Plucking?

[Mystical]

Hi all,

Just a question for you which may seem strange lol my female ringneck seems to be trying to pluck where i would call my males ringnecks 'bits' is this a common thing? or a past time i should be trying to avoid now before it gettings out of hand, he seems to let her do this but makes what i would call a horrible sound lol

Any advice would be great ;D

Rach

[fischer]

Hi Rach, Is she eating the feathers or just plucking them out and dropping them to the floor? If shes eating the feathers she needs a mineral supplement, or mineral block. If shes just dropping them shes doing it for fun or she thinks its part of the normal preening process, I've had some hens do this in the past and have never found a cure for it, any suggestions anyone?

Cheers Tony

[Mystical]

Hey Tony,

She doesnt seem to eat them it looks like she just drops them, when she does this if it helps any she goes and sits on her nesting box perch and makes a like coeing sound? breeding season here in nz ends around end of feb but atm is still so warm and she seems very interested in entering her nest box but never does.. unknown if because this is new to her and just wants to check it out, he still is doing his display thing to her, raising himself and making his noise but again nothing has come of it im guessing as the season is ending, possibly like u say its a fun thing but will go out and buy some blocks like u said thanks heaps

Rach

[fischer]

Hi Rach,
I would say this is part of her courting, shes trying to encourage the cock bird
It's a good idea to place mineral blocks in a seperate dish as some blocks can eat through wire eventually

Cheers Tony

[Mystical]

lol Tony, not something my partner would enjoy im sure thanks again for the info

Rach