One of my female canaries scratches and picks at her neck area and has removed all feathers. She’s been inspected by a avian vet and she doesn’t have mites. He suggested maybe giving her an injection of hormones.
I’ve tried everything. Scat spray, and other sprays. Probiotics in her food & water. She’s eating well and is active. This has been going on for the last year. She looks awful! Any suggestions?
Hi,
Unfortunately I don’t have any suggestions, other than the sprays usually have no effect. This is rare in canaries, if this is a single bird. Your vet may be on the right track with it being hormonal – she’s possibly trying to make a nest? She should not have a nest if she is a single bird. This can trigger hormones and without a mate, leave her frustrated. Canaries can get bored like any bird, and really need a companion unless she is a tame bird. She should have some interaction with another bird or a person. Canaries do enjoy some of the small colorful plastic toys they make. They will peck at bells, mirrors and enjoy ladders & swings. Hang a ladder in the cage and she will use it like a swing. She also needs a nutritionally formulated diet like a pellet or granule. A seed diet does not provide much nutrition. Canaries will eat some insects, so you might look into the dried insect diets they make for small birds. They will eat dark leafy greens & chopped veggies. They usually enjoy broccoli florets. We have a great webinar on the small birds that you might want to check out. We will also have one in February about enrichment, and small birds will be discussed.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
