Little Millie got a nasty bite...

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
Thanks Mia, I hope nature and time will fix things.

[lovezebs]

Hi Folks.
Little Millie feeling better.
I moved her into a slightly bigger cage today, so that she can get a bit of hopping exercise. She can't fly at all at this point, but she is enjoying hopping around.

I hope those feathers start growing soon.
A birdie that can't fly is oh so sad.

[delray]

Glad she is feeling better, but that's so sad that she can't fly. Maybe get some things that she can do to keep her busy!!

[lovezebs]

delray
What would you recommend? Usually finches not really interested in things like toys, the way budgies are. Right now, I think she feels like queen of the mountain. I placed her little cage on top of the one flight. This way, she can watch over her Zebbie friends and beep instructions and advice. It's a supervisory position, and I wonder what the talk is at the water dish.... "So what did she do to deserve this promotio?" LOL!!!

[Zebrafincher]

Birds can be SOOOO nasty to other birds! I have three boys and they all have separate cages because they have a go at each other whenever I'm not looking! My canary is in spring mode and is guarding his "territory" and trying to drive the other two finches away. Beaky my Zebbie picks on my star finch Merl and Merl picks on him back! Bunch of
little sods at the moment! Love them tho!

Zebrafincher

[wildbird]

Glad to hear she's doing good! You mentioned cat crunchies, so I wondered if there was a cat in the same room with her. That would explain the missing piece of wing.

[MiaCarter]

For something to do....
I might give her a little bin with some timothy hay, blended with some treats in there, like millet seeds or bugs or similar. My guys LOVE foraging around! That's enough to keep them busy for hours.

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
My little trooper is doing well, other than the flying part. Keeps busy watching over her flight and beeping at her flight mates. She can't really have a bin, cause can't get out of it easily, but I like that idea for the rest of the crew.
Right now she's listening to some music with great interest.

[MiaCarter]

lovezebs -- You could use something super shallow.
I use the trays that Chinese food comes in here. LOL

You could use a tupperware tub lid. That would be easy to hop in and out of.

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
That just might work. Although she seems mostly interested in the goings on in her flight. Guess she can't understand why she can't be with her buddies (one of which wanted 'wings' for supper the other night. ). Maybe tomorrow I'll give it a try.
By the way, when you mention 'insects', what do you have in mind? What sort of insects do you have available over where you live? I give my guys 'insect pate' from the pet shop, which is a pulverized mixture of dried bugs. I also offer mealworms which are freeze dried, and which I mash up into tiny bits. Once in a while, I'll also chop up canned grasshoppers, when my stomach feels up to it.

[MiaCarter]

lovezebs -- I do the ground up dried mealworms too. That's everyone's favorite.

I used to do insect treat, which was houseflies and larvae, but they're not making it anymore, so I weaned my guys off them.

I also do dried bloodworms. You can do those as a whole or you can rub them between your fingers and make a powder.

I also have some tiny freshwater shrimps.

I also have the bug medley mix with grasshoppers and mealworms and such, but they don't eat those unless I grind it up tiny and it's just so time consuming, so that's a rare treat!
I'm basically saving those for a larger bird that'll come along someday as a foster.

I also have some little nutrient-coated flies. I had a giant canister from ages ago when I had chameleons.

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
Ok Thanks. When I'm in the pet store, I always look around for different things that might surprise them, so that they go all googly eyed happy. Am I bad or what? I spoil them rotten.

[Zebrafincher]

Zebbies seem to LOOOVE swings! Try one with her. I also have toys with things for them to peck, mirrors (my babies love themselves), loose, fresh grass; fruit and veg like brocholli, brochollini, mixed dark lettuces etc. You'll have a big mess, but finches all seem to be like this....

Zebrafincher

[lovezebs]

Zebrafincher
Thanks for response.
Millie always has fruits and veggies.
Regretably she can't swing right now because she would not be able to get on a swing, and even if she did by some unlikely chance, she would fall off and hurt herself . She can't even flutter, just hop a little. She can't even get on a low perch cause she falls without a branch that kinda leans in an up/down position.
I have some coconut fiber in there for her to fuss with, but has shown no interest so far.

[lovezebs]

Our little Miss Millie is getting better everyday. She's managing a tiny flutter now. Just enough to be able to flutter from perch to perch without falling on her head. She's eating well and enjoys playing with some timothy hay. She has the cutest little 'meep meep' call as she joins in conversation with her buddies in the flight.

How long does it take for a whole set of flight feathers to grow back? Does anybody know?