Feathers Blotchy

[Smitty]

I have 2 green ringecks - 1 male - 1 female. We had the male and added the female the end of October. They have been eating the same food but the females feathers are dull, grey more than when we first got her, compared to the male's. She has no other problems, symptoms. She is eating well, attitude is the same as when we got her, other than the end of some feathers being dull, grey, not green. Is this a diet issue, or stress? She has laid eggs twice, but no babies. The male feathers are nice & bright.

I posted a picture of the birds on this site, "Smitty & Baybee" where you can see the difference in the feathers.
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[The Outlaw]

Smitty:

I have no ringnecks, but I'd figure its either a nutrition issue or perhaps a lighting issue. If she's laying eggs, then she need extra calcium. If she's housed with a mate, perhaps he's getting the good stuff from her bowl and leaving the junk behind for her.

I had to remove one of my BGs for that reason. Even though they all had their own bowls, the larger male kept raiding the smaller one's dish for the good stuff.

Also, the more I'm around my birds, the more I think that lighting is very important for good feathering. If you don't have an OTT light or some other UV source, you might want to do a little research. It helps them uptake vitamins and also keeps their inner clocks set for molting.


THE OUTLAW

[Smitty]

Thanks for the reply Outlaw.

She has been moulting and you can see whose feathers they are by looking at the the ends, dull & grey, but she doesn't seem to be losing as many feathers this past month as the male seems to be.

We just started to give the birds a vitamin, mineral, amino acid supplement powder on their seeds, hoping this might help her.

As for the food issue, we believe that she's the boss of the food bowls.

Their cage is in the kitchen and besides the living room on the main floor so they have constant lighting.

[The Outlaw]

Smitty:

No, you are incorrect about the lighting. I've been doing a lot of research on the subject and it seems that though we have them near windows, they still don't get the much needed benefit of the sun. They desperately need UV lighting. In fact, without it, the problems you are currently experiencing can occur.

With window screens in place, for example, the UV light is filtered out as much as 80%. If you have replacement windows or if your house is less than 20 years old, you also have UV film incorportated in your house windows. That is put there to save your carpets, drapes and furniture from fading. It also blocks out the beneficial rays needed for your birds.

That's exactly why I decided to build the aviary I just did this past weekend. I have, for the first time in 4 years, a plucking bird and other birds who are having awful molts this year. My birds should be in great feather, for my house was erected in 1936 and the bird room has the original glass. Still, with the screens in place, they aren't having their basic UV needs met.

Please do a little web surfing on the subject. I think you'll be surprised. On another note, Joel and I have noticed that its RARE for birds kept outside in proper aviaries to pluck. And, their feathers usually are at their best.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

I agree with Nancy, as usual, so I would suggest you do the same as we do and build your bird(s) an outdoor aviary or one simply attached to one of your windows on your home IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I just open my window and through the window, open the cage door at which time my bird(s) come over quickly and step onto my finger and then are taken into the house for a good time and treats. They know what will happen when I open the window so they run to get their first (lol ).......Make sure the cage has a double bottom, solid metal roof (with over-hang) and best to make the sides solid too (metal or plexi-glass/polycarbonate) or at least the top 1/3 IMO.....This way they get the needed daily sunshine, humidity, additional flight room, many sights to keep their minds occupied. I myself can't worry about mosquitoes because I have too many birds to consider keeping them all inside and even if kept outside with proper netting etc......they (mosquitoes) can still get in the cages when you enter the aviaries UNLESS one takes EXTREME added caution and the expense would probably be prohibiting. I have had no problems, that I know of, from mosquitoes over the 15 years or so that I have been keeping birds outside except for canaries who are very susceptible to Avain Pox spread to them from mosquitoe bites.They do have a vaccine for that however but I just brought the canaries inside and provided them with F.S. lighting..... I worry more about oppossums and the deadly SARCO bacterium they carry in their droppings that is also spread by cockroaches defecating on their food at night..........Always a good idea to have a oppossum trap set up, to catch them alive outside, if they are in your area unless you have a vigilant dog to chase them away but even then the roaches can get to the food (dog or not) so always best to bring in food and even water every night but put back first thing in morning just before sun-up.........If keeping your birds inside then study up the links on proper F.S. lighting for your indoor birds. I myself have chosen what I feel is the best F.S. lighting on the market IMO. I use a 4' shop light with downward reflector with an ELECTRONIC BALLAST ( do not use one with magnetic ballast), I use two fluorescent tubes made by Philipps lighting F32T8TL950 in each shop lite fixture & I hang about 1 ft. from top of each cage or set directly on top of my finch and canary cages which are large so the birds can get out from under the F.S. lighting if they want to........Good luck.

[Smitty]

Thanks for your help/tips.

We moved the bird cage over to the patio doors so they are receiving direct sunlight now. When the weather gets warmer we will be taking them outside more.
We tried hard boiled eggs and they wouldn't go near them, but found out last night they really like fried eggs, so they will be getting those more often now we know the way they like them.

[Joel]

Sunlight thru glass is supposed to be robbed of some of its beneficial properties so I would look into that more and I would maybe consider having a flight outside attached to a window like I mentioned before so you don't have to go thru the trouble of moving them around so much. I really think you may like it once you have built one, if at all possible........JMHO

[The Outlaw]

Sunlight through glass that is newer than the early 1960's is robbed of ALL UV benefits. I have already explained that.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

Yes you did Nancy & thank you for that. :)