Hi guys, es it was an avaian vet that I went to, I was in there for about 30 mins while he tried to work it out, he told me off for pulling the tail feathers of the first chicks but seriously it was the only way I could stop the bleeding, then he go his book out and had a good look and settled on the FM or diet being the problem, though he said the diet sounds okay but I should try to get them to eat pellet crumble to increase the protien. The picture in the book looked nothing like what baby had but he said the with FM the tips of the quills will look pinched and twisted which they do, even the body feathers. Dad is fine now after he little problem, there was only a tiny amount of quill left from the feathers that had gone I pulled 1 but the others stopped bleeding on their own, as far as I know he has never had this problem before, his feathers have always looked nice an smooth.

An "avian" vet who has to get out a book to work out the problem ?? Sounds suss to me. Either avian vet in training or not one at all.

NO he is an old guy and was recommended to me through my regular vet, he had be in busines for years.I didn't like him much at first cuse he completely dismissed the bleeding from the feathers as normal which sounded like a load of bull to me and still does but by the end he seemed to make some sort of sense.

MAte can you see another one next time ... I agree with Kaz - Text books vets can't be that good ...

 

Yes FM end of feathers are snaped, opene, contains blood in an open shaft ... These are the tell tale sign ...

 

you did the best thing with pulling the tail feathers out Do let that guy tell you different .... The quills of the feather has blood supply running through them (until they are at full length and moult out ) so if you had left it .... I would had to say what would have happened .....

Well I have to say if this problem is FM then it is serious, chick 2 has lost most of her flight and body feathers, just has her normal wing feathers and down all over. Chick 1 seems to be fine but chick 2 has started to lose her flight and body feathers too now, other than this they seem quite healthy, out of the box and eating, I moved them and dad in to another cage with a box on the floor of the cage so they hop in and out and follow dads lead, picking at seed and veggies.

Can you post pictures of them all ?

I will try and get some decent ones tomorrow and you can see what I am talking about.

French moult does not usually involve body feathers PFBD does

PFBD what is that kaz??????? it doesn't sound good especially when you add that little face after it

PFBD what is that kaz??????? it doesn't sound good especially when you add that little face after it

This is a PFBD chick

 

 

 

 

aged about 3 months

Oh no! i hope you are not dealing with PBFD

Hi all sorry it has taken so long but I have finally got pics of the babies, I took a real ood look at them and it seems tat they are growing back a whole heap of their feathers but this is what they look like now

chick 3

this one lost most of his body feathers but seems to be growing them back, same with the wings, he didn't lose the tail feathers they just got really ratty so hopefully when he molts they will come back okay.

 

chick 2

she has lost all but one flight feather on one wing but none on the other, and some body fethers on her chest and above her tail but looks like she is growing them back.

 

and chick 1 who seems fine and is growing back her tail feathers

 

sorry if that is to many pics, I am not sure how many you are allowed in one post.

So with the feathers growing back I am hoping that it isn't that PBFD that Kaz suggested, whatever that is (Kaz if you can tell me what it is and what causes it that would be great)

I will send these pictures out to a learned colleague or two and see what they say

Edited November 5, 200816 yr by KAZ

thanks Kaz that would be great

Good luck - I really hope you find out what it is - i have everything crossed for you

Oh... poor birds. I hope you get some answers and hopefully what ever is causing it, it can be fixed. Hugs mate and good luck

Answers from some knowledgable people and more to come....

 

ANSWER ONE...

I am leaning towards French moult Kaz.

 

 

ANSWER TWO....

Kaz

From the appearance of the birds it certainly looks like FM.

But the feather quills dont show the twisted nipped appearance typical of FM.

Also the splitting of the shafts is unusual. This suggests nutrition or incompatible genetics of parents may be involved.

I know the vet has suggested diet is okay but it would be worth carefully reviewing the diet for any possible deficiency, or excess.

Are there any other nests, with young of similar age, with/without these symptoms? Or is this affecting only one particular family?

In any case isolate the family immediately from any other breeding pairs.

If others show symptoms consider stopping all breeding for 6 months.

 

ANSWER THREE ...

Don't breed em again. In fact stop breeding for this year and rest for six months.

 

ANSWER FOUR

The first looks like it could have been deficient in something, that has thrown it into a stress moult. Stress moult birds tend to grow them back fairly fast, although never reach there full potential

Also looks like it could have been plucked sad.gif which could have also contributed.

Edited November 6, 200816 yr by KAZ

reading throught this post, you have received some excellent help, how frustrating it is for you so I just wants to say hugs and I hope you can get everything worked out.

Thanks for that Kaz, very interesting. so far chicks 1 and 2 look to be growing back normal feathers and doing well, chick 3 is growing back feathers but they are really ratty. I don't know if it will help but the diet that the parents were getting was their normal seed mix, soaked hulled oats, some pellet crumble (but I don't think they really ate much of that), and vegies which included Bokchoy, grated carrot, bean, radish and alfalfa sprouts, brussel sprouts, boccoli, sweet corn, parsely and basil. I didn't give any vitamin supplements during this time as I read somewhere that they can have too much which isn't good for the chicks.

I have 2 hens laying at the moment so if you can see anything wrong with the above diet please let me know so I can make changes if need be.

Thanks everyone for their support and help, I will keep you updated on the babies and the grow

Oh DEAR I PRAY IT WILL ALL BE okay!