Baby Zebra Finches has water sacks over eyes

[MariusStegmann]

I have had 2 different batches of Zebra babies where 2 of the nestlings had water sack over both eyes. The local petshop owner suggested that it must be the One Eye Cold that the birds has. The shop were out of stock for the medicine for this ailment. The nestlings eventally die. The parents of the affected fiches are realated. Issabella mutation (with the enlarged eye patches). None of my waxbills or mannikins chicks has had this problem. I wonder if it could be related to the fact that both clutches were big. 5 Chicks and it could be due beak scratches from the siblings.

[cindy]

How are the parents related? Zebras can have clutches of up to 7 with no problems.

[MariusStegmann]

I have a pair of Isabella's that gave me many clutches of chicks. The last clutch of chicks from that pair was the first to be affected with the decease. Two of the five chicks were affected. This happened again. This time the parents of the affected chicks are siblings of the first pair of Isabellas. Isabella zebra's has red eyes. Maybe this strain of Zebras are more susceptible to this decease. All the other chicks of other zebra pairs are not affected.

[Vargur]

could be so called "Genetic weakness"
I have only read about it happens
when you pair two Fawn cheeks together.
Your birds could be fawn cheeked Isabels?
Or just too related to be a pair.
You should not let them breed again
with each other.

[MariusStegmann]

I don't believe that the problem is that they are to closely related. I have had 5 batches of chicks of the first pair, from Sep10 to now. It is the first time that this occured. I can understand if this happened with the mated siblings. I think that it must be a virus or some kind of a infection that this strain of zebra is more susceptable to. This virus was not present previously because the first pair of isabella's chicks were fine until now. This is however the first time the 2nd pair of isabellas were mated.

[cindy]

I have FF, FS and Isabel and have never had this happen. 5 clutches since September is a lot....I suggest a well earned rest.

This sounds to be either viral or baterial. I would rest the parents for a good 4 month before breeding again. A female can deplete her own good health, nutrition breeding and raising to many clutches. Nutritional defeciencies can also cause abnormalities.

[MariusStegmann]

You are right. I will do that. The problem is, in Cape Town, South Africa, the minumum temp never drop below 0 Celcius in winter. The coldest is 5 or so Celsius. The zebras breed right through winter. They need a rest.