Medicated Bird Food (1 Viewer)

[StanS]

Hi. I'm new to the forum, but looking for advice.
I'm not really a bird expert, but I have quite an active bird table. I have quite a few wild birds, particularly blackbirds, which are active and healthy in most respects, but have poor feathers and a scruffy appearance.
It might be the ravages of the hectic nesting season, but to my untrained eye, it looks like a kind of mange or similar parasite. I'm also concerned my bird table might be a communal point to spread infection.
Is there a way I can help? I'm thinking along the lines of some medicated birdfood, if such a thing exists.
The birds don't appear distressed, but then, how would a bird communicate distress?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
Stan.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Stan and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

The adult Blackbirds are in the middle of moulting out their worn feathers just now and the younger ones are gradually changing from their spotty brown appearance to growing their next lot of feathers (black for the males and dark brown for the females). They always look really odd. Then there's the younger ones who have just fledged, with different-looking feathering again.

Leave well alone medicated bird seed is not necessary, but do make sure you keep your feeders scrupulously clean.

All our birds are going through this process just now... take a wander along to your local wetland and you'll hardly see a 'normal' male Mallard, they mostly look like funny females just now. For a while they can't even fly and go into hiding.

Have a look at our Opus article here for Blackbirds, then scroll down and click on the yellow Search the Gallery banner. This will take you to the Birdforum Gallery where you can look at more pictures of Blackbirds where you will see what a mess some of them are looking like just now LOL.

I hope you enjoy your time here with us.

 

[StanS]

Excellent advice. Thank you.