Scruffy Blackbirds??

[BugVirgin]

Hi, I have recently moved into a new house, and have come to realise that a family of what I can gather 11 blackbirds (2 adults and 9 babies) occupy the garden most of the day...however they all look really really scruffy, lots of feathers missing etc, they are all feeding well and I supplement this with extra food. I have read that at certain times of the year plumage is not at its best....BUT....they seem to be scratching a fair bit, and when they use the bird bath I have put out, I can see some of them have quite red skin underneath.....Is this normal? Thanks! I also have a host of other birds using the bath and feeders etc, and wondered if these blackbirds have a skin complaint, whether it may pass onto the other birds? Thanks for any replies.

[Dogghound]

Its the time of year, juveniles are still in moult as are adults. Both can look very scruffy at this time of year.