Aussie Finch Forum

I have a mixed aviary and I've noticed the last few days that a few of my double bars are being groomed by multiple orange breasts. The double bars are lowering their heads as though they were being groomed by their partner but it is an orange breast male or female doing the grooming. The orange breasts are also chasing away each other so they can groom the waiting double bar. Is this normal behaviour or do my double bars have some mite or insect problem ?? They were treated with ivermectin about 6 or so weeks ago.

cam

Ya know come to think about it i havent noticed any birds doing this to other other species in my aviary. Are you getting this in yours?

Ben

Havent noticed this happening in my aviary ...would love to see pics just so I can say yes Ive seen it Can imagine it would happen though, finches are mostly very sociable little critters and an itch is an itch and feels good being scratched no matter who does it.

Interestingly I have seen my O Breast grooming a cordon now you mention it.

Technically this is called interspecific allopreening (Google that). It's not uncommon especially in captive birds but it's not unknown in the wild. Unlike cleaner wrasse it doesn't appear to have a guilded function in parasite removal and is probably aberrant behaviour. I’m sure that the birds also enjoy it.

Probably no different to my Quarrions getting a head scratch from me , now Greg H has mentioned allopreening I have seen it in parrots of different species , must watch the OBs a little closer see if they do it.

Can't say as I've noticed it in my avairys, but could just be that when I appear they are more interested in what they are getting this time.
Start worrying if your YH,WB,YB Gouldian starts singing love songs for the first time in 2yrs, to a canary. Yes I know it's yellow too.
LML

I'm waiting to try and get a picture but it might take a while! The double bars seem to love it, I'm waiting for a line to start forming up and the orange breasts getting out the massage oil.

Orange Breast here has paired up with a ruddy hen, so they preen a lot. will post a pic, already have one just need to get it up onto this computer...

My lonely Ruddie cock hangs out with the Orange breasteds, they are his size, or the Painteds, they are his colour. Seems he alternates depending on who is friendliest today, but as they are both pairs neither is over friendly. Poor little fellow.
LML