My canary is shedding or something...?

Question

It's been like this for a few weeks, what should I do about it and how long does it lasts? And he barely has any feathers on the top of his head. It looks like a bunch of splinters popping out of the top of his head!!! What should I do about that? Is he just growing new feathers? But other than that he seems fine.

Answer 1

Summer is the time of year that canaries molt. Its totally normal. In fact all birds go through molt, some twice a year. Every feather on the bird's body is replaced at least once a year. The little "splinters" you see are the pin feathers. Feathers emerge in a sheath which disolves as the feathers come out. It can get quite dusty.

Be sure to provide your bird excellent foods at this time, especially calcium and some protein. Making a whole new batch of feathers takes a lot of energy. I would highly recommend that you give him some hard boiled egg, including some of the shell. Fresh greens (not iceberg lettuce ever!) like brocolli or kale are necessary, too. Its normal for male canaries to stop singing. The good news is that the head feathers are the last to come in. Canaries start molting with the tail feathers and work up to the head. Good luck!

Answer 2

He's moulting. Birds do it once or twice a year. But it sounds like your guy has an extreme case of moulting and that could be poor diet ,illness or mites. I would schedule a trip to the vet to be sure.Be sure your canary gets plenty of sunshine but not really hot direct sun. He needs a place to move out of the sunlight when needed. Canaries will eat hard boiled egg, place a half egg, shell and all with the cut side up in a separate dish for him to pick at.

Answer 3

He is molting, and the spikes you see on top of his head are new feathers waiting to open up...I'm sure he is fine

Answer 4

It is not shedding it is molting he is outgrowing his feathers yes he will grow new ones