Norwick Canary

[kinnika]

I have a Norwick Canary and need some advise about him. I have read countless times about them having ingrown feathers but can't find too much info about it. Also this little guy has a problem with his elbow. The best way I can describe it is to say it is caloused. There are mo feathers on it but it certainly does not seem to be bothering him. Any suggestions? He is happy otherwise and sings a beautiful tune.

[Hilary]

I've been reading a lot about ingrown feathers lately, unfortunately. The feathers on my red factor's back looked, well, wrong. I don't handle him unless nails need trimming since he hates it, but I went ahead and caught him and found some horrible cysts on him. I'm now catching him every couple of days, lancing and cleaning any new cysts, and pulling any feathers that are growing wrong. He hates it, but obviously feels a LOT better. There seems to be a debate (canary people jump in here) about whether it's genetic (poor breeding), related to feather type (softer-feathered species are more prone), or related to diet. I'd just keep a close eye for strange feather patterns, feed him well, and catch him periodically if you can to check for issues.

[kinnika]

Thanks for the come back I really appreciate it. I bought this little guy at an auction more so to get him away from his present owner. Do you put anything on the cycts after you lance them? I was wondering about some polysporin.

[CandoAviary]

Canaries have 2 type of feather types (wellactuall3, but one doesn't apply) Buff and clear, This doesn't have anything to do with color but texture. A buff feather is fluffier and Clear is more slender and tightfeather. With breeding you should always breed a buff with a clear.
If 2 buffs are breed, feathers get too soft and cannot poke out of the skin so therefore they can become ingrown. (can be sueezed out) much like an ingrown hair on a person. 2 tight feathers bred give that skinny canary look.
Norwich are a very buff type breed and are prone to feather cyst... especially when not carefully bred. Age can also be a factor and I am sure possibly diet too.
I always found it to happen mostly when the birds are not given baths. Their skin dries and causes problems. Try offering baths daily or better yet always available. A trick canary breeders use for healthy feathers is to put a capfull of listerine in the water. This acts as an antiseptic and can clear up some feather cyst if infected.
Older birds will almost always have more troubles.

[kinnika]

Candace, thank you so much for the come back. I love this little guy and want to see him thrive. As I stated he was at an auction so I have no idea about his upbringing. I will put a bath in his cage immediately. I am very leary about doing too much to the little elbow as I don't want to make it worse then it already is. He now eats good ( romane lettuce, egg, apple, carrot tops, ) so hopefully that will help. I am going to get some listerine for the water also.
Thank you again.

[CandoAviary]

Depending on how large your bath water is would depend on the amount of listerine used. Too strong and it may burn the birds eyes. I would use about 1 to 2 tablespoon to a gallon of water.

[Hilary]

I bought listerine ages ago specifically for bird baths but have never tried it. Guess it's time! My canary, unfortunately, is not a great bather. Maybe I'll try some different bath types.

When I did the first couple of days of major work on this poor bird I put neosporin on the worst of the wounds. One cyst had grown to the size of a fingernail and had actually split his skin open - I half expected him to die from shock after I worked on it. It was under his belly by a leg so I never saw any sign of it until I caught him and turned him over. That first week I put him on an antibiotic, but now I'm just keeping an eye on him. He's alert and much more active now that he feels better!

Norwich are very cool canaries. Glad that he's going to a home that will take care of him!

[kinnika]

Okay for an update here. I was trying to catch him to check him out and he flew from one side of the cage to the other. In doing something fell off of him. i was shocked to see this entire clump of stuff on the cage floor. It turns out that it wasn't on his elbow as I thought but instead was what had been draining from a cyst. I was absolutely shocked at the size of it. Anyway I proceed to catch him and was amazed to see the hole in this little guys skin but it wasn't bleeding at all. I have put him on antibotics so hopefully this will help clear this up. I am shocked to think someone didn't see this happening and just left it alone to ooze. Now I am even madder at the former owner. I don't see any other cysts so hopefully I can keep on top of this now.
Thank you all so much for the help.
Dianne