molting?

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:25 am

I just noticed last night that the feathers on Elton's back (zebra male) are pretty thread-bare, please tell me that he is probably molting. He is eating, flying, singing, and everything like he feels well. His gay lover (Alistair) is doing fine as well (also sings up a storm), they actually mount each other and are trying to build a nest in their wicker nest. Perhaps the sex is getting frisky?

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:41 am

Keep an eye on them--he could be molting, but Alistair also could be pulling feathers for something to line the nest with. Even if you have all males, if you give a nest to Zebras, they may want to set up housekeeping. Societies can have a nest for sleeping (unless you just have one pair), but Zebras will usually decide a nest means breeding, even if there are only males.

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:01 am

I was going to wait to take their wicker nest away until I moved them to larger quarters. Maybe I should go ahead and take it out now, I probably wouldn't finish the build until this weekend. They seem to enjoy it so (and so do I).

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:30 am

I'm pretty sure that Elton is plucking himself. He reaches his head all the way around to his back. I removed the nest anyway and bought some egg food, mixed it half and half with finch seed. I also remember reading about finch pacifiers so I bought them one of those. Elton went after that like gang busters. It has a little bell on top and all evening long it was ding - ding - ding - ding . . .