zebras were with them in the cage at Petsmart. The marking was not there originally. Sorry I don't have the exact dimension of the cage. I purchased it at Varietee's Bird Shop in St. Louis, MO and the clerk said it was appropriate for 4 OCS. They don't act overcrowed or stressed.

There were nests in the cages at Petsmart but I don't have any because without knowing gender at the time, I didn't want to encourage breeding.

The mark runs the length of the cheek. Doesn't really appear to be scaly or matty.

[cartel]

Sorry missed the part about the zebs and nest being at the store. It is still possible that another bird in the cage did it. You say they get along 90% of the time,maybe it that 10% were it got hurt. Also maybe they're not all male like you believe. If you post some pics of them im sure someone can help you sex them.

[slmackin]

I will try to do that. I don't think it's mites as there aren't any other symptoms, but I also don't think it is all-out plucking because of the general behavior and lack of feathers present in the cage, but I will try to get a picture of its face.