Zebra Finch loss of feathers/bumps on skin

[ElizabethS]

We have an old, unwell female Zebra - she hasn't flown in about 9 months but can hop up to a low perch and otherwise doesn't appear to be in pain. Her mate died a few months ago so we got another female a few weeks ago.

A couple of days ago we noticed missing feathers on her back near her tail - gradually more skin is showing and what was once 1 bump is now several bumps, and they are getting angry looking. We've put antibiotic cream on 3 times but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Any ideas? We've never had a mite problem - don't see any presence (although not exactly sure what to look for) but she hasn't bathed in a long time (won't bathe) so maybe her skin is irritated from that?

Here's a pic - any suggestions are appreciated. She's such a sweetheart.

[maxollie]

Is there any chance that spiders could be getting in her cage. Or, it could be lice, rather than mites. Just in the last few days there was a person who had brought home a cockatiel and she had found a small black bug on that little bird. One of the posters answered her and said it sounded like lice to him, and to call a Vet and have it checked out ASAP!
It sure looks like some kind of bight to me. Hopefully you can have a vet take a look at it!

[5borders]

My first question would be, is she molting? She appears to be light in color, meaning when a zebra or any bird has been bred to create a color not natural, (don't misunderstand that statement), problems can arise. every now and then a freak event or mutation occurs. Some are not visable others are. This means when a bird, espeially lighter in color has in its genetic make up, been a product of a relatives mutation and then bred to others who have shown this traight. Meaning, some bird had a mutation then the breeder bred it back or to others who showed the color changing gene. Thru time others did this and so on. When people breeding don't pay attention to what is called hard and soft feathers, or intensive and non intensive they may breed two soft featherd birds, which is a no no. What this causes is just what it sounds like. A bird now has been the recipient of two parents with soft feathers. Soft feathers by nature are, "soft" not hard. If this continues, the gene gets stronger. What this causes is a bird when molting to experience feather cycst, the feathers are to soft to pop out, thus acts like an ingrown hair. Look up feather cycsts on line for more information. Yes this can be painfull but not always. It is generally not life threatening just unsightly. This is of course something a very experienced person can deal with at home but I do not recommend it. The vet will lance the area and cut it out, they will then cortorize the area, and even then most likly the area will be bald for life. This, if I am calling this right, will occur again, it is genetic. Breeders who have birds with this problem will generally cull or not breed any bird from a line that shows this trait. Hope this helps, good luck

[ElizabethS]

Thanks for your replies. Somebody suggested it might be a preening gland infection - I looked at photos and that definitely seems to be the preening gland area so we've been putting antibiotic cream on her and she seems better today.

[5borders]

Glad to hear

[ElizabethS]

Much better today - feathers are growing back!

[jaswsunny]

http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/b.../egglaying.php
That's good. I just noticed this thread and thought it might be egg peritonitis at first, which is described in the above link. The bird in the picture has a similar condition to your bird.