A little Help!

Chirho & Bob · Post by **Chirho & Bob** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:37 pm

Our IRN is only 4 years old and is looking rather thin and her (I think its a her) feathers are rather scruffy and don't look nice, esp. around the eyes. I have no idea!!

Thanks

Amazonite · Post by **Amazonite** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:56 pm

Is there any sign of a black ring then its a boy if no sign at all then a girl, try a conditioning food sorry thats all i can offer. someone else might be able to help you better

Post by **Lauren** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:30 pm

Have you had her weighed? Do you see any pin feathers poking through? Adult IRNs should be around or close to 115 grams.

Once a year birds go through a moult. They replace old feathers with new. Sometimes they can have a long hard moult. My 7 year old is just going through one at the moment, he lost many of his facial feathers but replaced them soon after, both mine have lost alot of wing feathers too.. Could your bird be having a hard moult? Or do the feathers look broken and dirty? Do you have a picture?

Chirho & Bob · Post by **Chirho & Bob** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:51 pm

Thanks for your help!!

Moulting did cross my mind, but being as ignorant as I am I convinced myself that birds don't moult like cats and dogs. Anyway, I did weigh her (nope, there's no dark ring) and her weight is fine sitting at 117g. As for any 'pin' feathers there are some around her eyes and underneath softer feathers when you stroke her. Perhaps she is after all moulting, but she looks so old!!

Here is a photo of her eating rock-melon ... its not the best quality, but you can see what I mean by the feathers around her eyes

Post by **Lauren** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:26 am

Aww. Poor lil cutie might just be moulting. Pins are good! She's got some new feathers popping through. Give it a few more weeks. :wink:

They look so scruffy during moults but she'll be back to her pretty self soon.

Here is my 7 year old boy moulting.. Hes finally grown in the bald patches.

julie · Post by **julie** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:44 pm

Yep she is a girl, lutino boys get a pretty red and white ring. All of my aviary birds are molting atm. 11 irns in my backyard all molting = lots of feathers floating around.

Chirho & Bob · Post by **Chirho & Bob** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:52 pm

so that explains it then ... phew! ... at least it wasn't anything bad! :lol:

Melika · Post by **Melika** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:31 pm

You think that's bad? Here's My sister's IRN, Tsume, when he was 2.5 years of age getting his ring: