How often do finches moult.

14 May 2010, 05:13

Hi I was wondering how often finches moult. My Stars and Red Faced parrot finches look a bit dull, the stars look like they are losing feathers on their heads.Also I have 3 pairs of zebras in a small aviary 2 pairs I have had for 6 years,I got a zebra finch from the RSPCA (was left at a house that the people were evicted)I gave her a mate she had 3 babies her mate died for no reason she is very aggressive. She was good with her babies, I have now got her a new mate but she chases him and is aggressive to him. Should I put her in a cage by herself as she stressing the others out? Will a finch be okay by itself in a cage without the company of other finches?

14 May 2010, 05:22

Your Zeb hen certainly sounds like a bit of a dragon lady so she could very well be your source of stress. Once the juvenile moult is completed then moulting once a year is normal and desirable - anything else is a sign of stress. I've heard that parrot finches are prone to forced moults but I don't have any experince other than a bald gouldian hen and she stayed that way for almost a year until she had her normal moult. In her case the localised feather loss was caused by a topical chemical toxicity. If feathers are forcibly removed (pulled out) they usually grow back in a few weeks.

14 May 2010, 11:43

You could put your aggressive hen in a small cage inside the avairy. Stops her being a pain in the but and allows her to still have company. Problem solved.
LML

14 May 2010, 20:08

Thanks guys I have left her for the moment and spending alot of time drinking cups of tea and watching her interact with the 5 other zebras.If I think she is stressing them out to much I will take her out and put her in a cage. Not getting much done lately as I spend so much time just WATCHING my finches. LOVE IT.