star finch feather loss

jerrynrich · Post by **jerrynrich** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:06 pm

Hello everyone, I'm new to the group and am very impressed with what I've seen so far.
My first question is: My female Star Finch lost her tail feathers about 3 months ago and then in the last couple of weeks she lost about half of her back feathers. She can no longer fly but climbs the bars to get around the cage. She doesn't act sick in any way and I have never see any of the other finches pick on her (I keep about 20 mixed finches in a large indoor aviary). I have no bullys and in fact I've seen the other move over for the little girl to perch. Tonight I moved her and the male into a small cage all by them selves with extra molt supplements. Her feathers look normal every where else.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Jerry

Post by **Sally** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:34 pm

I have only seen this happen in a feather-plucking situation, except for one of my Green Singer hens. She does a weird thing, she flies to the top of the cage, hangs upside down, then flips over and back to the perch. This rubs her tail against the top of the cage, and she literally rubbed off her entire tail. She still does it, not quite as much, and the tail is finally growing back. Those are the only two reasons I can think of for that kind of feather loss, and I haven't ever had one get so bad they couldn't fly.

It is good you are separating her and giving her molt supplements. You could also try offering her some egg food, as it takes lots of protein to grow feathers. Does she look like she would like some heat? I find that supplemental heat does wonders for birds that are under the weather. A heat lamp or even just a regular desk lamp aimed at one end of the perch will let her have the option of getting under the heat or moving away from it.

jerrynrich · Post by **jerrynrich** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:50 am

I give Egg Food year around, so she is already getting that. I like the ideal of the heat lamp though. I keep the bird room fairly warm but your right, the sick ones always enjoy more heat. I'll do that right away.
Thanks for the reply.
Jerry

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:08 am

Nothing to add over what sally said was just wondering if shes liking her new heat and how she i sdoing?

jerrynrich · Post by **jerrynrich** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:08 am

I'm using a 75W bulb in a desk lamp that I have aimed on one corner of the cage (it's a small 12 X 12 cage). They both seem to spend about 1/2 their time in that corner now. I also have a full sprectrum lighting over all my cages.
thanks for checking in,
Jerry

rfn1 · Post by **rfn1** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:34 am

You never know what you're going to spot in these messages, but in my humble and respectful opinion, that cage is too small for even one star finch. (unless you were talking about a hospital cage and not her regular digs)

They need at least 30 inches width to spread their wings and fly. I wonder if the cramped quarters was the reason why there may have been a plucking problem.

I had severe feather loss in a female star finch but I think it was due primarily to a moult, and then I spotted her mate plucking her. I moved her to a separate cage for 2 months. Initially, I gave her heat bulb and some "feather fast" to help with feather growth. She bounced back but looked really pathetic for about a month. When I put them back together about a week ago I kept an eye on her mate for plucking and he was romancing her but not plucking. Now he is even less meddlesome with her. (search "severe feather loss" for my full saga.)

Again, I would start by giving them some more room, friend. You will find they really enjoy it once they get used to the space. Good luck.

Post by **Sally** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:25 am

I agree with rfn1, if that is their permanent cage, it is way too small. Even as a hospital cage, I use a small one for short-term emergencies, but if I have a bird that needs to stay separated for some time, I have a 24x16x16 that I will use. The 24 length allows for heat at one end of the cage, and no heat at the other end.

I have had birds that will pluck others, but never when I am around--sneaky little things! I still would suspect feather-plucking. I would separate the pair, give her the extra protein and Feather Fast, and see if she doesn't start to improve--it will take a while, but if she does grow the feathers back, then you will know that it was the male, and you will need to watch them closely when you put them back together again.

jerrynrich · Post by **jerrynrich** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:53 pm

The 12 X 12 cage that I mentioned is the hospital cage I use. Her full time home is a pretty large indoor flight cage (about the size of a large entertainment center) with plenty of room for everyone to exercise and still find a quiet place to chill. I moved her back into the big cage this morning after making some changes to that cage. I took out the wire bottom and replaced it with trays and lots of grasses. I put a feeder, water bottle, nest box at the bottom also. I redid the perches so to form a "stair case" all the way to the top of the cage for her. I also aimed the heat lamp at one of the bottom corners.
I noticed after bath time this morning that several of the other birds went over to the heated corner where my girl is hanging out to groom. kinda cute.

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