Spike Finch

Female zebra finch neck turning black???

My female zebra's neck area is plucked bare enough for me to see her neck and a little of her crop, and all before, her neck was pinkish, now, from what I can see, it seems to be turning blackish with these little spike-looking things sticking out. I'm really worried.

What could this be?

The spike things are feather roots I believe. Where are the feathers going. Is she making a nest? If so, buy her a nest (pet store) and give her grass and nest lining materials.
Is she plucking herself and not keeping the feathers? It is stress and you need to move her to a quieter room.
Is she being plucked by a mean roomate? Watch carefully for a while, if your still you will eventually catch them or her in the act. The blackish is skin irritation. Buy her some vitamin and mineral supplement for her water (the food additive doesn't work since it goes on the shell of the food and not what they actually eat) and there are other products that will help her feathers grow back. If no one is plucking her feathers (including her) you can do nothing but feed her higher quality food, give her supplements, and always, watch for illness (though I believe, my recommendations go in order of most likely).

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