sweet lilo, butwhat to do with poor stitch2...

[dayhiker]

lilo, my red cheeked cordon bleu female lost her partner, stitch about 2 weeks ago. i had them in a smaller cage along with a couple of waxbills and decided to move them into a big cage after 3 weeks. they all seemed happy but crowded. the small aviary is 42Hx32Wx18D...after a day, and i was not home overnight, i get a phone call that stitch was found dead in the water bowl? what could have happened? night fright? draft at night? i had no idea. poor sweet lilo, was calling fweee fweee fweeeet all day looking for lilo. she was hopping and flying all over the cage looking for him too. she and the other waxbills had no other problems.

i felt that lilo was getting lonely and decided to get her another mate, and could not resist purchasing a couple of orange waxbills. stitch 2 (for now), seemed healthy at the store, and so did the other waxbills. put him in the small cage, gave them some birdseed, eggfood/shells, water, greens and tried some live mealworms which he loved. then 2 days ago, i noticed him on the floor when i got home from work. saw him take some sips from the water dish but just stay on the floor under the rays of the setting sun. he was bunched up and fluffed, sleeping. i disturbed him and he went up to the perch then he went back to being fluffed up. i partially unrolled the blanket covering the roof and back of the cage to get more rays in.

unfortunately the back of this small cage is about 6 inches away from the flight cage where lilo was. poor lilo, i believe saw stitch2, and started chirping and singing and fluttering/flying on the L side of the cage trying to get stitch2 reply. no response. he was still fluffed up. the orange cheeks (no names yet) kept on flying and being active, nudging and hitting stitch2 but no reaction at all... i was worried now and decided ok, he's now getting bullied. he's eating but not active. could be sick.

i decided to bring him into the big cage (there were 3 golden breasted waxbills and lilo in it). i set up a shallow waterdish, and some millet spray on the floor of the cage. he stayed mostly on the floor, fluffed would go behind some vegetation for cover. i saw him get some millet and sip some water but he went back into hiding fluffed behind some silk plant leaves. lilo would go to him, kind of coaxing him out. i turned a space heater on and angled it so the heat would be aimed it towards the back of the cage. that night he went up high into the branches right under and slept with lilo. this morning, i saw him down on the floor, my son said he did eat some and this afternoon, i did see him take some millet and go back to into hiding.

i'm worried. i think he's sick but hanging in there. i dont know what else to do. i place a blanket on the top of this cage to prevent any drafts. he comes out to eat he isnt as active as the other finches. what else can i do? i dont have any vitamins on hand. i dont know if he was already sick at the store but he was very active then? suggestions and help please???

[Ginene]

So sorry about both stitches...My concern is putting a "sick finch" into the flight with your existing healthy finches. You risk losing all of them if he truly is sick. Usually a sick finch is separated from its cage mates for rest, treatment and to reduce its stress level. A heat lamp, water with added electrolites, egg food and seed all should be easily accessable. 30 seconds to Bob (an expert on the forum) has a concoction of antibiotics and supplements on the forum that have saved many sick finches. Search the forum and see what the experts recommend. Hopefully, someone else will have more suggestions. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Sally]

I agree with Ginene. A sick bird should always be separated from the other birds, to avoid passing on any contagious disease he might have. This is the reason for quarantine when getting new birds--it protects your current birds from anything the new bird might have, and it also protects the new bird from anything your current birds might have. He also needs to be by himself so he can concentrate on getting better instead of worrying about how the other birds will act towards him. I would separate him, put a heat lamp on one end of his cage (a 60w bulb in a desk lamp will work), and have food and water available on or near the floor of the cage.

[dayhiker]

Thanks for the advise, Sally and Ginene. I found him huddled up on a nest with Lilo, not on the ground. I knew what I hold have one but I followed my heart instead of my brain. Agh. I now feel so guilty.

I got him gently and transferred him back into the small cage, turned the heater on, partially covered the cage, left some food and water at the bottom of the cage... Fingers crossed and prayers for the morning. Thanks again guys.