Java sparrow chewing off flight feathers

[avicella]

I have two male Java sparrows less than a year and a half old each. Each lives in his own cage. They are hand-tame from birth and spend hours out of their cages each day puttering on and around my desk as I work. They get a nightly bath and plenty of sleep.

Last November, a few days after they had a 10-day stay with a vet while I travelled, one had a chewed left flight feather or two and crushed feather shafts on the adjacent three. I took him into Tokyo to the avian hospital, and a vet there said it might be stress. At the time I thought it was more likely the result of a fight, since they were sharing a cage at the time.

Now I see that the little fellow has the number 1, 2, 3, and 5 left flight feathers chewed off about two-thirds of the way down, and the shaft of number 4 is crushed and bent. Amazingly, he's still able to fly like the Red Baron. I'm planning another trek to the avian vet.

The one with the feather damage seems a bit more high strung than the other one. I can cuddle the other one in my hand and give him head massages, but the feather-damaged one rarely lets me do that.

Personally I feel that they have a pretty stimulating and low-stress environment, and I can't think of much more to do in that respect. I've read here about some dietary issues. Their main food is seed mix designed for Java sparrows. They get oat groats and flax seeds as special treats. I've offered them other things like pellets and more elaborate mixes, but they don't seem thrilled by them. They don't really go for squid bone, but they like crushed oyster shell. I give them fresh green beans, which they love, and they like other veggies from time to time, such as corn or spinach. I put some vitamin drops in their water, but it's probably pretty diluted.

Any other dietary (or other) things that I can ask the vet about?

[![=]

Do you give them eggfood? Or even mashed boiled eggs or a mix of the two? It's very high in protien. Feathers are made of protien and it could be a sign of not enough protien in their diet.

[avicella]

Do you give them eggfood? Or even mashed boiled eggs or a mix of the two? It's very high in protien. Feathers are made of protien and it could be a sign of not enough protien in their diet.

They wouldn't eat eggfood before, but maybe I'll give it another try!

They have started to eat some finch pellet food, which they wouldn't do before, so their tastes do change. And they used to love parsley and corn, but now they prefer green beans and spinach.

I took the bird to the avian hospital in Tokyo and the vet said not to worry about it, he's just using his feathers as "toys," and they'll grow back.

The thing that amazes me is that he can fly perfectly, despite missing the four or five outer flight feathers. There's nothing more there for him to chew on, so he isn't, and he thankfully hasn't started on the other side, so maybe this "vacation" from chewing will get him out of the habit by the time the feathers molt.

[![=]

If they don't eat it you could always try serving it in different ways. Or mixed with different things that they like. With my goulds I just mix a little warm (they eat more then) water into the eggfood so it isn't dry.

Ah, good they are eating the pellets They must know it's good for them now :L

Wow, that is amazing As I think when parrots get their wings clipped its the outer ones they do, to prevent them flying. Maybe little finches are different, seeing as they're so wee and light.

(yn) fingers crossed it doesn't become a problem and he gets in nice new feathers soon!