I left for vacation 13 days back, and just got home. I left my father to care for my pair of zebras, giving him specific instructions, but when I got back, the seed cups looked full of empty hulls and the bath water was completely dry(I think the female only knew how to drink from this, not the actually water tube). My little finch female does NOT look good. Her feathers are fluffed, but she is still perching. I cleaned their cage, gave them fresh food, water, some carrots, and egg food. They are both eating heartily. I also discovered another egg in the seed cup. When I removed it, the shell was very brittle, almost breaking on my touch. Should I just wait and see, or should I be more concerned?
Is there anyway I can help them recover?
Very very concerned
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lia-w
- Nestling
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EmilyHurd
- Complete Clutch
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Make sure they have a cuttlebone in their cage, and provide fresh eggfood and water every day. I'm sure they'll recover. Sometimes, other people don't really know how to care for finches as well as finch lovers do. He may have thought their food was full, not realizing it was just the hulls left?
I try to make sure all my finches know how to drink from water bottles so that I can leave for a couple days and not worry. You should also consider purchasing a different kind of feeder, one that you only have to fill once per week. Also, when going on vacation, I try to provide a millet and extra seed in corners of the flight.
I try to make sure all my finches know how to drink from water bottles so that I can leave for a couple days and not worry. You should also consider purchasing a different kind of feeder, one that you only have to fill once per week. Also, when going on vacation, I try to provide a millet and extra seed in corners of the flight.
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tammieb
- Brooding
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Unfortunately this is the risk we take when leaving our birds in the care of other people.
With some TLC, hopefully your pair will recover. The hen needs a calcium supplement. I would not depend on her using the cuttlebone on her own for this. Get some Calciboost or Calcivet and start her on that asap.
With some TLC, hopefully your pair will recover. The hen needs a calcium supplement. I would not depend on her using the cuttlebone on her own for this. Get some Calciboost or Calcivet and start her on that asap.
TammieB.
Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke~
Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke~
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Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
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And look into seed hoppers--TammyS sells them at www.justbirdstuff.com. I have switched all my birds over to these seed hoppers, and they are great. Then, when you leave, the caretaker only has to pour seed in the top, and empty the bottom catch tray, perhaps once a week or a little more often. It is very obvious when the seed hopper is getting close to empty, so less chance of a mistake happening. My next project is to get them converted to water bottles, so I can leave home for more than a day without worry.
And if you have to wait for the Calciboost or other supplement to be mailed to you, you can grind oystershell grit or egg shells into a powder with a coffee grinder and add it to whatever fresh food they will eat.
And if you have to wait for the Calciboost or other supplement to be mailed to you, you can grind oystershell grit or egg shells into a powder with a coffee grinder and add it to whatever fresh food they will eat.