patchy, rough looking/lost feathers

FrenchieFinch · Post by **FrenchieFinch** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:22 pm

Hi Everyone, hope your weekend was nice...

Question, I know I have posed alot of them but I have to lean on your experience again, my male, all of a sudden looks...we, for lack of a better term, scruffed up...he seems to have lost feathers in patches, in just a couple days, i can't tell why...like where his blue band ends where it connects to his body, it ooks like patchs have come out...same around his wings....is this poor bird going through a molt? i have not experienced a Gouldie go through a molt, so please forgive my lack of experience...if this is the most probable likelyhood, i know what to do based on the great posts here.....

Littlemissfinch · Post by **Littlemissfinch** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:35 pm

i dont have that typ of bird but thats eather a molt or hes got some mites

do you have a picture of him? if you lsearch mites in the forum you might be able to get some info on it and see if that relates to your bird

good luck

FrenchieFinch · Post by **FrenchieFinch** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:29 pm

Ok Littemissfinch, I was looking at the bird closely, i didnt want to scare him, but I do see in various areas, white, 'pin' like feathers, they look about 1/16th of an inch long, in various spots from his neck and on the tip of his wing...is that what a molt looks like?

FrenchieFinch · Post by **FrenchieFinch** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:42 pm

The thing that concerns me, it is the tips of his wings are showing white stems or such at the tips, like he has lost feathers there......sorry I don't have a pic, I wil try and take one and post it if it comes out viewable...

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:16 pm

When a bird moults the feather falls out and a new feather emerges in the form of a pin feather. This shape enables the feather to come through the skin. Once the feather is out the bird will preen itself and break away the outer material and the new bright feather will be released. This is natural. It is hard work for birds to grow new feathers so a good diet and little stress are a great help to the bird. Also no drafts. Soon your bird will be brighter than ever with his new feathers. Give him plenty of rest.
Sometimes newly aquired birds will moult due to the change.
It would be wise to read up on the process of moulting on the finch info site.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:18 pm

I think its going through a molt if you see like white pin feathers those are the new feathers coming in,is this on a gouldian if so I would try to get a iodine supplement to ad to the water,they are a finch that needs extra iodine
check out this link there is a picture of a gouldian going through a molt
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:21 pm

If you're unable to post a pictue, take a look at the Finch Information Center. Under Species, go to the Gouldian section. There are several birds in molt there. (the website wouldn't allow me to post a pic here)

It can be quite alarming to see a Gouldian in molt if you're not used to it.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:24 pm

Funny, we were all typing the same thing at the same time

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:25 pm

At least we all agree

FrenchieFinch · Post by **FrenchieFinch** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:21 am

Thanks B Camp for the link to the pictures, I think more and more it is a molt he is going through, atleast I hope thats what it is....thank you too atarasi

Littlemissfinch · Post by **Littlemissfinch** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:44 am

glad its a molt here too! dont want to hear about any bad stuff

FrenchieFinch · Post by **FrenchieFinch** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:39 am

Well, after doing some internet searching and seeing pictures, it looks more and more like molting...because of the poor bird being stressed, i believe based on what I have read.

I have ordered some products from Lady Gouldian to help him along, anything particular other than some NV powder and feather fast?

I want to thank all of you for your input, as a new finch owner, It is nice to be able to bounce things off of everyone.....

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:56 am

That's what we are here for. Sounds like the products you are ordering will be perfect for your bird. Seems like you are on your way to being a wise and caring bird keeper.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:10 am

Aside from vitamins and calcium, it's important to offer lots of protein since feathers are made up of 88% protein.