Star Finch hen - ruffled & a little nakey - update Apr 1

[Sally]

Oh my, yes, she looks so much better. Did you ever figure out what was going on with her?

[L in Ontario]

Not specifcally but Feather Up and Guardian Angel and vitamins (alternately) seem to have helped a lot.

[ac12]

Liz
I've been away and on returning, I noticed that my F zebra is bare/plucked around the preening gland, just like yours.

The only difference is that she has been TRYING to start another clutch. There is no nest in the cage, and I or someone else removes the egg whenever she lays one (usually in the feed tray). There is only she and her mate in the cage. I removed her kids, cuz she was aggressively chasing them, I think because she wanted to breed. She has been laying eggs off and on for the past month.

I'm almost ready to separate them so she won't lay any more eggs, as having no nest is not stopping her.

[ac12]

Liz
My zebra hen has a similar bare preening gland.


I don't know if it is because she is sitting on eggs.
I did see a canary at a pet shop with the same bare preening gland. And she was sitting on eggs as well.

[L in Ontario]

How bizzare! Must be the current 'fad'!

My Star is now completely re-feathered and quite happy except that she laid a clutch of all infertile eggs and they would not use the nestbox I had for them. She laid them all from a perch - some were broken. The others I removed to my Societies - but as mentioned the eggs were infertile. I've now put a wicker nest back in about a week or a little longer ago and they have not used it yet.

Good luck with your hen!

[ac12]

About the nest.
My 1st zebra pair wanted to have another clutch so bad, that she was laying eggs in her feed dish. So I figure if she wanted another clutch so bad, I would use an open feed dish, so I could watch what was going on. Also so I could easily remove some of her eggs, to use to train my societies to foster. So she has to use the open nest...or have no nest.

Maybe "decorating" the nest box or the area around the nest box might do the trick.

Or maybe using one of your other nest boxes.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks ac12. I have given them various nestbox - all declined without so much as a thank you. I also have them all camoflaged around the nestboxes and the ceiling of their cage. They like the vines and land on/in them but don't even build a nest in there either! The bums!

Another egg found on the floor of their cage today.

[ac12]

Geez picky birds, can't make them happy

[lovemyfinch]

Thanks ac12. I have given them various nestbox - all declined without so much as a thank you. I also have them all camoflaged around the nestboxes and the ceiling of their cage. They like the vines and land on/in them but don't even build a nest in there either! The bums!

Another egg found on the floor of their cage today.

Hey Liz, try hanging a nest from the perch.

[Finch Fry]

Liz... just shows you how random these birds are. I have a 30x18x18 flight like you, set up like you, with a wicker nest and fake vines and a towel on the outside for cover.

Laid 4 infertiles last week. Removed them. She started laying again, these look fertile actually. And she is in and out of the next all the time. Still not incubating but today was only egg 2. So she may when she gets to 3 or 4 or when she is done. If not, i will let them sit in the nest for a solid month before removing. Someone said it helps them learn if you leave them in there long.

I wish i could go sit on the eggs and show them how it works.

[L in Ontario]

I wish i could go sit on the eggs and show them how it works.

Good luck to you!! I wish I could get them to lay their eggs IN a nest... any nest!! Okay - putting a towel over 2/3 of the cage tonight!