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Communal preening

Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 12:01
by finchyfinch
hi there

I have a variety of finches in one little aviary , most being males other than 2 Zebras which are female , I find that some take a submissive stance and let the others pluck at their necks , the Ruddy is submissive to the Cordon Bleau , the Orange breasted submissive to the Ruddy , the zebra female preens the manikin male and the new zebra hen we have in there now and vice versa , some of them have NO feathers on their necks due to this comminuty "preening" is it preening or is it a form of dominance and bullying ?? :/ they all seem happy enough but I am a little worried JUST in case there may be tension in there and some arent happy.


thanks so much

Re: Communal preening

Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 15:51
by vettepilot_6
How big is aviary? Is there too many birds at same perch level? maybe need some privacy perches.. :thumbup:

Re: Communal preening

Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 16:56
by finches247
Maybe they have mites.When ya worm your birds last ? Or there is maybe an aggressive bird that causing fights to pluck feathers from the neck

Re: Communal preening

Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 20:12
by Myzomela
Mites aren't likely to cause feather loss just around the neck.

This sort of feather loss is most commonly seen in finches which have spent a lot of time in smaller cages in pet shops.

As VP has suggested it may well be an overcrowding issue and privacy perches may help.

Re: Communal preening

Posted: 02 Oct 2012, 14:40
by finchyfinch
hi there ,

thanks for the replies , I was reluctant to think it was mites as well , they did come from a pet shop in a flught cage which is what they are in now , we were told up to 18 can be in this cage but we have 13 , all pretty much came from the same store ... they have 2 long perches and then we have put some branches at the bottom for them to perch too ... is that whats considered a privacy perch ??? and in all honesty , I notice some of them WANTING to be neck pecked so to speak , so its not like they are scared and flying away , they are actually sidling up to the finchy they want to be groomed by .... I am just hoping its not a stress thing and its normal behaviour. :purplex:

Re: Communal preening

Posted: 02 Oct 2012, 14:48
by finchyfinch
oh and i have since found out our zebras are males .. well at least one is , he has the cheeks and the black bar across his chest , the albino one has the same coloured beak so am thinking its a boy too ...