sleeping at cage bottom

subersibo · Post by **subersibo** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:48 am

I was afraid this wouldn't fit into the finch forum but just read in birds usa magazine that canaries belong to the finch family so here goes:
I adopted a female canary a few weeks ago and found out the 2nd day that she suffered from scaly foot. I put petroleum jelly on her feet twice a day for a week and her condition has improved dramatically, many of the scales have fallen off. She still keeps nipping on her leg band though (wish I knew how to take it off, tried to destroy it with wire cutter but that sucker was too tough!). Her other leg had a plastic band which easily came off much to her delight! Her legs were really swollen and the bands were really tightening up on them. It's better now since her legs have returned to normal. She appears to be healthy, eating well, droppings are well formed, eats her veggies, takes baths, and I have converted her diet to pellets (She was fed only seeds before). She doesn't fly too well as her wings have been clipped by her former owner.
Here's my problem: She often sleeps on the cage bottom, particularly at nighttime w/ feathers slightly puffed. I check on her from time to time fearing that she's dead. I read that birds whose feathers are puffed and sit at the bottom of the cage are sick birds. I hope this is not the case. Could it be that she is just recovering from the scaly leg and her feet are still not that strong or is she suffering from something else? Some of her feathers, particularly near the neck have fallen off, though not too many or too obvious. I used a mite spray once just in case it's something other than a moult.

yu016 · Post by **yu016** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:57 am

If she is active through out the day and only puffed up while sleeing at night than I don't think you have to worry about it too much. My gouldian finches often sleep with their heads tucked back and feathers puffed out.

ruth · Post by **ruth** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:12 pm

You sound like you are doing all the best things for her and she is a lucky little bird.
By my experience if a bird is fluffed up and sitting on the floor because it is ill it won't last more than two days. If she continues to do this then maybe that is just how she is most comfortable. As I mentioned in another post, birds with foot problems seem to like to sit on flat surfaces rather than perching.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:03 pm

Well I am not A canary owner but when finches sit around on floor puffed up I try to give them a little extra heat in the form of a clamp on light shining on one end of cage so they can move away if they want or heating pad on a small hospital cage ,with millet and food & water on the floor.
But its very possible that her feet hurt and it feals better on floor w/out perching, Hopfully some of more experianced people will be on soon good luck

Post by **Sally** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:40 pm

If she's eating well and droppings are normal, she may be sleeping on the floor because her legs bothered her before. If birds are puffed because they are ill, they usually either recover or die in a short period of time, so the fact that she has been doing this for a while, doesn't sound like she is really sick.

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:38 pm

I have a red factor canary, and often find him sitting slightly puffed on the floor of the cage. Since he's been doing this for almost two years and is bright-eyed and curious about things, I've stopped worrying about it. I agree - if they're really sick (as opposed to maybe molting?) and are sitting on the bottom they usually die within days.