I have a Fife Hen that is plucking herself to bits. She has been doing this for months. If anyone remembers she plucked her first 2 babies bald until I removed them and then she killed the next lot which made me stop breeding her. I had her in the Hospital cage for awhile thinking she was sick. I now have her in an Aviary but she will not leave herself alone. She is very healthy otherwise, eats well and if she did not pluck herself would look perfectly normal. I have dewormed her, checked her for mites etc. What next???????
Canary plucking herself to bits
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steve
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Canary plucking herself to bits
Hi all
I have a Fife Hen that is plucking herself to bits. She has been doing this for months. If anyone remembers she plucked her first 2 babies bald until I removed them and then she killed the next lot which made me stop breeding her. I had her in the Hospital cage for awhile thinking she was sick. I now have her in an Aviary but she will not leave herself alone. She is very healthy otherwise, eats well and if she did not pluck herself would look perfectly normal. I have dewormed her, checked her for mites etc. What next???????
You can actually see her plucking in the photo below.
Steve
I have a Fife Hen that is plucking herself to bits. She has been doing this for months. If anyone remembers she plucked her first 2 babies bald until I removed them and then she killed the next lot which made me stop breeding her. I had her in the Hospital cage for awhile thinking she was sick. I now have her in an Aviary but she will not leave herself alone. She is very healthy otherwise, eats well and if she did not pluck herself would look perfectly normal. I have dewormed her, checked her for mites etc. What next???????
You can actually see her plucking in the photo below.
Steve
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adoumski
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Re: Canary plucking herself to bits
steve could it be some vitamin deficiency?
Adam
Officially nicknamed Radagast by my family
Canaries: norwich, borders, glosters, lizzards, timbrados,
red factor, fifes
Stewy a Pied Cockatiel Male
Officially nicknamed Radagast by my family
Canaries: norwich, borders, glosters, lizzards, timbrados,
red factor, fifes
Stewy a Pied Cockatiel Male
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Atbird
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Re: Canary plucking herself to bits
Could it be a psychological problem. I know some canaries pluck their young if they don't have enough feathers to build a nest. I find that tissues, cut into thin strips and clipped to the side of the cage, gives them a good plucking outlet. I am not sure if it would work for her, but it is easy to try.
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Anna
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Anna
Stitch & Pikachu, Thor & LokiBlaze, Cinder, Sunday Storm & Sky-
dan78
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Re: Canary plucking herself to bits
First off that comes to mind is usually not enough nesting material and plucking is a way to line a nest. Second would be a skin irratation from something environmental. Thirdly a lacking of a vitamin if I remeber correctly I think it was vitamin A. Fourthly bored mental state to put it in a nice way.
What can be done well without knowing the exact cause of this it's going to be hard to place it down exactly. If she plucks throughout the year well number one isn't the cause but the other three are still in. As the photo shows the area around the vent ( Which defiantly shows a hen) is a dark pink light red in colour which indicates irratation but is this from plucking which is quite possible. Look for anything that can resemble a slight rash or dried skin which will help identify this as a cause. A bath will help with the irratation if not already supplied. If a vitamin issue which can sometimes never give a sign physically a good wide ranged supplement over a good time frame will help to lower this behaviour as the needs for that particular vitamin can be rectified. As for mental state well this isn't going to be easy at all and in most cases never totally cured, toys or things that can help her entertain her can be of great help and something as simple as a branch with leaves for her to pull off can help. Best of luck.
What can be done well without knowing the exact cause of this it's going to be hard to place it down exactly. If she plucks throughout the year well number one isn't the cause but the other three are still in. As the photo shows the area around the vent ( Which defiantly shows a hen) is a dark pink light red in colour which indicates irratation but is this from plucking which is quite possible. Look for anything that can resemble a slight rash or dried skin which will help identify this as a cause. A bath will help with the irratation if not already supplied. If a vitamin issue which can sometimes never give a sign physically a good wide ranged supplement over a good time frame will help to lower this behaviour as the needs for that particular vitamin can be rectified. As for mental state well this isn't going to be easy at all and in most cases never totally cured, toys or things that can help her entertain her can be of great help and something as simple as a branch with leaves for her to pull off can help. Best of luck.