Broken wing or leg?

[ChanaGoanna]

Hello! I just joined the other day and have been meaning to introduce myself. Now I'm forced to do so with an emergency. My finches Bubble and Squeak were having some free-fly time today. My son walked into the room and found Bubble (the male) caught in the space between their cage and the adjoining cockatiel cage. My son said he seemed very dazed and allowed himself to be picked up easily. He was sitting on the floor of the cage with his eyes closed when I got there. I put him in the palm of my hand and stroked him and held him under a desk lamp for heat. After a few minutes, he managed to leap free and fly across the room to the table where their cage is (about 8' away). Now in the cage, he can perch on the sides of the water cup, although clumsily. I put a soft cloth that they like to play with on the floor of the cage and trained the lamp on that, then put some millet on it. He perked up considerably and began eating the millet as vigorously as always. He still seems a bit clumsy and appears to be holding his left wing out at an angle as though to stabilize himself. I am totally new to keeping finches, so please tell me what to do! We do have an avian vet nearby (Amwell Bird Hospital in Hillsborough--any Jersey peeps know it?) and I will take him first thing in the morning if he hasn't completely recovered. Any advice on what I should do in the meantime? His mate is plucking at him (she usually is) but what's making me really nervous is that she's repeatedly pecking right near his eyes, which he's still keeping mostly closed.

Any advice and help much appreciated. I wish I could have made a less dramatic entrance.

[wildbird]

If he could fly, his wing isn't broken, maybe just sprained. It should heal with time. I wouldn't let his mate pick at him. Maybe you could put one in another cage & slide them side by side so they can still be close. Provide some heat at one end of the cage, but be sure he can get away from it, especially if the cage is small. You don't want him to get over heated either.

[ChanaGoanna]

Okay, thank you! He is much better this morning, though still not 100%.

[Sally]

Sounds like he is on the way to recovery. I'd continue with the heat lamp, as that is one of the best treatments for a sick/injured bird. A small lamp such as a gooseneck desk lamp or one of those clamp-on reflector lamps will do. A 60w incandescent bulb is best, but be sure he can get away from the heat if needed.

Welcome to the forum, though it is not under the best of circumstances. There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on finch care. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.

[ChanaGoanna]

Got it. Thanks, Sally! I have been reading lots of the articles and finding them very helpful indeed.

[Atbird]

Welcome to the forum. I agree with Sally, he wouldn't be able to use the wing if broken. Hope he feels better.

[Derk]

ChanaGoanna
Welcome to the forum and glad your bird is improving! If you have been reading lots of threads you already know most of us have had our little and not so little mishaps, too.

[ChanaGoanna]

Thanks, Mary and Anna! Bubble is very much improved, hopping about and flying around the cage just fine; eating and drinking; droppings look normal again. The only thing he's not doing yet is singing, and he's normally extremely talkative. Now he makes only the occasional peep (while his quieter sister has suddenly become quite the little chatterbox).

I did call the avian vet, who said just to watch him for now and only bring him in if he didn't improve...but he's clearly on the mend!

Thanks SO much for the support and hand-holding; it was so comforting to have expert advice. The heat lamp seemed to make a big difference--even though Squeak was hogging it a few times.