society molting - like goulds or like zebs?

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
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Ria
Wonder Wooer
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Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo), NY

society molting - like goulds or like zebs?

Post by Ria » Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:46 am

Hi all, I am new to societies, and wondering I'd I have a problem with my male. He has lost his tail feathers. could this be a sign of molting, or am I looking at a plucking victim? here's the background:

DJ is a normal male, almost 1year old. He was quarantined with his girlfriend for about 6 weeks in a small cage. Because of that size, his tail feathers did get somewhat ratty :( He was otherwise active, happy, singing. About 3 weeks ago, I moved them to a new flight cage, along with a pair of zebras and pair of green singers.

It seems to me that everybody gets along very well, most of the squawking and chasing is the zebras between themselves. very little intraspecies aggression, though I do work full time, so I'm not always there. DJ is without doubt the least active bird in the cage. I mean, somebody has to be, but it seems quite a gap. he does the least flying, preferring to climb anywhere he wants to go. he can fly, just doesn't seem to want to. He has fallen several times trying to climb up or down. He still sings, eats well, doesn't seem particularly fluffed, stays near the top of the cage.

If he is molting, would that account for the decreased flying and activity? his girlfriend had no trouble adjusting to the large flight.

sorry for the length, just trying to fill in all the details! thanks!
4 zebras Crystal, Beau, Bella and Dmitri (the little squeaker), 2 societies Diva and DJ (and their 6 adult kids), and 2 green singers Thor and Regina

ac12
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Re: society molting - like goulds or like zebs?

Post by ac12 » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:11 pm

I suspect the zebras are plucking him.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

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