My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
Post Reply
sugar&spice
Pip
Pip
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:17 pm

My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by sugar&spice » Thu May 05, 2011 4:25 pm

Hello. My name is Hannah and i own two Zebra finches called Sugar (female) and spice (male). My poor little Zebra finch Sugar has been fluffing up and she is sitting on the base of the cage twitching very badly and bobbing her tail. Her head is twitching back and forth, my male Zebra finch is calling out to her. She sits on the base and keeps her eyes closed even when she hears loud noises and when i move the cage. She is now sitting in her food bowl and the twitching has got worse, Please can you help me. :(

carcoozie
Flirty Bird
Flirty Bird
Posts: 232
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:22 pm
Location: Atlanta, USA

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by carcoozie » Thu May 05, 2011 6:29 pm

I have no experience with this ~ hopefully someone more knowledgeable will jump in.
Is there a possibility that she is egg bound? I've heard to give a drop of liquid calcium on her beak and humidity and warmth. I am just guessing, I'm sure you will get mpre replys soon. Hope she recovers quickly!
Carcoozie

Image Image

User avatar
lovemyfinch
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 10036
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:12 am
Location: St-Hippolyte, Qc

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by lovemyfinch » Thu May 05, 2011 6:43 pm

I would get a heat lamp on one corner of the cage ASAP. Also if you have liquid calcium, I would give her a drop on her beak, it does sound as though she may be egg bound. :(
Janine

shaftails,gouldians,societies,green singers,owls,cubans, and 1 parrotlet
Image

User avatar
L in Ontario
Mod Emeritus
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 13365
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:29 am
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Contact:

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by L in Ontario » Thu May 05, 2011 6:51 pm

Very sorry to hear this Hannah. It doesn't sound good and yes the hen needs calcium asap. One (or even two at this point) drops of Liquid Calcium into her beak. And as Janine said a heatlamp on the cage. If you can put a HOT wet towel (not dripping) over and around 3 sides of the cage (not touching the heatlamp) - that will provide much needed humidity.

Good luck! And welcome to the Finch Forum.
Liz

sugar&spice
Pip
Pip
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:17 pm

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by sugar&spice » Fri May 06, 2011 2:44 am

Thanks to all of you, she looks better today, but sill fluffed up. Thanks for all your help. =D>

User avatar
L in Ontario
Mod Emeritus
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 13365
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:29 am
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Contact:

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by L in Ontario » Fri May 06, 2011 9:45 am

How's she doing today? Did she pass an egg yet? If not then it's probably not eggbinding.
Liz

User avatar
Mozelle
CocoFiber Craftsman
CocoFiber Craftsman
Posts: 608
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:59 am
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: My Zebra finch looks very ill. PLEASE HELP!

Post by Mozelle » Fri May 06, 2011 12:00 pm

GLad to hear she's looking better! Sorry I missed your post yesterday!
By looking better - what do you mean? Is she eating and drinking well? Sitting up and no puffiness?
I'd be very tempted to keep her in a hospital cage until you know she's back to normal. Birds love to hide their ailments - of they showed them in the wild they'd be picked out by predators. Sometimes we can't tell they're not well until they are really Truly sick.

Please let us know :)
~ Tracy ~
3 lovely Societies - Crested and pied, and 1 lovely but lonely Gouldian hen... Looking for a mate!! :)

Post Reply