pandamak1
07-02-2006, 08:42 PM
This will be longer but I want to explain the situation to maybe make it easier for someone out there ease my mind . I recently adopted a male and female canary from a private owner who needed to find them a new home. I have a conure but I read up on smaller birds before I even considered looking for these new pets. They seem very healthy my male even started to sing for me in a short time.:D Before I "adopted" them I talked to the owner about where she got them from (2 different breeders), their age (both hatched in 05) and I asked if they had been exposed to other birds (because I know canaries sometimes enjoy being in a group and I wanted to get a few finch also). She told me that would be fine. Everything seemed ok until the past few days when I noticed my little guy missing feathers above his beak and the back of his neck. I think she's plucking him but I never see anyone being mean. In fact, he's been seen bringing her food (not in a nest though). I know it's mating season and they have nests (5) but I haven't put nesting material in (I don't want babies if I can avoid it). I have cats that usually leave the birds alone but for the past few days one of them has been a pain so I've been shutting them out of the room when we're gone and at night so they aren't bothering them. Now, I've noticed my male picking and tugging on his breeder band. It's a solid band but I'm sure a vet can remove it if needed. :confused: Do you think the band is bothering him or maybe he's stressed or is this normal behavior from time to time? Please help ease my mind. My vet is closed until Wednesday due to the holiday.