I will try to tackle the question regarding the split feathers that look like you took a scissors to them....
I have found my lavenders to have a much softer, more delicate feather than any pure blacks I have raised. I believe they are more susceptible to what is known as mechanical damage as a result. Mechanical damage can occur when a bird damages their feathers by repeated contact with something such as wire fencing or caging fabric, which splits the feathers and the damage remains until the bird molts and grows new feathers. If the mechanical cause of the damaged feathers is not corrected, the new feathers that grow in after a molt will soon be damaged also.
In my situation, a common place I see mechanical damage is on the saddle area of the hens and pullets, where the feathers are damaged by the male during breeding. You can see this type of damage in the picture below....
When this female was separated from the male, her feathers did molt and were replaced by gorgeous feathering in the saddle area where previously frayed feathers had been.
Now, I have read that there is a gene present in some lavenders that is responsible for brittle feathers. I do not believe I have dealt with it here.
Regarding the bird you asked about....be sure, first of all, that you aren't seeing mechanical damage. If you think your bird has an issue, and you have others to work with, the easy answer is to eliminate it from your genepool.
Some think the answer to preventing feather issues with lavenders is to breed the lavenders back to black. And with the good blacks available out there, what can it hurt?
I have found my lavenders to have a much softer, more delicate feather than any pure blacks I have raised. I believe they are more susceptible to what is known as mechanical damage as a result. Mechanical damage can occur when a bird damages their feathers by repeated contact with something such as wire fencing or caging fabric, which splits the feathers and the damage remains until the bird molts and grows new feathers. If the mechanical cause of the damaged feathers is not corrected, the new feathers that grow in after a molt will soon be damaged also.
In my situation, a common place I see mechanical damage is on the saddle area of the hens and pullets, where the feathers are damaged by the male during breeding. You can see this type of damage in the picture below....
When this female was separated from the male, her feathers did molt and were replaced by gorgeous feathering in the saddle area where previously frayed feathers had been.
Now, I have read that there is a gene present in some lavenders that is responsible for brittle feathers. I do not believe I have dealt with it here.
Regarding the bird you asked about....be sure, first of all, that you aren't seeing mechanical damage. If you think your bird has an issue, and you have others to work with, the easy answer is to eliminate it from your genepool.
Some think the answer to preventing feather issues with lavenders is to breed the lavenders back to black. And with the good blacks available out there, what can it hurt?
