Coughing zebra finch?

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
Post Reply
apachetear
Flirty Bird
Flirty Bird
Posts: 232
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:37 am
Location: lincoln uk

Coughing zebra finch?

Post by apachetear » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:52 am

My female zebra finch appears to be making a coughing sort of noise now and then, she usually makes this noise after eating a bit of cuttlebone however it seems to just occur now and then more frequently. Could it be a cough, and if so what could i do to help her? She seems fine in herself, as active as she usually is, the male she lives with seems fine and has never made this coughing noise, and neither has their little baby (who is due to fledge tuesday :) ) she has been making this noise for about 2 weeks but is becoming frequent.
I'm sorry i can't describe it better than a coughing noise, i'm not sure how else to describe it, i know its not a beeping noise tho. Any help would be greatly appreciated =)
10 zebra finches, 1 bengalese finch. 2 hand tame zebra finches
http://www.facebook.com/ZizFinches

User avatar
Finch Fry
Expecting
Expecting
Posts: 1116
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:16 pm
Location: Evansville, IN USA

Re: Coughing zebra finch?

Post by Finch Fry » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:14 am

Not sure but it sounds like its just feeding the chick. Does the mom do most of the feeding? Does the "cough" occur usually right after a feeding with the chick. My hen will make an odd little click noise just after she is done feeding a chick. She has to regurgitate the food into the little ones mouth, and then she needs to swallow back whats in her mouth.

I cant say I ever heard a finch cough so I hope its just a result of her feeding.
Goulds, Owls, Gold Breasts, Stars, Zebras, Societies
An obscene number of chicks and eggs
And an incredibly rare St. Goldena Breast finch
Anyone want some finches???
-Chris 8-[

apachetear
Flirty Bird
Flirty Bird
Posts: 232
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:37 am
Location: lincoln uk

Re: Coughing zebra finch?

Post by apachetear » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:33 pm

Thanks for you reply finchfry, but it isn't after she been feeding the little one that she "coughs" , it's just now and then, i'm keeping a very close eye on her, if it continues i think a visit to the vet is in order.
10 zebra finches, 1 bengalese finch. 2 hand tame zebra finches
http://www.facebook.com/ZizFinches

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: Coughing zebra finch?

Post by L in Ontario » Mon Oct 12, 2009 3:57 pm

The only 'coughing' I've read from others connected to finches is when they have Air Sac Mites... trying to clear their air sacs of the dead mites. But I have no idea if that is what is bothering your finch or if it is something else.

A classic audible symptom of ASM is a fairly rapid "clicking" sound.

Whatever your finch hen has, I hope it clears up soon!
Liz

Post Reply