Primary Feathers breaking off

[finchroom]

I have both Forbes Parrot Finch and Javas. All are 2016 bred. Since fledging their primary feather and sometimes secondarys have been broken. Some appear like sticks. AT first I thought it was because they were kept in wire flights as all my birds have been over years, and feathers were damaged from hitting the wire. I have a AIL spray program which I faithfully use every 6 weeks. The birds have also been treated with S76 over a 3 week period recently. All this because I thought maybe feather mites are the cause. Because it is two species I am now thinking Nutritional deficiency. I do give Iodine in the drinking water every second day. Hearty Bird vitamins are sprinkled on dry cede. But maybe there is another mineral or vitamin they are missing. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[lovezebs]

finchroom

What's your diet like? (I mean your bird's diet)?

What are they getting for protein?

[finchroom]

There is 16 % protein in the Cede Egg Food and they get chitted seed which has high protein as well. I don't feed real eggs unless they are breeding and have young, and feed eggs through the moult as well. My breeding wont start for another month.

[lovezebs]

finchroom

After reading your first post over, the information you provided leads me to think that your kids might be getting too much iodine.

Too much iodine, can cause problems with the thyroid, leading to skin and feather problems.

Personally, I would cut out the iodine in the water altogether for now, along with the extra Vitamins.

I would go to a diet of good quality seed, spray millet, lots of fresh greens and some fruit every day, and hard boiled eggs every second day.

Vitamines and minerals as such, are a good thing, but sometimes less is better than more.

Good luck.

[Sheather]

I feed dry seed, Roudybush pellet food, fresh greens (lettuce mostly, some spinach, kale, and mixed greens), broccoli, apple slices, sweet corn, and boiled egg, and my birds do not have feather problems. I don't dose any additional vitamins, and have never seen anything in my birds to suggest I need to. Iodine every other day sounds like an extreme overdose and I'd suspect that to be the cause of your issues!

[finchroom]

Thank you for your comments.
I'll drop the Iodine ...see what happens.
They do get a blend of kale, chickweed, carrots and parsley daily.

[lovezebs]

finchroom

I hope things go in the right direction from here on.

Here's a list of the veggies and fruits that I offer the kids.
Spinach
Kale
Romain lettuce
Red Swiss chard
Baby Spring greens
Cucumber slices
Broccoli
Beet greens
Rapini
Corn on the cob
Parsley
Dandelion greens
Frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)

Chopped apples
Orange slices (cut across)
Banana slices
Grape halves
Blueberries
Melons
Chopped pears


Just a few ideas for variety

Good luck with the birdies.