Feather Biting

Posted September 11, 200420 yr

I have 16 budgies in a large indoor/outdoor flight. Over the last 4 days. I have found 3 budgies that would not (or could not) come back into the inside aviary.

When I went to return them to the inside flight (by chasing them around the floor)

I discovered that some of their feathers were missing and looked like they had been bitten off.

The first casualty is a 5 month old rainbow ****. 3 of his long tail feathers were chewed off, leaving 1cm long bloody shaft. Some of the feathers on top of his head had also been pulled out.

I removed him from the aviary and put him in a hospital cage by himself. The perches are placed very low so he can hop onto them (as he can no longer fly)

Yesterday, A 2 year old, green, hen was found climbing around the mesh of the aviary. She would get to a perch then launch herself off, but hit the ground before reaching another perch.

When I rescued her, I found that her wing feather had been bitten back (farther than you would see on a budgie that had had its wings clipped). Some of the shafts were streaked with blood.

This morning, I went to open the door to the outside flight and yet another bird was having difficulty. The feather on one wing had been chewed and he was unable to fly in a straight line.

All 3 birds are now together in a hospital cage and are not fighting.

I have not noticed any fighting in the large aviary (only the usual preening)

What could be causing the feather biting?

Please help

Spartan

September 11, 200420 yr

You do not think small rodents would be able to get into the outdoor part, do you?

If you can rule that out, I would watch them a little more closely to see if there is a particularly aggressive bird. Are they breeding?

September 11, 200420 yr

I have not seen any sign of mice. My moggy has always been a very efficient mouser, of course he is not allowed anywhere near the aviary.

There are two mating pairs in the large flight (but the damaged birds are not mating)

I was advised that it could be mites or something similar ( so I have checked all of the birds and sprayed all but the ones that are sitting on eggs).

Spartan