FINCHforum

My Zebra had a sore on the bottom of his foot, we got that taken care of. Now I notice he stays in the nest a lot and when he came out this morning just sat on top. Now I see that there is a red toe, same foot as before and the legs-both are a bit red as well. On the side of the hurt toe the feathers under him are messed up, a bit dirty looking i guess- not clean like the other side. I am wondering what is going on if the feathers are effected and why the legs are reddish?

Thanks for your answers in advance.

Had you taken him to the vet previously? What did she/he say?

What do your perches look like?

Besides the advice given in the previously posted thread, did you check out Crystal's advice here?
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

Hopefully that link worked...if not the Subject line:

Inflammed(sic) foot problem on zebra finches - Please help!!

There is not an aviary vet in my area. Bummer but true. So it is up to me to treat and with all the information out there I figure I should be able to come up with some type of prognosis.
The feature issue is really bothering me. I caught him after chasing him around the HUGE cage and the bottom of the foot is good, just has a red toe but the feathers around the top of the leg is nasty. I put oitment on the foot just in case.
He just sits low on the top of the nest or perch and is a bit puffy. He does fly here and there. My other finch is not effected at all and looks good. I have treated the water again with Iverlux and hopefully if it is mites this will help. I was told that treating once a month with the Iverlux is a good thing to do. Any other suggestions?

Do you think maybe he cut himself/hurt his toe and maybe it's dried blood on his feathers from when he lifts his leg to sleep?

Next time you catch him, maybe take some pictures?

I agree pictures could be helpful. A pretty common problem for finches (especially those with nests) is to get a fine strand of nesting material or fiber wrapped around their foot/toe. This would cause a single digit to swell. If he is not feeling well overall, he may not be preening/grooming himself as he should. How does his chest feel? Very bony or full?

Crystal

It is so hard to catch a finch when in a cage the size for a gorilla! When I finally did catch him he was in such a panic I felt terrible. Pictures, I dont' think I could catch him again without another panic attack. How does one do this effectively?

I did not check his chest, his feathers around the top of his leg just looked awful, and the red area on his toe. Seems as though my Iverlux treatment isn't working, they (him and his brother) have mites again so my inclination is that mites may be the problem. I have been treating their water and their bath with the Iverlux for the last three days. I thought I had gotten rid of them a couple of months ago, did all the right things but seems as though they are picking and wiping their beaks again. Funny how my Chestnut Flanked is pretty as a picture!
Anyway, could the mites in the feathers and he is just picking himself there.
Is there a right way to treat for mites to rid them for ever?

Thanks ladies for all your great advice!!!
Robin

The best way I have found to catch finches in a cage is to use a net (or your hand with or without a small towel) and to dim the lights so that you can barely see and the bird can't see at all--in the dark they are far more likely to sit still. Sometimes removing the perches from the cage first (if this is an option) also helps.

I like SCATT for treating mites because it is pretty easy to get (online) and safe, though most vets here use a properly diluted and dosed amount of ivermectin (which requires at least 3 treatments) topically. In addition to treating the birds, it is important to thoroughly clean the cage and replace any old nests/perches which may be contaminated with mites. Your birds may be beak-wiping for a reason other than mites, as well.

If you're able to catch the bird, feel along the keel/breast bone (it should not feel very bony--if it does this indicates a chronic/more severe systemic problem), try to get a focused picture of the leg and feathers that concern you, and check that toe for any fine strands or fibers that may be constricting it. You might need a magnifying glass and good lighting to do that properly.

Good luck!

You know with one finch looking good and the other not so I wouldn't think this would be just the mites, you are right.

I live in Naples now and the birds are on my lanai and get lots of air and sunshine. As far as products for birds this place is awful. I purchased Iverlux from Myra/online. Would you suggest that would be ok instead of the Ivermectin? I have a spray for mites, but not Scatt, something I got in Petco. Do you suggest a website or two for purchasing products? I know you probably don't want to say one way or the other but a few suggestions would be nice.

I just finished the last of the three days of the Iverlux and gave them a new bed. I will scrub the perches today, I have some plastic plants hanging over the cage, do I need to spray them down?
I will treat again in a couple of weeks as the directions suggest and try to catch Jack this evening and see if some pictures can be taken.

Thanks for your help!

Well I did a treatment of Iverlux in the water, three days. The red toe is all clear, legs look much better, actually they look great. The feathers on the breast and back to the legs look dirty, not whiteish like I would think they should be.....but the foot and legs are better....

Weird, now should I anticipate this problem to return? Should I continue to treat with Iverlux on a maintenance monthy basis?

Thanks.