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Sick robin? Help

  • 13-08-2018 07:11PM
    #1
    bswee365
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 ✭


    Hi, I've seen this little guy from afar for maybe the last month and thought he had an unusual pattern. I got these images today - I'm now worried he's diseased or sick. Is he just moulting? What's with that (what looks like a) hole in his "cheek"? :eek::eek::eek:

    Sorry for the blur, I'm going to try get clearer ones.


Comments

  • #2
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    It has lost all the head feathers, possibly a mite infection but not fatal as they will grow back. The holes are, believe it or not, it's ears.


  • #3
    bswee365
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 ✭bswee365


    Thanks, great to get info like this!


  • #4
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 79,365 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    I had a rescue blackbird* who had gone bald, and the feathers wouldn't grow back for ages and ages, yet he was mite-free. I started giving him drops of a multi-vitamin supplement for birds I got in a pet shop, and the feathers grew back in no time at all. Maybe try adding some drops to the water, but make sure you change it every day, it's very important.





    *I had a licence for it, in case someone's wondering.


  • #5
    fryup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    is it a type of avian mange ?


  • #6
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 79,365 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    I thought that started from the legs, but I stand to be corrected.


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  • #7
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Birds can lose feathers like this for many reasons, most of them benign.


  • #8
    fryup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    its only in deepest winter that'll die from this? with the lack of insulation?


  • #9
    bswee365
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 ✭bswee365


    The missing feathers are already coming back in :D


  • #10
    bmc58
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,333 ✭✭✭bmc58


    New Home wrote: »
    I had a rescue blackbird* who had gone bald, and the feathers wouldn't grow back for ages and ages, yet he was mite-free. I started giving him drops of a multi-vitamin supplement for birds I got in a pet shop, and the feathers grew back in no time at all. Maybe try adding some drops to the water, but make sure you change it every day, it's very important.





    *I had a licence for it, in case someone's wondering.
    Never even thought that way.Really nice thing to do for our feathered friends.


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