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Post by pigeonsrod on Feb 25, 2014 19:21:21 GMT 10
Had a young one leave the nest today he has no feathers except on his head and flights.Saw another sibling looking out of the nest and looks the same.He seems healthy otherwise and is getting fed.Any help as what would cause this would be most appreciated.Will see if i can post pics tomorrow.
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Post by avinet on Feb 26, 2014 22:00:36 GMT 10
Had a young one leave the nest today he has no feathers except on his head and flights.Saw another sibling looking out of the nest and looks the same.He seems healthy otherwise and is getting fed.Any help as what would cause this would be most appreciated.Will see if i can post pics tomorrow. They will have been plucked by one or both parents - the only other thing that can cause feather loss in a baby is Beak & Feather Disease - and that would cause loss of wing and tail feathers, not body feathers. Those body feathers will regrow but the bird will probably look pretty scruffy until it goes through the first moult in a few months time. Take them away from their parents as soon as they are weaned and eating by themselves, although once they have left the nest it is unlikely that any further plucking will occur. What it does mean is that if this pair breed again you will need to remove the babies before the cover feathers (the ones with the colour) have started opening and hand rear them. Once parents do this sort of plucking they usually continue with future babies. Why parents do this is unknown - or at least pure speculation. I've had it in various species, cockatiels and budgies being a particular problem. Often it is just one of the parents, but finding out which is not that easy, except by swapping pairs around and seeing which babies get plucked from the new pairs. cheers, Mike |
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