Feathers Wing
My Canary seems to have deformed feathers coming from top of wing?
He is 7 yrs old and very healthy till now. Still singing, eating, bathing, etc. This started on just one wing and now affects both.
It does not seem to hinder him at all, but looks very strange. The feathers will grow out and I assume they fall out since they are just gone and a few days later a new one breaks. Also, for the past few days, feathers on the top of his head look "rough". I don't have an avian vet near me and $$ are tight now anyway.
Advice please.
Thank You
Hi Mary Anne W
As we grow older,every thing starts going wrong.
I am not trying to tell you ,that some thing is wrong with your canary,but what is helping is your bird is suffering from feather lumps.
This is a condition that happens even on younger canaries,and is a result of bad breeding.When the breeder pairs up two mates with "frost" or soft feather,the end results in some cases are the condition afflicting your bird.
What is happening is the "soft" feathers can't penetrate the skin,instead they curl up underneath the skin,and the ones that do come through,have a tendency of not being smooth in appearance,instead they have an ugly appearance.
To distinguish between a "soft" feather or a "hard" Feather Bird,usually the "hard feather" bird has a lot darker color background.
So,next time you are on the market for a replacement canary.either go to a reputable breeder,or if the pet shop is your source,buy the bird with the most color showing,as that may help you avoid the condition your feathered friend is now suffering from.This condition is not pain full,so your bird does not have any discomfort.
This problem develops during the annual molt,so I
recommend that you offer a cold bath every morning,to help him soften his skin,allowing the feathers to come through easier.
Best regards
The Canaryman