Two white "growths" on neck??

rach · Post by **rach** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:17 pm

My female zebra finch has two white growth-looking things on either side of her neck. She and the male fight sometime, and some of her feathers are missing. Could her neck be swollen or something???

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:27 pm

Are you sure you aren't just seeing the crop? It is not really white, more yellowy, and on baby birds, it is totally visible, since they are so naked. It will look like a lumpy mass on both sides of the neck. Normally on adult birds, the crop is not noticeable, but since your hen has lost some feathers in the area, could that be it?

rach · Post by **rach** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:43 am

Since I read your response, I went back and peeked at her, and yes, it does have a yellow-ish tint to it. And it's bumpy-looking too, so I'm guessing you're right.

So you're saying that's normal? It looks really weird. What is it there for?

Her feathers were growing back for awhile, but then she and Fizz (the male) started fighting again, so now the "crop" is visible. I really don't have a place to separate them, though, so what can I do?

Post by **Sally** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:10 pm

The crop is like a storage vessel for the food the birds eat, and then it is slowly moved into the rest of the digestive system. It is absolutely normal, but with fully-feathered birds, it is covered up, so you aren't aware of it. Look thru the Finch Information Center, and you will see photos of baby birds with bulging crops--see if that is what you are seeing on your hen, except the crop is usually fuller-looking on baby birds.

As far as aggression, it is fairly common with Zebras. There is an article at the FIC, linked at left, about aggression and some suggestions for dealing with it.

rach · Post by **rach** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:14 pm

Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. I saw the pics and yes, that is what it looks like.

It seems like I have a lot to learn!

moe moe2 · Post by **moe moe2** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:55 pm

did she just eat when you saw it if so that the seeds you see the same thing happen to me and sally had to calm me down too

rach · Post by **rach** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:44 pm

I'm not sure if she had just eaten some seed or not, but it has gone down now.

Post by **Sally** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:58 pm

There is always more to learn about these finches, that is part of what makes it so much fun. And each species is different, so you have to learn what they need that is different from some other species. The Finch Information Center has a lot of good information--that's where I get a lot of my answers.

Wait till you see a live naked baby with a full crop--they look like they have huge goiters!

rach · Post by **rach** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:26 am

Yes, I'm constantly learning about my zebras, especially since they do something new everyday.

I have yet to see a baby because my hen lays eggs often, but they never hatch.

But the crop looks so weird! It makes my skin crawl!