Strawberry Finches with a lot of black abdominal feathers

[yjkodiak]

I acquired a pair of strawberry finches in February, in winter plumage. 4 months later, they produced a clutch of 4 chicks. When the father moulted into his summer plumage, he had a lot of black feathers on his abdomen and black feathers also extending to the chest. 2 of the chicks are male, and they are moulting into their male plumage... they also have a lot of black feathers on their abdomen and extending into the chest. I've read that improper environmental conditions can cause black feathers in strawberry finches. But I can't find any more detailed information about this. The parent finches don't get a lot of sunlight, but they do have a full spectrum avian light. The young finches get some sunlight through a window, and they also have a full spectrum avian light. Does anyone have any experience with black feathers on the abdomen and chest of strawberry finches, why they are there, and how this can be remedied? Or is this a normal subspecies coloration?

[finchmix22]

yjkodiak
I believe the feathers are due to nutrional deficits. Make sure they have lots of green veggies, eggfood (shell and all), cuttle bone, fresh water, and make sure the lightbulbs are for avians, not the ones found in home depot type centers. They usually only carry ones for plants, which are missing the combination of UVB/UVA spectrum. There may be others here who know other reasons, but that is my first thought.

[Sally]

It is not uncommon for Strawberry males to have black feathers on the abdomen. Captive birds are especially prone to melanism, where the black feathers may appear on the breast as well. I don't think it is due to nutritional deficiencies (though that certainly can't be ruled out), but rather due to lack of natural sunlight. Robert Black, an authority on avian lighting, placed Strawberry finches outside in the summer, and they achieved deep red color. This is a species that really needs the natural sunlight. My Strawberries are inside in cages, and they have varying degrees of melanism. Modern windows are designed to filter harmful rays of the sun, so they don't allow the lighting that is so necessary for this species. If you do a search for photos of Strawberries in the wild, you will see that they have a richness to their color which is difficult to replicate in captivity unless they are kept outside. I don't know if even the avian specialty bulbs have the intensity needed to give Strawberries that rich red color seen in the wild.

[yjkodiak]

Thank you!

Their diet is bottled spring water in a shallow dish (for drinking and bathing) changed daily, sprouted seeds and sprouted veggies served growing live in a pot of organic soil, daily mealworms, occasional fruit flies, ant eggs when I can find them, daily crushed egg shells, and a daily assortment of seeds that are mixed with palm oil and dusted with powdered veggies and a mix of avian vitamins and minerals.

The UV bulb is an avian-specific bulb. But it sounds like the avian-specific UV bulb isn't taking the place of natural sunlight.

Can anyone point me to pictures of red-black strawberry finches? Also, is the fact that the male has a lot of black feathers an indication of a captive-bred bird?

[Sally]

I assumed the recent imports into the U.S. were wild-caught, but I've been told they are captive-bred from aviaries in Asia. Many of these imported birds have black feathers, so perhaps it is true that they are not wild-caught.

I started using the reptile Exo-terra 5.0 bulbs on my Strawberries, because they are supposed to have the UVB rays needed. At first, my males molted into their breeding plumage, and it was redder than in the past. I was excited, thought I had found the answer. I recently realized that my males never went out of their breeding plumage, they were stuck, and their feather condition is now as poor as I have ever seen it. I had read online that the reptile bulbs are not good for birds, causing feather problems, and now I see it in my own birds. Their feather condition is poor, they are growing white feathers, they are not molting into their eclipse plumage. I have pulled all the reptile bulbs, and I won't be using them any more.

[finchmix22]

yjkodiak
The avian bulbs are designed for the need of birds, to include the UVA and UVB spectrum of light that they require for health, breeding. Obviously, being in an outdoor aviary provides the most natural light; however, there are lots of other problems with outdoor aviaries, such as; predators, weather and temp extremes etc.

[yjkodiak]

I've been using an avian bulb for a year now, and it has not made a difference in the feather color.

[lovezebs]

yjkodiak

From what I remember hearing/reading, Berries do their best in natural sunlight, preferably not through a glass barrier, and for several hours per day.

I have tried the lights, with no real result. However placing them in a flight next to a window has helped. I am not getting the vibrant red I'd like to see, but a reddish brown shade. On warm days, I open the window, for some direct sunlight and hope for the best.

Elana

[yjkodiak]

They have several hours per day of sunlight through the window, plus an avian UV bulb. It's not as good as the real thing (sunlight), but the best we can do here.

[nicolino]

I keep mine outside year round ( South Florida) and they thrive in hot humid weather , Also plumage is beautiful !!! I provide no live food just freeze dried meal worms from time to time .

[nicolino]

Like I said before I know of a guy who has purchased all of left over strawberries from recent imports. ( his statement ) He has like three cages full of Strawberies but I have to say , these birds looks pitiful. Its obvious they have not seen a day light ( outdoors ) in a long time . Also I noticed birds that looks like cross breeds and or some with dark plumage. lots of bold spots etc.