FINCHforum

Today, I went to Petsmart and noticed that there was a small zebra finch that had lost quite a few feathers. She has lost feathers on the back of her head, her upper back and on some parts of her wings. I also noticed that there was scabs on the back of her head and else where. One that concerns me a lot is the one on her upper wing. I don't know if the scab was itchy or what, but she pecked at it and now it started to bleed. Not profusely, but enough to have me worried. I brought her home and applied hydrogen peroxide to the back of her head (which was all I was able to do at the time). I would appreciate any help or advice on how to treat her!

The little finch was most likey plucked by other birds in with her. Since she lost a good deal of feathers she will need a little warmth as she heals. Hook up a heat lamps near a perch for her to sit by. If the cage is small you can give her a 40-60 watt. Put it on ones side so that if he get warm she can move away.

To the area that is bleeding or is scapping...use a tiny bit of Neosporin ointment not the cream. The hydrogen peroxide might sting her already sensitive skin, the ointment will be soothing, don't get it in her nostrils or near her eyes.

She is going to have to regrow feathers, make sure she has a cuttlebone, lots of good foods...seed pellets(Zupreem fruit blend for finches), veggies, shredded carrots. Provide her with fresh water and a little bowl to bathe in.

Bless you for rescuing her. She is going to be fine, in no time she will look beautiful thanks to your ind heart. Visit the Finch Information Center to the left side of the page for lots of very helpful information and tips.

Kudos to you for rescuing the finch! Makes me wonder if any store employees noticed she was being plucked

If I were you I would have used a few choice words with the manager. It's one thing to be uneducated, like most stores. It's another to let an animal's condition get that bad. They must've saw that! Mouse, goldfish, finch, dog, ir horse, all animals feel pain! Good deed you did rescuing the poor thing is it a male or female? Give her lots of healthy food such as what Cindy has listed, I would provide a cuttlebone and grit. Tell us how she does!

No gravel/grit try shaved or grated cuttlebone. Use a fine cheese grater and grate the soft side of a cuttlebone and a mineral block. The mineral blocks can be found with the bird supplies. Try the pineapple shaped one. Wal-Mart has them to. Powdered form is easier for them to nibble on . Mix the powdered cuttlebone and mineral block together and give it to her in a lite dish. She needs all the minerals and calcium to help when regrowing feathers.

Finches do not need gravel since they hull their seeds, gravel can cause impactions. They do make a blue colored mineral grit by Higgins but try the powdered mix first.

As far as telling a manager, that is a good idea. But go one step further take a picture of her and go on to their website to file a complaint and include her picture.

Thanks for all of the advice! I really appreciate it! So does little Zoe (I decided to name her that )

Shame poor little girl. I'm sure with you to care for her she will heal up in no time at all.

The others have made good suggestions. Also watch her to see if she is not plucking herself. I've had that too and those are a bit more difficult to treat.
I would also suggest in the near future you apply some sort of parasite control, like Scatt, and deworm her too.

Those together with a good diet will have her looking superb in no time at all!

Thanks for all of the advice! I really appreciate and so does little Zoe (that's what I decided to name her). But I have one other question: I brought her home alone and do not have other finches. Is it okay for her to be by herself? I am just worried that she will get hurt again. Her wounds are still so fresh and I am almost certain that she is extremely young. The way her feathers are and the size of her are what make me think she is so young. I worry that another finch might take advantage of her...

So should I stop providing grit?

by grit do you mean the gravel type that they sell in the petstores?

Yes, it is small, looks like different shade of rocks. I was told I needed them when I bought my first finch a couple years ago, so I always provided it.

The birds do not need gravel, it will sit in the gut and can cause impaction. Finches hull their seed. If you use anything add the Higgins Mineral Grit made from oyster shell

http://www.higginspremium.com/SnackAtta ... itFine.htm

The stuff by Hartz in the orange box is not good for them, I do not/haven't even offer that to my hookbills. They hull their seeds.

enbarr wrote:Thanks for all of the advice! I really appreciate and so does little Zoe (that's what I decided to name her). But I have one other question: I brought her home alone and do not have other finches. Is it okay for her to be by herself? I am just worried that she will get hurt again. Her wounds are still so fresh and I am almost certain that she is extremely young. The way her feathers are and the size of her are what make me think she is so young. I worry that another finch might take advantage of her...

No, keep her seperate for a couple months, once in good condition add another zebra finch, preferably male. Other types of finches can harm her.

cindy wrote:The birds do not need gravel, it will sit in the gut and can cause impaction. Finches hull their seed. If you use anything add the Higgins Mineral Grit made from oyster shell

http://www.higginspremium.com/SnackAtta ... itFine.htm

The stuff by Hartz in the orange box is not good for them, I do not/haven't even offer that to my hookbills. They hull their seeds.

alrighty