I had a pair in the breeding cage...no eggs as yet. All going well between the pair.

Cock was calm on the perch the last time I saw him. All good. No problems.

Late afternoon today and I check them to give some soft food and the cock has begun to strip off all his feathers. He has removed all his wing flights, he has shredded his tail, and he has plucked his chest right down to his down feathers. I pulled him out of the breeder cage and put him in a show cage and watched him. He is jumping all around like a mexican jumping bean, rolling over and grabbing his tail feathers and pulling hard and biting at it and removing and shredding more tail feathers.

No mites, no changes...except now he is acting mentally disturbed and shredding and removing all his feathers.

 

Any ideas ???????????????????????? This has all changed in less than a day.

 

Before

 

 

and now

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 201015 yr by KAZ

I had one do that a couple of years ago, after a show, I put it down to stress, I always give them probotic and a energy supplment now after the show and all has been good, but I haven't come across that happening in the breeding cage, sorry I can't help.

Wow. Never seen or heard of this before. Sorry I cant be of any help, but it is quite interesting!

I will do some video and post shortly

Bird lice? Sorry, you've probably already checked for them. Poor thing.

No mites, no changes...

Bird lice? Sorry, you've probably already checked for them. Poor thing.

already stated Ratzy, besides my birds get regular treatments. Does not explain the sudden change.

Hi Kaz,

I think it might be stress. I witnessed similar thing at auction on Sunday. It was a budgie in a show cage though - not in a breeding cage. He did the same thing. He ripped most of his belly feathers out and made a mess of his tail, crawling around the cage like mad. I probably shouldn't have, but I bought him. He is fine now and stopped pulling his feathers out. He is sitting in my quarantine cage with 2 other birds...no more mad behaviour or feather ripping.

Hi Kaz,

I think it might be stress. I witnessed similar thing at auction on Sunday. It was a budgie in a show cage though - not in a breeding cage. He did the same thing. He ripped most of his belly feathers out and made a mess of his tail, crawling around the cage like mad. I probably shouldn't have, but I bought him. He is fine now and stopped pulling his feathers out. He is sitting in my quarantine cage with 2 other birds...no more mad behaviour or feather ripping.

Stress does seem to be the only option. I wonder what set him, off ?

I had a look at my bird health and disease and looked for the symptoms.

 

The only two things I can see is:

 

'Giardiasis', two of the signs being: - Excessive feather grooming and - Feather picking and screaming

It's not Common in Australia

 

The only other other one is Feather picking, caused by stress. And from the video it looks like the likely option.

I had the same problem with some of my finches when I bred them. I solved it by taking them out of the aviary and separating them for a while. It was only the males doing it so I assumed it was stress from breeding.

I had a look at my bird health and disease and looked for the symptoms.

 

The only two things I can see is:

 

'Giardiasis', two of the signs being: - Excessive feather grooming and - Feather picking and screaming

It's not Common in Australia

 

The only other other one is Feather picking, caused by stress. And from the video it looks like the likely option.

I had the same problem with some of my finches when I bred them. I solved it by taking them out of the aviary and separating them for a while. It was only the males doing it so I assumed it was stress from breeding.

 

Well since he developed the habit over just an hour or two I would rule out Giardia. Maybe the hen put the hard word on him

Not good Kaz the bird that did it here plucked all his down and all, had to put a little collar on him so he couldn't pluck anymore. Maybe he is trying to tell you I don't like that hen let me out sorry, but it does look like stress.

Maddy might be right Giardia is a possibility he seems to be irritated, wouldn't hurt to put him on a course of Ronivet to be on the safe side.

 

 

 

I had a look at my bird health and disease and looked for the symptoms.

 

The only two things I can see is:

 

'Giardiasis', two of the signs being: - Excessive feather grooming and - Feather picking and screaming

It's not Common in Australia

 

The only other other one is Feather picking, caused by stress. And from the video it looks like the likely option.

I had the same problem with some of my finches when I bred them. I solved it by taking them out of the aviary and separating them for a while. It was only the males doing it so I assumed it was stress from breeding.

Maddy might be right Giardia is a possibility he seems to be irritated, wouldn't hurt to put him on a course of Ronivet to be on the safe side.

 

They were all dosed on Ronivet a few weeks ago. Also he was fine at 12 when I was in there and he wasnt by 3pm. 3 hours work to do what he did to himself. He's been with the hen 3 weeks.

Hasnt been iirritated at all

Edited May 4, 201015 yr by KAZ

Maddy might be right Giardia is a possibility he seems to be irritated, wouldn't hurt to put him on a course of Ronivet to be on the safe side.

 

 

 

I had a look at my bird health and disease and looked for the symptoms.

 

The only two things I can see is:

 

'Giardiasis', two of the signs being: - Excessive feather grooming and - Feather picking and screaming

It's not Common in Australia

 

The only other other one is Feather picking, caused by stress. And from the video it looks like the likely option.

I had the same problem with some of my finches when I bred them. I solved it by taking them out of the aviary and separating them for a while. It was only the males doing it so I assumed it was stress from breeding.

 

 

what is that ????

Giardiasis is an infectious disease caused by a parasite present in the drinking water of many cities. Again, its more common in the US

 

That is very odd Kaz its as if something has just snapped quite suddenly in the birds mind

Giardiasis is an infectious disease caused by a parasite present in the drinking water of many cities. Again, its more common in the US

 

That is very odd Kaz its as if something has just snapped quite suddenly in the birds mind

 

Yeah...it was very sudden. Happened about the same time the hen decided the nestbox was a very good idea. Maybe being pressured for budgie bonking was more than he could bear

 

Meanwhile he is segregated and I hope he is a little better in the morning. I certainly hope he doesnt make a bigger mess of his beautiful feathers

Edited May 4, 201015 yr by KAZ

Good luck

Edited May 4, 201015 yr by hilly

I had a look at my bird health and disease and looked for the symptoms.

 

The only two things I can see is:

 

'Giardiasis', two of the signs being: - Excessive feather grooming and - Feather picking and screaming

It's not Common in Australia

 

The only other other one is Feather picking, caused by stress. And from the video it looks like the likely option.

I had the same problem with some of my finches when I bred them. I solved it by taking them out of the aviary and separating them for a while. It was only the males doing it so I assumed it was stress from breeding.

 

Well since he developed the habit over just an hour or two I would rule out Giardia. Maybe the hen put the hard word on him

 

 

Yes and he frieked out, doesn't know how to do it OR is he gay, so instead of telling the hen he is a dud or gay he thinks plucking himself she will never know What some males will do He would of been better to come out of the closet at least he would still have his feathers :rofl:

Hey hey hey, don't blame it on males. Note it occurred when the hen got interested in the nestbox. She has pressured him. Performance anxiety has obviously struck. He is not a piece of meat. He has feelings. I blame the hen.

 

There, I have said it, stop pressuring us....er, them.....whatever, you women know what I mean!!!!!!!!

Hey hey hey, don't blame it on males. Note it occurred when the hen got interested in the nestbox. She has pressured him. Performance anxiety has obviously struck. He is not a piece of meat. He has feelings. I blame the hen.

 

There, I have said it, stop pressuring us....er, them.....whatever, you women know what I mean!!!!!!!!

:rofl:

i thought cocks liked hens that were forward comming :rofl:

mabe she was just to much hen for one cock to handle :hap:

How is he today Kaz?

How is he today Kaz?

He's quiet. I havent seen any feather shredding today. I put him in a cage with two other budgies to see how he gets on. He just went straight to the food dish