Plucked Diamond Firetail babies

[deegs]

Hello to all,

I have just had a clutch of Diamonds come out of the nest, 5 in fact, but have lost 2 as they all have been plucked of their breast feathers and the cold weather has got the better of the 2 that I have lost. This is the first clutch that I have had from this pair. Is it common for Diamonds to pluck or have I just been unlucky this time? Thanks for any advice. Deegs.

[spanna]

Are the birds the only diamonds in the aviary or are there more than one pair? I have found that in a colony sometimes diamonds will attack the young of other pairs occasionally.

[deegs]

Only one pair in the aviary. I have watched them for some time now and they are not plucking now that the babies are out of the nest. Maybe the parents were keen to get them out of the nest and plucked them to try to move them out.

[spanna]

Another possibility is that there is something living in the nest that ate the feathers either at pin feather or more developed stages. I have had something similar before and that was one theory I had. Can anyone else offer some suggestions?

[desertbirds]

Could be a stress related issue, Diamonds will pluck if they are under stress but this is usually when they are in confined spaces. I would revise the diet or at least be certain they have all the essentials for rearing chicks.Plenty of fresh greens/seed heads (not easy this time of year), cuttlebone,offer some livefood (mealies).I found my Diamonds wouldnt eat a lot of broad leafed greens until it was offered fresh in pots (growing), then would destroy what was offered in quick time.
Spannas theory also has a great deal of merit.They can be a boisterous species and i would be interested know aviary size.
If this is the first clutch perhaps the parents wont persist with this habit (if it is the parents).

[SamDavis]

... all have been plucked of their breast feathers ...

I've never seen parents pluck breast feathers only. They usually pluck back, neck and head area. Sounds more like an issue within the nest. Maybe damp, insect infestation or a dead chick rotting away underneath them - something like that where their breast has been in contact with muck for some time.

[Craig52]

... all have been plucked of their breast feathers ...

I've never seen parents pluck breast feathers only. They usually pluck back, neck and head area. Sounds more like an issue within the nest. Maybe damp, insect infestation or a dead chick rotting away underneath them - something like that where their breast has been in contact with muck for some time.

I partially agree Sam but with 5 chicks in the nest i would doubt if there would be any more and as far as the plucking is concerned,you are right as sometimes those feathers grow back as white giving a pied apearance in the neck area. Craig

[deegs]

Thanks for all the feedback from everyone. I have been keeping a close eye on them today and the cock has been trying to pluck some of the young again, only going for the chest. Maybe I didn't have enough feathers in the aviary for the nest, I have put a good deal in today, white and emu feathers, and they have almost all gone in quick time. I have also taken their old nest out, no sign of any nasties in there and no dead siblings. They have started to make a new nest in another bush. When are the chicks ready to be moved out, I'd like to get them away from the plucking father, no pun intended!!!! Once again, thanks for the advice. Bye the way, the aviary is quite large, 3m deep x 2m wide.

Cheers, Deegs

[desertbirds]

When you see Diamonds zooming around a large aviary at sunset you will see that 3x2 is quite small, no offence. There is something in feathers that birds like as ive seen many cock birds dash for a feather,chew the end but not use it to nest. ?? Im not sure whats in there but i think it indicates the need for some vitamin or mineral ?.Rotating pots and fresh seed heads as the weather warms up may see yr plucking cock bird stop his habit. Sometimes the odd bird will do something that cant be explained .It doesnt suprise me that there were no signs of trouble in the nest, if a young bird did die in there all traces could have been removed by now, a nest of six Diamonds would be a suprise though. Stick with em, some people struggle any at all.