Hi, just joined. Need help please. I have a pair of canaries (m & f). I've had them 3/4 months. They are called Bonnie and Clyde

Yesterday I noticed Bonnie has bald patches on her head and under her chin.
She looks as tho she has a Mohekan haircut.

Also she has suddenly become hyper-active!

Any ideas of what might be wrong please.

My first thought is plucking...are you sure they're male/female? How large is the cage?

Hi Poohdog, thanks for your reply. The cage is about (roughly) 20" x 12" and perhaps 24" high.

When I bought them the petshop owner recommended that cage. He
also said they were male and female (he sold them as a pair because they had been together for some time). One is def. female - she has laid eggs and her around her bottom area she has no feathers, doesn't look nice.

I took them back yesterday to look at her and he said she didn't have mites
because the patches weren't sore or bloody

I haven't seen any untoward behaviour like plucking but maybe they do
when I'm not around.

Without an expensive vet visit,the best you can do is seperate them and see if the feather loss stops.

Hi Crissie you have 2 seperate issues she is hyper because I think she is ready to nest my hens are so hyper at the moment,I would agree with Pooh I think the male could be plucking her feathers one of my males does this to the hen and until I hid and watched I never caught him doing it.

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Thanks Poohdog and Sue.

Does that mean she needs a nest box or something? She laid eggs almost every day but since Christmas not a one.

So Clyde (male) is a bully, pluckin out her feathers!

A friend suggested putting some cotton wool in there for them to peck at. What do you think about that?

Bit of a problem with separating them. I have not handled them yet, also not much room for another cage, oh dear, what a worry

Another question. According to the petshop owner they are about 7 months old, seems a bit young to me to be laying eggs?

Advice welcome

Here is a pic of the cage and the birds when not bald
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[QUOTE=Crissie;1061732839]Thanks Poohdog and Sue.

Does that mean she needs a nest box or something? She laid eggs almost every day but since Christmas not a one.

So Clyde (male) is a bully, pluckin out her feathers!

A friend suggested putting some cotton wool in there for them to peck at. What do you think about that?

Bit of a problem with separating them. I have not handled them yet, also not much room for another cage, oh dear, what a worry

Another question. According to the petshop owner they are about 7 months old, seems a bit young to me to be laying eggs?

Put a nest pan in with some nesting material you can buy it really cheap,put the nest pan up high in the cage and leave the nesting material on the floor she will sort it out,trouble is I often have to take the male out as they dont help with nest building,you can get breeding cages on ebay really cheap and they have a partition so you seperate them if need be.I breed canaries and some males can be quite nasty at breeding time

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Just had a look at the pics lovely birds but the cage is really to small and they need wooden perches the plastic ones will harm there feet,I think because they are in a small cage with just 2 perches it is causing boredom then feather plucking,if you need anymore help just ask.Suexx

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Thank you Sue, your reply is appreciated!

So too small, I suppose for birds that are meant to fly a big cage would be ideal.

I'm a bit, well, a bit annoyed with the pet shop - he recommended that cage,
saying it was suitable for 2. Also the perches, not good, I would agree there, read in a book that natural branches/twigs are better cos they exercise the bird's feet.

I have a dish with air holes, which was sold to me as a nesting dish with a
piece of coir mat. Its too big for the cage, but I have a semi-circle plastic dish I could put in there (its the same as their grit dish).

They do seem happy with their lot. Toys, daily brocolli which they love!

sorry turning into such a long post but I have so many questions.

Space for a big cage is a problem and of course money. I saw some fancy big cages in a large pet store - really expensive over £70!

Perches - opinions on sandpaper covers for them would be welcome.

I'm such a novice, sorry love my birds!!! want them to be happy.

I don't understand why he is doing this now when they have been ok for a few month

Thank you if you have read this far! Advice very welcome and needed