could this be a molt?

[Ginene]

Leonard is missing yellow chest feathers...I am clueless as to why. Could this be a molt? Plucking? Mites? Its very strange and is just across his chest. Thanks...

[Nanajennie]

Ginene I can't believe you just posted that. I was just going to post a thread about some concerns I have with my orange cheek waxbills. They are loosing feathers like mad. Acting normal, but one is worse than the other. A couple weeks ago I heard Bob mention the dry/heat in the house could force a molt, so I went out and bought a humidifier. But it is continuing. I need to try and catch them to take pics.

[Ginene]

Nanajennie
I PM'd Martie, Leonard's breeder. She said it looks to localized to be a molt. He may be doing it to himself. He and Penny have been with a BCCB and society for 9 days now...maybe he's stressed from the transition. Thankfully he already had new pin feathers coming in...but I'm still concerned. If your birds are losing feathers like crazy, it may be a molt. Fingers crossed both of us figure this out soon. Merry Christmas, Jennie!!! Love ya!!! Xoxo

[Nanajennie]

Ginene Merry Christmas to you too Ginene! xoxo, Love ya too! (Just two months till I am there!)

I researched and found a great site for waxbills that talks about they way they molt. And is sounds exactly like a molt is going on. lots of face/cheek feathers and chest feathers.

Poor Leonard... Hope he settles in soon. Fingers crossed.

I still can't get a pic of those zippy OCWb'S

[30 Seconds to Bob]

Just for the record, any information or advice on out of season or "abnormal" moults I have posted pertains specifically to canaries. Canaries have a very predictable moulting season, and anyting out of the ordinary should be addressed as a possible concern. Canaries moult right after their last clutch has fledged - usually a couple of weeks after the summer solstice. I'm not as enlightened on the moulting season or patterns of tropical or semi-tropical finches who could possibly moult at other times of the year. Just don't wan't my canary info to be misconstrued. Bob

[Nanajennie]

30 Seconds to Bob My apologies Bob, I thought you said that... I retract my comment Ginene... I am however, going to look back and see why I thought Bob said that.. Sorry




Yes.. Bob, you are right. You did say Canaries.. Again, I apologize.

[mayble]

Nanajennie, could you post a link to the waxbill molting info?
I've been dealing with the same situation myself.

[Nanajennie]

mayble I misspoke, I thought Bob had mentioned that in general, but was referring to canaries. I don't really know what to do either. Sorry

[mayble]

Nanajennie
??
I was referring to this:

I researched and found a great site for waxbills that talks about they way they molt. And is sounds exactly like a molt is going on. lots of face/cheek feathers and chest feathers.

So, no great site for waxbills?

[Nanajennie]

mayble OH BOY... I am sorry... hold on... been going through craziness... hold on

I will find it

[Zebrafincher]

I've heard some females willl pull feathers from their breast for nesting, but this is the boy I presume?

Moulting would be the most likely. I don't know anything about green singers however... Good luck with him

[zeenie]

It does look like he is pulling them himself.
My male Cordon had that happening a year ago just a little higher up closer to the neck but still in beak plucking distance. I caught him eating his feathers. Very odd I know a finch plucking itself and eating its feathers.
He was the only finch I have that did that. Thank God he does not do that anymore.
Can you set up a camera on a tripod for as long as the recorder allows (4hr?) or set the camera on a sturdy surface filming him?
Most likely taking the time to watch the tape back you will see what is happening.

Can someone chime in on finches eating their own feathers? How common is that?

[Ginene]

]zeenie[quote=]
Can you set up a camera on a tripod for as long as the recorder allows (4hr?) or set the camera on a sturdy surface filming him?Most likely taking the time to watch the tape back you will see what is happening. [/quote]
That's a great idea...I will see if hubby will set that up for me. I watched all 4 cagemates for a while and noticed Curly (male society) goes after the green singers when they go anywhere him. So, I took Curly out and put him in a breeding cage to see if Leonard improves in his absence. The ONLY finch that Curly is intimidated by is Ernie (BCCB). The 4 of them had been living together in the flight for about a week when I noticed Leonard's strange "molt." At least that's what I thought till I spoke with Leonard's breeder and she said it looked like fighting or self plucking

[Ginene]

Mystery solved...I witnessed Leonard plucking his own chest today. So seeing as he's so determined to go to nest, I set the pair up in a breeding cage. And now we wait

[luv4birds]

Hi, Ginene. I'm new here in the forum. I saw your finch avatars and I love them. I would love to have some. Where can I get them?

Thank you.