ALL ABOUT FEATHER PLUCKING IN CANARIES

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1 Canary Lovers Guide SPECIAL REPORT ALL ABOUT FEATHER PLUCKING IN CANARIES HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT THE IRRITATING HABIT OF FEATHER PLUCKING By Darren P.D. Walker

2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Darren P.D. Walker is the creator and webmaster for CanaryAdvisor.com. CanaryAdvisor.com is one of the most information packed and fastest growing canary related sites online. With valuable information on canary feeding, housing, breeding, and health care this site is widely considered the canary keepers online Bible by many canary owners. I have read the entire web site and I say Bravo! It is so informative and well written. The site tells it all. Thanks. Lynn Heiser, lheiser2@ access-4-free.com Darren s FREE CanaryTips! Ezine is the MOST POPULAR canary care Ezine published and has been helpful to new canary owners and veterans alike. "Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed and benefited from your Ezine tips - I have already read all the back issues you listed and am looking forward to the next release! I am genuinely appreciative of your work and enjoy your writing style as well - very "down to earth." -Debbie Lewis, When he s not working, Darren is found spending time with his 2 beautiful daughters, Hannah and Savannah, OR working in his garden...and, of course, hanging out with his birds, dogs, and horses. 2

3 NOTICE: Please remember that each individual s bird keeping success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire and motivation. As with any endeavor, there is no certain guarantee that you will always have healthy birds by implementing the ideas expressed in this report. Copyright Darren P.D. Walker ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. Because of the rate with which conditions change, the author reserves the right to alter and update his opinion based on the new conditions. The report is for informational purposes only. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided in this report, neither the author nor his affiliates/partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. If advice concerning animal health or related matters is needed, the services of a fully qualified professional should be sought. This report is not intended for use as a source of animal health care advice. You should be aware of any laws which govern animal health care or other related practices in your country and state. Any reference to any person or business whether living or dead is purely coincidental. Copyright 2007 Darren P.D. Walker - All Rights Reserved POB 1892, Porterville CA

4 FEATHER PLUCKING This is a problem that happens to only a small percentage of canaries but when it DOES happen--wow, it can be really difficult to deal with! Feather plucking is exactly what it sounds like...the plucking or pulling or picking of feathers from the body. Sometimes it's done to one bird by another bird in the cage but often it's done by the victim himself. During the annual molt you might notice your canary gently picking at his feathers...this is normal. Molting causes some slight irritation and picking at and plucking out the OLD feathers helps alleviate the problem. But it shouldn't continue after the molt. For more on molting see Once your bird starts picking out his own feathers--outside of the molt--it can develop into a nasty habit that is extremely difficult to break. Approximately 30% of feather pluckers are never cured. Why on earth would a canary pluck out his own feathers? There are various reasons and often it is a mixture of problems. It might include psychological problems as well as physiological problems. Infectious disease Allergies Endocrine/Reproductive Disease Toxins Parasites Hypothyroidism Primary Skin Infection Dietary Deficiencies Systemic Disease Behavioral problems...stress For most of these, the diagnosis of an avian veterinarian is necessary. But the most common causes can be treated by you. These include, in plain English... 4

5 1. Environment Air, cage, and climate all come into play when trying to prevent or cure feather plucking. 2. High Stress Does your canary need some Zen? Help him relax. 3. Bad Diet A lack of certain vitamins and minerals may cause your canary to pluck and consume his own feathers. Again, #1 is environment. 1. Environment You can help avoid the problem of feather plucking in your canary by keeping his environmental conditions clean and free of toxins. Environmental conditions include air quality, temperatures, humidity levels, and the like. One of the worst things for your canary is... Tobacco Smoke. It's terrible for your canary's feathers. You and I can take off our smoky clothes and wash them. Your bird can't and he is very sensitive to this type of toxic environment. Tobacco smoke residue will cause filthy unhealthy feathers and irritated skin. As a side note...it's absolutely deadly for your bird to breathe in tobacco smoke as well. Birds don't have the filtering system that other animals have. Letting your canary have a daily bath will help a little in keeping his feathers clean but will do little to cleanse his skin and that's where the problem begins. To insure that your canary has clean healthy skin, keep his environment clean. Another cause of feather plucking is an... Excessively DRY Environment. 5

6 This may also cause skin irritations. If your home has a fire place or a running furnace that keeps the air dry you might want to use a humidifier. Regular baths or even a conditioning spray will help also. See It Sure Is Hot in Here! Canary s do well in a wide range of temperatures...from below freezing to the high 90s. For premium comfort though, you should keep your pet canary at a temp that s comfortable for you...somewhere between 60 and 90 degrees F gives you a wide window to work with. And your canary is not a mushroom so be careful of... Low Light Intensity. A dim environment during the day--like in a darkened room--may result in an imbalanced system. Don't let your canary become confused as to whether it is dusk or early afternoon. Open up some drapes and turn a light on. Let the light shine. :-) NOTE: There is one exception to this rule and that s when your bird is sick. At such a time, your canary needs to rest and a low light level for a few days will help him do that. Too Many Daylight Hours This is a culprit I've talked about many times... Long days during the winter months can cause an off-season molt--or soft molt--not to mention nights that are too short to allow sufficient rest. And that may result in feather plucking. Remember to cover the cage at sundown and uncover it at sunrise. If this is inconvenient at least try to keep the number of daylight hours to under 11 per day in the winter. Then allow an increase of daylight hours in the spring and summer. For more on that see The Canary Lovers Guide To PREVENTING Your Canary s Overnight Death--How To Prevent Illness and Successfully Treat Your Canary When He's Sick 6

7 Zinc and Lead Toxicity Zinc and Lead Toxicity can be a problem but is not as common in canaries as it is in the parrot family. Birds in the parrot family use their beaks on the cage bars a lot...climbing, chewing, and sucking. Although today's cages tend to be powder coated--protecting birds from the metal of the bars--birds in the parrot family have been known to eat through the coating, especially on older cages. The good news? Canaries do not have the same habits. You will rarely see a canary mouthing the cage bars. However... If the coating on your canary's cage is flaking off--making the metal easy to get at--he may decide he wants to nibble some of it. Inspect your cage closely. If you see any type of material flaking off the cage bars, get a new cage...immediately! Mites An infestation of feather mites or red mites can cause irritation that may lead to feather plucking. Keeping your canary s environment healthy goes much deeper than just preventing feather plucking. A good environment will prevent many other illnesses. Plus, it will keep him happy and full of song! 2. Is Your Canary STRESSED OUT?! Remember...Your bird is locked up in a cage and is not able to live a normal life. He can't go out searching for food, or for a mate, or fly around above the trees having fun. And although your canary has accepted his cage as his home, being confined to his small and unnatural cage can sometimes create a level of stress that is unhealthy. To help avoid a stressed out canary, do your best to... keep his surroundings calm and pleasant help him avoid boredom help him get some exercise. First, CALM DOWN 7

8 Your canary is confined to his small cage and has no way of escaping anything he feels is threatening him. Add into the mix a couple of noisy energetic kids, blaring stereo or TV, dogs, cats, or other general "busy-ness" and what do you get? A stressed out bird. This is not to say that all activity is bad. No...In fact a little activity and background noise is beneficial. Dead silence can create stress just as easily as noise pollution. In nature, silence usually means there is a predator around. And, unfortunately, the stress your canary feels may be relieved by self mutilation...feather plucking. So, in a noisy busy house what can you do? Keep Things Calm The obvious answer to the above example is to move your canary to a more relaxed part of the house. Not dead quiet and still but...c-a-lm. Of course...even in a calm and subdued atmosphere your canary can become stressed. Remember, he's in his cage all day with nothing to do. Result... BOREDOM. If your bird is kept in a very quiet area, you can play a little music in the background. Or better yet... Play a canary CD. Other canaries singing will energize him and put him in a better mood. Also try adding some sisal fiber to the cage. It's mainly used for nesting material but your lone canary will enjoy having something to play with and pick at. There's something about sisal fibers that canaries love. You can probably find some sisal or jute fibers at your local pet store. Also see

9 Another option is to just put in some shredded, unscented toilet paper. Or even some twigs from a fruit tree--washed, bleached, and dried thoroughly--might help keep him entertained. Something else that will help keep him busy and entertained is... Food Works for me! ;-) Try taking a 2 inch piece of corn on the cob, wash thoroughly, and split down the middle. Place in his clean cage, flat side down. Once he figures out that it's a tasty treat he'll attack it with gusto! A millet spray is delectable and fun to eat. Another way to keep stress at bay is through... EXCERCISE If your home is free of major dangers (mirrors, uncovered windows, poisonous plants, other pets, a hot stove) you can let your bird out of the cage every couple of days for some flying. Don't physically remove him. Just open the door and let him discover his new temporary freedom on his own. Leave the door open and when he gets hungry he'll find his way back. Do this at a time when you know you'll be home for a few hours. You'll need to keep one eye on him so he doesn't get into trouble. Ultimately, it's best to finger train your canary. That way you can put him back in the cage when it is convenient for you. Keeping your canary relaxed, entertained, and exercised will help keep the feather plucking habit at bay. A deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals also may cause this terrible habit Malnutrition Malnutrition is the number on cause of feather plucking in pet birds. 9

10 Although your canary can live a long life on a seed only diet, he certainly won t be in the best condition. After months and years of improper nutrition your canary may develop all kinds of illnesses and conditions. It s estimated that 75-90% of caged birds suffer from malnutrition. If you provide a solid diet of seed, fruit, and veggies, you re way ahead of the game. It s smart though, to add a vitamin and mineral supplement to your canary s diet for insurance. A lack of calcium is often attributed to feather plucking. Calcium is needed for proper nerve and brain function and a deficiency in this mineral can cause nervous disorders...like feather plucking. Make sure your canary has a cuttlebone or mineral block--or both--available at all times. You may not ever see him use one of these but if and when he needs the extra minerals, he ll use it. Calciboost is one of the best calcium supplements on the market for birds. The maker claims it has a calming effect. It also contains Vitamin D and Magnesium. us_pet_bird_products.html#calciboost Vitamin A is also important. You can provide Vitamin A by feeding sweet corn or apricots. Soaked (sprouted) seed is also a good source of vitamin A as well as many other vitamins. Other important vitamins include Vitamin E, B, and D. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement is Feather Up. It s specifically formulated for birds during the molt or for feather pluckers. Keep your bird s environment healthy, keep him calm and stress free, and keep him well fed and you ll take a major step in avoiding feather plucking. 10