Grass finch loosing feathers at neck and back.

[henryreynolds]

Good Day

One pair of my grass finches start losing hair at their neck and back and I see that see scratch also sometimes. I have other finches also in the avairy and they all seem fine.

What could it be, I thought about mites but have no clue what I could be. I am so scrared the other birds will also get infected.

Regards

Henry

[lovemyfinch]

When it comes to shaftails the first thing that comes to mind is plucking. This happens quite a lot in my community, whether they have nests or not. I usually remove the one that looks pitiful and put him or her in another cage with a heatlamp and extra protien, usually within a week you will notice a large difference.. goodluck

[henryreynolds]

Why do the pluck their feathers ?

[L in Ontario]

Why do the pluck their feathers ?

Feather plucking can be a result of either aggression, wanting to breed or mites.

[kenny66]

mainly stress

[L in Ontario]

mainly stress

What do you think could be the source of the stress, Kenny?

[DanteD716]

May I ask waht species of grassfinch you have?

[Chrismurdoch3]

It could be another or multiple finches plucking the grass finches feathers.

[cindy]

How many do you have in a cage and the size of the cage? Since they are housed with other species, if so what are they? It may not be another grassfinch doing this (shaft tail on shaft tail doing the plucking).

Shaft tails will if wanting to mate pluck but not always, the males can get aggressive with the females or other males.

I have a small flock of six that most times are peaceful in the flight, with tail tugs and slight squabbles once in a while over a swing or roosting spot, it is quickly over. For the most part they get along.

My creamino pair squabble but it is more like beak dueling and it is over quickly.

[henryreynolds]

Hi Cindy

I have a pair of Start finces with four of here babies, a pair of diamond firetails, a pair of red head parrots. They are long tail grass finches.

The cage size is 3.4meter long and 1.2meter wide.

I have sprayed the cage this weekend with Avian Insect Liquidator in case thier might be mites.

Thanx for your help

[cindy]

Are the diamonds and parrot finches attempting to nest? Shaft tail are a bit nosey could they be checking out the parrot and diamonds' territories/nests and getting plucked. Usually the neck and back is someone else doing it to them, either over grooming/trying to court and the other mateis not ready or by a fellow bird picking out of frustration/space issues.

You have a lot of aggressive type birds together, aggression may peak a bit if all are getting ready to or are nesting. See if you can catch a glimpse of what is happening, if it is another species you may have to separate them especially if they are breeding.

The scratching could be due to mites but also the irritation of new feathers coming in or irritation to being plucked especially if blood was drawn.

[henryreynolds]

Hi Cindy

Thank you for your advice, greatly appreciated.

Regards

Henry

[DanteD716]

Henry watch those firetails, they are very agressive! Keep us posted!!!

[henryreynolds]

Hi All

I see last night my female Red headed parrot finch feathers on here head is also missing, could it be the male parrot that cause this. I see the male is very aggresive towards here.

[L in Ontario]

Hi All

I see last night my female Red headed parrot finch feathers on here head is also missing, could it be the male parrot that cause this. I see the male is very aggresive towards here.

Yes, it's very possible.