Canaries... loss of feathers and round cages?

Question

The company I work for has pet canaries. 2 males and a female. The female was suffering from loss of feathers around her neck and ead. The vet told us that it was because she was in a cage with 2 males and it was stressing her out. So they put her in a separate cage. However she has not got any better after 4 weeks. Someone suggested that it was because she was in a round cage and they don't like that... any suggestions about the loss of feathers or this comment about round cages??

The other cage was square. I don't really know anything about birds, I have just been asked to check it out as I am apparantly the only person with an internet connection! I'll pass on the advice tho.

thanks for your answers, most have been helpful. The canary is most definately a girl, and she already has supplements, cuttlefish, mineral blocks and vegetables. I checked with the lady who looks after them at work and she said the vert checked for mites and she was clear. We actually took the birds on from a family who could no longer keep them and as far as I am aware the female has always had feather loss. I guess she wont grow her feathers back now. I'll let work know about getting a new cage though.

Answer 1

The loss of feather could be from her actually plucking the feathers from stress. this may go away when she is less stressed, it may not as it can become a habit. some birds do it out of boredom.

im guessing she has been to the vet as you have told us the vet said it was stress, did he check for mites? birds will pluck if they have mites too, would be worthwhile getting some anti mite to spray he with.... follow the instructions carefully tho!.

Birds indeed do not like round cages, it makes them feel disorientated, they like corners they can snuggle into preferably with the cage against one wall.
they feel less threatened if one side of the cage is closed in as they then only have to worry about predators coming from the front of them and not from all sides.

change the cage if poss, if not, add a little house for her to settle down into when she feels like she needs to hide.
you can buy very cheaply little enclosed nests made from straw or ratton that attach to the side of the cage.
once she feels more at ease he feathers may come back.

to encourage the feather growth you can spray her lightly with some warm water from a plant mister bottle, but make sure she is away from draughts and only do it int he morning so she has time to dry out before night time.

hope she gets better soon

Answer 2

I have read in a Barron's canary book, that round cages are not good for canaries. Canaries, just like any other bird, need the biggest cage as possible. We generally recommend at least cockatiel size. Sounds like the suffering canary is ill, lacking nutrients or is a male. Two males cannot tolerate being with a female. We've had males arrive with bitten legs, toes and-missing feathers from an hour trip from the wholesaler. When birds lose feathers, it does take a while to grow them back.

Answer 3

Males commonly pluck a female's head when caged together, but it should have stopped there. A malnourishing diet can cause both plucking and spontaneous feather loss, and it's common in birds. You can offer her a mineral block, a cuttlebone, and a little dish of fresh veggies every day, and see if she perks back up.

You can also buy a liquid supplement to mix into her water (but only at the recommended levels). All of these things should be at your local large chain store's pet isle.

I've never heard anything about round cages, but I only raise big birds, and they don't make round cages that big! lol

Answer 4

The canary has been over preened by the two males. Both were wanting her attention. Chances are she will never get those feathers back if this has gone on for longer then six months. Add a little protein powder to her diet and see it it helps. Can be gotten at local feed and seed.

Answer 5

Ahh you should never seperate parakeets unlest they are constanly fighting. But remember sometime parakeets fight just to show who is the dominate one but after a while they should stop fighting. Parakeet need to be together or should i say like to be together remember in the wild they stay together in huge flocks. You should put them back together. As for the feathers it is natural for Parakeets to lose features, however if he's losing to much this may mean he either begining to molt in which he will start losing some feature on some sides of his body and after they grow back he will start losing some more feature on another part of his body. Or he may be pulling out his feature becauses he bored. This is why i think you should put both of the Parakeets back together in the same cage.

Answer 6

a round cage will stress a bird out. She might just be a stess case in general....was the other cage round too? go to petsmart or petco and get a cage for 20 dollars thes square and see if this helps

Answer 7

Birds like canaries molt its natural. Annoying having to clear up the feathers tho i have budgies.

Answer 8

I have heard that birds don't like round cages. Try another one.

Answer 9

damn - i thought this said canines...loss of feathers and round cages- i was gona say- WOW CALL JACK HANNAH!

Answer 10

well the bigger the cage the better it is for them