monotwine &
Rox &@MariusStegmann
Hi All and thanks for responses.
This pretty fellow (Merlin), has had several owners. I picked him up at my Pet Shop.
*Before that, he very briefly (a couple of weeks or so) stayed with Big Bear.
*Before that, he lived for about six months with another lady, that I've recently met. She said, that she did the whole new bird treatment, deworming, spraying, treating for everything under the sun.
*And before that, he lived with some other people, (don't know for how long), who gave up their birds, because they could no longer care for them.
God only knows, what he went through prior to that, poor little guy.
Marius, he does not have a dated band on him, just a couple of colour rings, so I have no idea how old he really is.
Our friend Smurf, thought (from the picture) that his tail looked like it might have feather mites. At this point, I honestly don't know. He might just be stuck in molt due to the stresses associated with so many different owners and moves and turmoil in his life.
I am trully hoping, that with a good diet, heat, and stability, he will grow a lovely new tail and coat in due time.
He is a lovely little bird, and whether young or older, deserves a good life. If he's young enough to breed, great ; if not, then so be it. I enjoy watching him, enjoying his life

.