Owl Feather Loss Around The Neck

Is your finch sick or not well? Find out why.
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BirdBerry
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I am reposting my question here from my introduction post and responding to those of you who have replied to my question.

I just acquired a pair of Owl Finches (Male/Female) from a family member that recently passed away. I have owned budgies but never finches so I am doing some fast learning to get up to speed on these cute little fellows. I have had them for a couple weeks now and I notice that the female has some feather loss right around her black bar right under her beak area. I thought maybe she was molting but I am wondering if she has some other problem. Should I be concerned about this or just wait for awhile to see if the feathers grow back. She seems active and healthy and eats well. The male seems just fine at this time as well with no feather loss.

I have been giving them the same diet that my Cousin fed them. Along with the Owls I got all the supplies that she was giving them.

Here is what I have:

Full Spectrum Light
Heat Lamp
Finch Seed Mix
Dried Egg Food
Abba Mineral Supplement
Kelp Granules
Herb Salad
Crushed Egg Shell

I have also been giving them some broccoli and carrots since I give those to my Budgies. If there is more that I could give them please let me know as I want them to be healthy as possible. :)


Just to clarify...the feather loss seems to be just where the black bar would be on her neck area. Her face is not affected at this point.

If it was a mineral deficiency wouldn't it affect both Owls?
Katherine
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Jayburd
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some double bars can look decidedly scruffy. I wouldn't worry, having seen your picture, probably just a bit ruffled.
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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E Orix
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It may be over preening from the other bird.
It is in an area that the bird has limited access to preen itself.
Just keep an eye on the situation.
Birds will at time over preen others when there is little to do
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jusdeb
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Yep overpreening as Eorix said , well thats my bet anyway.
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
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BirdBerry
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Here is a photo of the female Owl's neck area. I hope it is just over preening like you mentioned.

Maybe I should consider getting another pair of finches just to keep things more active in the cage. The cage is a flight style cage and measures 62'' height, by 32'' length, by 21'' deep.

With that size cage would one more pair of finches be alright to add? And if so what types of Finches would get along best with Owls?

Sorry about all the questions...being my Cousin was so ill before she passed I wasn't able to get any information from her. Her family knew I had birds so they were anxious to find somebody to take them. The Internet has been helpful but it is still nice to get advice from actual finch keepers. :)

Image
Katherine
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Jayburd
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don't apologise for asking questions! that's what we're here for, and also the only stupid question is the one you don't ask!

as for the double bar, I can see something gray on his/her neck -is it a tick?
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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jusdeb
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Double bars are happier if there are more of them just not sure if your cage would accommodate any more , they are a very social bird among there own and if you observe them in a large group you will notice a definite co dependacy thing going on .
They will stay in close proximity to each other in a large aviary and you can see they have lookouts checking out every angle , then they will hoot to each other I think this is the reason they suffer when they are kept as pairs because they dont have the security a larger flock would have . My observations anyway .
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
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finchbreeder
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Sorry to be slightly repetative but. Is this the same cage they were housed in before? If not what size was their previous home?
Could be they are feeling restricted for space, and therefore bored so that could cause over preening. Best thing to keep with 2 double bars (owls in your lingo) is 2 more of the same to make a little flock. But as Deb said the cage you have is a pair breeding cage. Do they have a bushey patch with a nest? Questions breed answers which solve problems. So as Jay said ask away and we will answer and ask back and somewhere along the way the light will dawn.
LML
LML
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BirdBerry
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Jayburd: The photo is not very good and it does look like a tick but it is just a shadow you are seeing. I have examined her (boy these little zoomers are hard to catch! :shock: ) and the skin looks good...no red areas or injuries....just no feathers in that one spot.

JusDeb: The Owls are in my dinning room in a corner. We have no other pets or kids around so the house is usually quiet. I do cover them up at night for extra security while we move about in the evening. I have posted a photo of what the cage looks like....it's not all that big for birds that like to fly around. They are sure on the move all the time chasing each other all over...so fun to observe.

Finchbreeder: Yes...the cage they are in was the cage they have always been in. My Cousin did have some breeding supplies and they have raised some clutches (I found out that the Owls are about 3 years old). But there was no nest in the cage at the time I acquired them.

I think they are getting used to me now because when I change out the papers every day they will just sit on the top perch and watch me. Same when I put in fresh water too...they seem to know the routine and don't startle as long as I don't move too fast and get my hand too close to them. Hubby says they sound like little squeaky toys...lol. I put some millet in there the other day and they really went for that!

Here is a Link of the style cage the Owls are in: It sounds like there is not really room enough for another pair of finches from what you guys are telling me?....Darn

http://www.mybirdcage.com/hq_flight_cage.html

Thanks for all your advice....it is nice to have a resource like this to come to. :)
Katherine
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