UGH! Not again! Finch with balding neck, sleeping, puffed:-(

[StarSpun]

It seems I have NO luck with birds, or maybe it was just my mistake in getting them from a pet store in the first place.

History:
I bought a beautiful orange canary Pumpkin and his finch friend Lacey from a shop around April. Lacey started to become tired in the day....she eventually started puffing out, sleeping a lot and developed a huge bald spot just on the back of her head/neck. She died in my hands. Pumpkin was a whole other story, died from something different (my story about him is on the canary board, very sad).

I bought Jasmine a week after I got the other two and she has been fine the entire time. She has been paired up with a matching penguin zebra in male form, and I was hoping to breed them in the future. Totally bonded, very sweet. A week ago it looked like her feathers under her wings were coming up over her body, hard to describe. Then she started favouring a wing so I thought maybe she had pulled something. Her wing seems fine now but she has been sleeping a bit, and looks a little more puffed up at times....yet still active and eating, etc.

My husband and I had to drive out to Prince Edward Island for a wedding and a two week visit....18 hour drive. I didn't want to leave them at home in case there was a problem....so we took them. I don't think they slept much on the ride! Jasmine seems to be taking it the hardest, trying to catch up on sleep. Her buddy Prince acts like he hasn't skipped a beat!

The sleeping a lot and a bit puffed 'at times' has continued but now I am noticing excessive grooming, mostly in the neck and head area. And then today, I discovered a bald spot in the same place on the back of the neck/head....the same as Lacey! UGH!

Thankfully I brought all of the medications I own for my birds....I come prepared! Now the question is....what causes baldness on this one part of the bird?! Mites? Parasites? Where do I start????

I really just have no luck with birds. It's been a terrible year for us, losing three birds already. I can't take any more heart break....

Thanks so much in advance!

[StarSpun]

Ok update, I've been watching her carefully and she is STILL favouring her wing. I took her out and there it was....blood at the end where a feather should be. They had a night fright a while ago, so I think she lost a blood feather! It's scabbed over, and below it all new wing feathers are coming in. I am wondering if this could be a cause for stress and the puff? Is she in pain? Maybe plucking because of pain? Is there anything I should put on it? Since taking her out she is sitting at the bottom of the cage in a corner favouring the wing again. Hope I didn't stress her too much but I'm glad I took a look now....at least I know there is a problem. My poor baby!

Should I salt water wash it? Don't want to stress her more....between the travels and the handling....yikes!

[Toddmin]

StarSpun, how does the area look underneath the top part of the wing? For example, see the wing on the far right of this:

[StarSpun]

StarSpun, how does the area look underneath the top part of the wing? For example, see the wing on the far right of this:

Hi Toddmin!
I see some new feathers coming in below the scabbed area. The injured area is at the top of the wing, so at the top of that right hand photo. I am wondering if maybe part of the blood feather is stuck in still and causing pain. If so, I would need to pull it out. I'm no newbie to pulling blood feathers, but not on something as small as a finch.....

I will see if I can get a shot of it later today. Right now both of the finches are napping, catching up on their sleep from the ride....

[finchmix22]

I'd make sure she does not have mites or other irritant. Also, I assume she is not eggbound, since she has lasted this long, but I'd still watch for that if she is with her mate. Keep us posted.

[finchmix22]

I forgot to add, I'd give her Thrive or some electrolyte to help her handle the stress and some heat as well.

[wildbird]

Some peace & quiet might help. She's probably very tired.

[StarSpun]

Hey guys!

I AM wondering if it IS mites. She is excessively grooming....hmmm!
And yup, she is for sure getting peace and quiet all the way out here. Hopefully she will destress and I can figure this out....

Her bald patch is bigger....I may have to start with a medication shortly, especially if it IS mites. She looks exactly how Lacey looked....

[Ginene]

StarSpun...stupid question...is it possible for her to have mites if you haven't added any new birds to your flock? I thought they had to be exposed to mites to get them

[StarSpun]

Ginene, I am not sure actually....I think 'healthy birds' can carry things and have them remain dormant until times of stress. What's even stranger is, Lacey had this before she died and this was in the spring. I wonder if Jas has been carrying something the entire time. I keep the cages really clean and constantly change the water/wash the dishes, etc.

The only thing I have here for mite treatment is S76. I thought it was for air sac mites only but on the label is says mites as well....so, it may be my first course of action. She just seems very itchy!

[Corkysgirl]

StarSpun, she may have scaly mites. It may not be seen on some birds and be very visible on others. All birds should be treated at the same time that come in contact with each other. That might account for the itching. It sure wouldn't hurt to treat with S76.

[MiaCarter]

....I think 'healthy birds' can carry things and have them remain dormant until times of stress.....

Absolutely. This is most common with internal infestations and protozoan infections. I believe Cocci is one example of an ailment that you retain for life, but it only flares up in times of stress.

S76 can be applied directly to the beak and legs. (I know that some S76 bottles don't come with full directions. If you need them, I have a writeup here: http://wp.me/p4JWrl-5n )

It's not effective for feather mites, though. The medicine that's absorbed into the bloodstream won't reach the feathers, just as it won't reach the beak and the scaly sections of the legs, which is why those areas require topical treatment. You need another spray on treatment for feather mites.
My vet once described mite-affected feathers as appearing "moth eaten". I thought it was an apt description.

Does the wing have any swelling??
My worry is an infection if she broke a blood feather. Anywhere you have blood supply, you have a portal for infection.
That's why you should always pluck broken blood feathers; it basically closes the portal, whereas if you leave it intact, the portal remains open until the feather is shed naturally. (That and the blood feather can bleed again if they knock it sufficiently or bathing removes the clot. The blood supply doesn't recede straight away; it can take some time.)

[debbie276]

Ginene, I am not sure actually....I think 'healthy birds' can carry things and have them remain dormant until times of stress. What's even stranger is, Lacey had this before she died and this was in the spring. I wonder if Jas has been carrying something the entire time. I keep the cages really clean and constantly change the water/wash the dishes, etc.

The only thing I have here for mite treatment is S76. I thought it was for air sac mites only but on the label is says mites as well....so, it may be my first course of action. She just seems very itchy!

I assume you are thinking they may have feather or red mites which do not lay dormant, they either have them or not. Feather or red mites are external and can be passed along easily and can hide in all the little nooks and cranny's of your cages and nests. The air sac mites need direct contact with a carrier bird and are internal. For external mites you will need a mite spray which can be bought at any pet store, they all have basically the same ingredients.

good luck

[MariusStegmann]

I think that eggbind is a possibility because she is fluffed up. I have had starfinches and a firefinch that had eggbind for a few weeks. See if putting her under a lamp helps.

[Toddmin]

How many birds do you have together? If they are feather or red mites, chances are another bird will have it too.