OWL FINCH HEN KEEPS LOOKING NEAR TO DEATH

JANEVANS02 · Post by **JANEVANS02** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:43 am

My husband bought a pair of own finches last July and we put them in our bird room in the garden where we keep the canaries, cuthroats and various other birds in separate cages to over winter, the bird room has heating so does not freeze and everything else in their has been fine except his owl finch hen who was on the floor of her cage and looked terrible we thought she may be egg bound so brought their cage into the house where it was warmer, put calcivit in her water and she picked up and recovered but we did not see any eggs.

This routine has continued although we have kept their cage in the house where it is warm about 3 times she has been on the floor looking like she is going to die so we put her into our heated hospital cage and she picks up is put back with her mate and away we go again.

We thought she may be egg bound but we have never found any eggs so are really worried because we do not know what is happening.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:59 am

If you could, please list your location so it may help us in answering any questions.

It seems you are doing things right by keeping it warm. I am not sure what the temps are where you are located. I would suggest keeping it in the cage for a while with the extra heat. Perhaps a heat lamp to make it even a little warmer. It may be eating the eggs before you see them if it needs the extra calcium.

I would also try to give it some NV powder if you can get that as it will replace electrolytes .

Also, be sure it has some millet to eat. I hope it gets okay.,.... please keep us informed.

JANEVANS02 · Post by **JANEVANS02** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:02 am

I am in Devon, England and she has always got millet sprays and we had thought she may be eating the eggs but not sure what NV powder is ?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:03 am

In what way does the owl hen look terrible? Is she moulting? Or might she have been picked on by other birds (Cut Throats)? Perhaps she is not being left in the hospital cage long enough before being returned to the birdroom - not recouperating fully...?

I agree with Donna and you could also provide her with some fresh eggfood (mashed up with the shell).

Keep us posted.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:08 am

Is she sitting on the floor, all puffed up, with wings drooping down? If so, she might be eggbound. Heat, plus a drop of Calcivet administered right into her mouth, might help her past this. Is there a nest w/nesting material in the cage? If you suspect eggbinding, I would remove the nest for a while.

JANEVANS02 · Post by **JANEVANS02** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:31 am

By not looking well I mean she sits on floor breathing is heavy, she is puffed up and her feathers look untidy not the usual smooth and alot of the time her eyes are closed, we do use a dropper to put calcivet into her mouth and leave her in the heated hospital cage for several days until she is fully recovered and she sometimes stays fine for a couple of months before systems appear again.

JANEVANS02 · Post by **JANEVANS02** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:34 am

Sorry forgot to say the cage just has one pair of owl finches in so cannot be anyone else hurting her and the cock bird is devoted and very attentive to her and goes mad when he is not with her.

They have a canary pan which they very rarely use and a wicker roosting pocket which they go to sleep in every night but doe not use during the day very much.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:37 am

Like the guy on the Feathered Flyer English forum advised you...keep the bird on it's own and don't provide a nest, to break the breeding cycle...I too believe the bird is eggbound and is absorbing the eggs back into her body.Don't let her breed for a few months or you will lose her.In fact it would be better if you didn't let her breed at all...these problems can come back again.

JANEVANS02 · Post by **JANEVANS02** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:40 am

Help we only have a pair of owl finches so if I separate them can I put a zebra or bengalese finch with hen for company and the owl cock will hate being away from her so can I put a zebra and bengalese hen with him for company ?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:02 am

JANEVANS02 wrote:Help we only have a pair of owl finches so if I separate them can I put a zebra or bengalese finch with hen for company and the owl cock will hate being away from her so can I put a zebra and bengalese hen with him for company ?

I think that would be fine. You may want to really watch the zebra for agression, but the society hen would be fine. Put her where the owl cannot see her. He should settle down after a while and maybe you could be on the lookout for another owl.

Littlemissfinch · Post by **Littlemissfinch** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:37 pm

NO!!!!!!! DONT PUT IN A ZEBRA!!! They will breed with the owl! yes it will! and we frown on hybridizing

summert85 · Post by **summert85** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:13 pm

if you put two hen together, they wont mate..haha so it's okay.

as long as they are the same sex. you dont have to worry about hybridizing.

Littlemissfinch · Post by **Littlemissfinch** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:45 pm

only put a zebra in if its the same sex...........

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