FINCHforum

Aho out there in Finch World!
this might be lengthy...sorry in advance...here's the deal...and I am a newbie so bear with me..

four days ago went to a bird show...bought a large flight cage about four feet wide and five feet high...purchased two zebras and two gouldans, as everyone I asked said they would be fine in a big cage like this...so got home and put my other two zebras in there with them...so...four zebras and two gouldies, all male. The Zebs all fought for the top/high perch so I put another one up there. It worked out. At the bottom of the cage I have feeding stations, water bathe and water bowl, cuttlebone, a cup with treats and egg food. Hanging from the top I have a wild bird feeder and water. Most of them eat up there and ignore the bottom stuff. Should I raise them all up somehow? Two of the zebras do go down there but only them that I can see. Maybe with time?Here are some of my concerns..
1. The Zeb's are NUTS! They fight a little bit but mostly seem like they are playing and even swap sleeping partners. They do not bother the Gouldies at all. But, the Gouldies stay at the bottom perch mostly, one will fly up and eat out of the bird feeder and drink water, and he will go get millet when no one is around. The Gouldies stay at the bottom and look up at the Zebs. I cannot tell if they are afraid or amused or just submissive. Last night a Zeb slept w/ one of the Gouldies.
2. One of the Gouldies does not seem to be able to fly. He stays on the bottom perch and has not moved in two days. If I put my hand in he flops down and hides behind a plant. Then he jumps back up to the low perch. I have not seen him go to the bottom feeders or water at all. I put a spray millet next to him and he did pick at that. What should I do? I do not know if he is hurt but am concerned because I do not think he is eating. I just put a seed feeder next to him and am waiting to see if he eats. Should I put him in a small cage I have all alone and see how he does?
3. Should I buy a new cage just for the two Gouldies? I really wanted to purchase some Courdan Blues this week and have them all in the big cage together. The Zebs are crazy and do not stop chasing each other and having fun but is this stressing out the Goulds or are they just amused?
Thanks for any information

I don't think you should add any more birds to that cage with the zebs they are just a very pushy finch.
The gouldian I would put in a small cage with seed and water and millet spray on floor ,check this link it explans it better

http://www.finchniche.com/a-hospitalcage.php

thanks Bill.
i wonder; if the zebras weren't in there would the gouldians be more active? would they chirp or sing? I guess I am wondering if you have a cage with just the ''passive" species, are they more active and singing when there are no Zebras in there?

I have only gouldians and they sing ALL the time. I think maybe they are intimidated with the zebra's in with them. Might be best to move them to their own cage.

debbie276 wrote:I have only gouldians and they sing ALL the time. I think maybe they are intimidated with the zebra's in with them. Might be best to move them to their own cage.

Agreed.

thanks. I wonder if I should give it more time? I am going to put the little guy in a ''sick cage" for now though.
I mean a Zeb slept with a Gouldie last night so maybe more time is needed. My problem is I live on a reservation and the nearest pet store to get a new cage is almost 3 hours away. Not to mention I am broke all the time! But I take your advice and will prob just get a cage for Gouldies and perhaps some Cordon Blues.

I agree that the zebs need to be in a cage by themselves. My gouldian pair live with a Goldbreast and a Society finch and all 4 get along. My cage is about 3ft L X 1 1/2ft W by 3ft H. I wouldn't have more than that in my cage.

Gouldians and Cordon Blue should get along just fine.

update...I put the Gouldian who was moving into a ''sick cage'' for a day and a half. He just sat on the top perch in this small cage, but he did eat seed and millet. Pretty sure he drank. But I could put my hand in the cage and pet him and he seemed fine. I had gotten a blue cordon and a society so I put all three into the flight. There is now only one Zebra causing problems, not hurting put chasing others off top perch mostly. I cannot catch him to take him out but will keep trying.

anyway, the little Gouldie is still just sitting on bottom perch, looking up. He has not gone to eat or drink or anything. My guess is his wing is not working. He can leap but not fly it seems. What should I do? Move food and water to that perch? Or take him out to small cage again? But then what? Will it heal? I am not even sure if anything is wrong, maybe he is just mellow? He seriously does not mind if I pet him or hold him. But I am pretty sure he is not eating in the big cage.

thanks so much for any advice

Check to feel his keel / breast bone. If it is sharp or protruding - that is a sign that he is not eating and immediate action must be taken although it could be too late. If it feels padded like there is muscle on either side of the keel bone - then that is good and he has been eating. I would put in some additional seed/water dishes right at his lower perch level.

Good luck.

Put the gouldian back in the small cage and leave it there for a couple of weeks.Make sure food and water is easily available.Just leave it there and watch what happens,don't handle the bird,let it rest. If you have a pharmacy nearby,get some liquid glucose (Or powdered) and add a small amount to the water to give the bird extra energy.

If you don't think it can fly put the food and water at a low level.I bought a hen that I thought was ill and unable to fly...after a good rest on her own she is now in full feather and flies well.If you think any of your birds are being bullied seperate them....stress can kill birds as easily as a disease.

ok I will put him back in the small cage by himself. I put the food and water at the bottom doors but he just jumps back up to the upper perch. He did this the other day but when I came back there was seed and millet spray eaten so he must jump down and eat then jump back up.

should I put the cage in a spare room and keep it dark and quiet? or put it next to the flight so he can be near the other birds/sounds/activity? and not feel so alone?

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYBODY

I'd leave the small cage beside the big one for company and I'd lower the perch ...way down.

Whenever I have a sick bird I try to keep it in a quiet, warm place. It's best if you put a lamp on the top of the cage to keep him warm, and wrap a towel around it to keep the warmth in. The towel will also make your gouldian feel very secure and he won't worry so much about his surroundings. Just make sure it doesn't become too hot in the cage.

A finch that allows you to handle it and pet it is usually very sick. There is a small chance your gouldian was handfed as a baby, but I agree with Pooh in that the best choice is to leave him alone. Even if he was handfed, a healthy finch is very active and will hop about the cage all day.

Keep us updated on him. If you take a picture of him it may help us to better understand his ailment.

Deffiently place food and water at a low level for the finch,i had a parrot finch that has got a dodgy wing,so i placed food at a level for i tnad with time it is getting its strength back,hopfully that is all your little guy needs.
If he is in a hosp cage,make sure it is near or has a heat source for it to keep warm so it does not waste energy keeping itself warm and can use the energy to get better instead

Gosh thanks everybody. This forum is filled with helpful, concerned people. Awesome.

He is already doing better. He is moving more and eating more in his sick cage. The temps in here are fine so far, but I will put a lamp by him if it gets cold.