FINCHforum

I got a male Zebra Finch 14-1/2 years ago. He has always been very happy, very active. His normal behavior is to go from perch to perch, to swing, to feed cup, to ringing his toy bell, to eating seed, to playing in his bath, all the while tweeting away.

Two days ago I found him sitting on the bottom of the cage, in the corner, like a kid in a time out. He had a 3/4" round ball of poop stuck to his feathers near his vent, as though he's sat in the same spot and pooped all day, forming a ball. Normal colored poop, not runny.

I cleaned him off and just watched him, he seemed to not think he could make it up to his perches. When he finally did go up, he fell off shortly. I realized he hadn't been vocalizing all day, hadn't touch his bath, which he dearly loves.

I lowered his favorite rope perch to two inches below the bottom of his cage, along with his seed cup and favorite bell. He is able to get on the perch now that it is so low. But he's quiet, fluffed up, breathing hard, eyes closed a lot, and holding his wings sort of in a drooping position. He goes from acting that way, to chattering like normal, eating really good, then right back the other way within 5 minutes. He still hasn't ventured to the upper perches where he usually sits, hasn't been in his bath, and seems wobbly on his water cup, and unsure about landing on it's perch. He hasn't passed much poop at all in 24 hours, despite all that he is eating. I took him out and cleaned his vent with a q-tip, it looks irritated, (red and swollen), but didn't seem to have anything stuck at least, however the feathers around it are "messy". A first for him. There have been no changes to his diet or surroundings, he's the only bird in the house.

My vet said 14-1/2 is very old for a Zebra Finch and it would be kindest to euthanize him. He has been a very good Vet for 25 years as far as our dogs go. He doesn't have many birds for clients, but seems to think Fric is just really old, and "shutting down".

Any help or ideas? Is he really old? Should I let him go in his own surroundings, or is that cruel, where euthanasia would spare him days of suffering? I do think we have a "bird vet" in the area, but wonder if I should put him and us through that if the other vet is right?

Thanks!
Fric's Mamma

I can tell by reading this that you care deeply for Fric. If his system is shutting down and he is consuming food put unable to go and when he does it is such a great volume...my thoughts on this is his system is most likely taking on toxins little by little. If he is not passing stool or urine it is backing up into his tiny kidneys, this could be painful. Eventually some of the toxins may make their way to his brain.

He could be quiet because his system is just worn out. Letting go for the right reasons like sparing an animal pain is so very difficult. It is a personal choice, for me if Fric had lived so long in my home, brought such joy to me and if he was suffering I would want to give him the gift of peace. This is my opinion, I can only imagine how hard this is for you. To let him go peacefully with aid from your vet so his spirit can fly free might be the best gift to him for blessing you with his joy for so many years. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Wow, 14 and half years old finch!!!! He must be under an excellent care and love. Hope it is just a minor cold and he'll get over it soon.

What do you feed him daily? Any vitamins supplemental to his daily diet? Sorry to ask at this time, but if you could share it would be great for us all to learn.

cindy wrote:I can tell by reading this that you care deeply for Fric. If his system is shutting down and he is consuming food put unable to go and when he does it is such a great volume...my thoughts on this is his system is most likely taking on toxins little by little. If he is not passing stool or urine it is backing up into his tiny kidneys, this could be painful. Eventually some of the toxins may make their way to his brain.

He could be quiet because his system is just worn out. Letting go for the right reasons like sparing an animal pain is so very difficult. It is a personal choice, for me if Fric had lived so long in my home, brought such joy to me and if he was suffering I would want to give him the gift of peace. This is my opinion, I can only imagine how hard this is for you. To let him go peacefully with aid from your vet so his spirit can fly free might be the best gift to him for blessing you with his joy for so many years. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I agree with Cindy's opinion on the situation and I am so sorry to hear about him getting sick but Fric is an old old man in finch years. Please keep us informed as to how things go and my thoughts and prayers go out to you.

wow, 14! I was told they only live 4-6 years. You must love your buddy very much. I expect he is very old and like all old animals, his little body is wearing out. Poor old boy. I don't envy your position. If you can make him comfortable I would try. So sorry.

Thank you guys for your support. So he is pretty old. When we first got him I read that they usually go 7 years in captivity, but can get to 15 in the wild with perfect circumstance. When he hit 10, we just laughed and said, well, I guess he didn't read the article.

I am wondering if this has anything to do with a recent molt? I remember him going very quiet and sleeping puffed up last August during a molt. He hasn't lost any feathers for several weeks now, and a lot of them are filled in again already, but he is is preening a lot today. I wonder if it's harder on them when they are older, would he get a vitamin deficiency from the molt that could make him sick?

He's moving around and chattering more this afternoon, the 1st time he's moved perch to perch in days, but he's still clumbsy. Then the preening, and "shaking off action" started. (?)

We've just given him Kaytee Fiesta Max and ZuPreem Fruit Blend daily, (no vitamins), but there's lots of vitamins already in the ZuPreem. Other than that just grit and occasional banana, strawberries, and green beans. I'm afraid we don't know much about little birds, other than what my Great Aunt taught me as a child when she gave me a Mynah bird, and that was long ago. So we've really just punted with Fric, he's just never been sick before. Really sad, hope he makes it. He's in a central location and really is part of the clan. He's got a lot of seniority on the Labradors he lives with.

That is a great long life for a finch. I have a few oldies myself.
I had 3 really old canaries left in the aviary and 2 weeks ago I saw one of the old fellows sitting on the floor, much like your description. I knew he would probably not make it past the end of the week... his time was near as the body can only function for so many years. The canary was 16. I gave him his own spray millet and plate of eggfood and sprouts...his favorites.... I didn't realize that would be his last meal. I would never take a bird to the vet for euthanization if they are just old, the stress of that would probably cause much distress in itself, if not death. My canary past very peacefully in the aviary of his liking. He tucked his head and must of died in his sleep because that was how I found him the next morning.
I think making him as comfortable as possible in his familiar surroundings is the least stressful for the old bird.

What a lovely, long life Fric has enjoyed! When I've been in this situation (and I've had a lot of pets over the years) I always feel that the pet does best passing away when made most comfortable in familiar surroundings. Then I think; that's the way I would like to go one day...

But, everyone thinks differently so you need to do what you feel is best for your little guy... my thoughts will be with you.

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your nice thoughts and support. Fric is doing much better today. Chattering lots, going from perch to perch, ringing his little toy bell, even calling to the girl birds outside his window. He's still sleeping more than "normal", but not all the time like he was. I honestly thought he was a gonner Monday, and really felt like it would be unkind to let him linger that way, ...glad I waited. I gave him some baked crushed egg shell yesterday morning, and he started to come out of what ever it was yesterday afternoon. Still really wonder if he was short on calcium/minerals from the recent molt? A super quick turn around if that was really it.

Candice, it was good to hear that you too have some seniors, it gives me hope that maybe he'll get to stay around a while longer. The house and family wouldn't be the same without all his little antics and sounds. Thank you guys.

Teri

Great News!!!
I never give up on them until they are stiff Very well could of been a lack from his moulting or even just constipated
So glad he is spunkier now. I have a gouldian finch that is almost 11 and he is still hard to pick out amongst his aviary buddies. He does however molt more slowly than in his youth. He is still fit, sings, and flirts with the ladies. I hope to have him as long as you have Fric

This must sound like a silly question but I`m going to risk sounding clueless and ask anyhow. You often speak of `molting`. What exactly is that and when and why does it happen?

Fricsmom..so glad for you that he's doing better You sound like a very loving and caring mom to Fric Lucky guy

I am glad he is much better....it sounded as if he was declining Monday when you wrote this. Great news, hope he continues to do better.

Bringing comfort to an animal that is truely suffering and in pain is indeed a difficult decision, one I am glad you did not have to make.