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Question:

July 12, 2022

Baby canary


We had a baby canary in its parents’ cage. The baby is flying, and seemed to be eating on its own. Its been 5 weeks. However, the father, and sometimes the mom, would pick on it, plucking feathers or beating it around. It started to lose feathers near its eye and ear. I removed the baby from the cage, putting into its own one, but it doesn’t seem to be eating or being active. What do I do??


Answer:

Hi Batz,

Chicks should always be removed from the parent’s cage as soon as they are eating on their own. Otherwise the parents will pick on them to try to make them leave. This is instinctive and nature’s way of preventing related birds from breeding.

It is possible that this chick was either injured by the parents, or it might have a respiratory infection. You can place the cage next to the parents to see if this helps. If the chick still doesn’t eat or act well, then you should take it to an avian vet.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

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