please help

[AngieCort68]

Came home from work n found this. What to do?

[AngieCort68]

This is my zebra finch Nini. I don't know if she got stuck on something or if she got attacked. I have since removed her from the cage. I checked her wing and it appears to only be cut on the outside not underneath. Not sure how to treat. Looking for help.

[L in Ontario]

Possibly a broken blood-feather. If the blood is all dry and no fresh bleeding. I would leave her in a hospital cage with a heatlamp (and food and water) overnight to observe her. Then release her back into her cage in the morning. Put a bath in there for her to clean herself up.

If it is bleeding now - you will have to find the feather that is broken (in the wing somewhere - one of the longer ones probably) and remove it. That is: Pull the feather out from the base. There are Google links to removing (pulling) a blood feather.

Let us know how things go. Good luck!

I came home to find a Society with a broken leg tonight and had to split it. I've never done that before, but he is still alive... for now. Must be a day for avian accidents.

[AngieCort68]

OMG!!!! Ok so for now do I just leave her alone? She is in a hospital cage. The blood is dried and no new blood but she keeps picking at it. Why does this happen.

[L in Ontario]

If the blood is dried - you are lucky. It looks much worse than it is. Yes, just leave her be for tonight. She picking at it because the blood has dried some feathers together and she wants to get them apart. Don't worry about her picking at it - unless it starts bleeding again but I don't think it will. Let her rest for tonight. You can put a heatlamp on the cage if she is fluffed up at all. Otherwise - don't bother just make sure she has seed and water (perhaps with a pinch of vitamins or NV Powder). She should be just fine.

[AngieCort68]

what is NV powder? And thank you soooooo much for your help.

[CandoAviary]

Zebras are tough. She probably got her foot or wing stuck in the cage somewhere... possibly on a toy or feed dish? they will panic and flap around like mad and like Liz said, break a feather (google blood feather). Feathers will bleed like crazy. Since it is dry I would leave her be in the seperate cage with heat for a few day. Once you know the injury has healed you can offer her a bath and she will clean herself up.

NV powder is a suppliment containing vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. It helps to replace the bird's lost hydration and energy. You can easily substitue the homemade formula here...
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18044.
Just offer her all kinds of goodies like millet spray and let her recooperate. Zebras are tough. In the mean time go over your cage and look for any hazard that it may contain... a seperated cage corner, dangerous toy or swing. Could of be just a freak accident. It really doesn't look like anybody attacked her. Usually if that is the case there would be feathers missing.
Hope she is feeling well soon.

[cindy]

Angie, do you use a metal cuttlebone holder....sometimes a bird can get caught up in it.

[AngieCort68]

Liz, Candace and Cindy thanks a bunch for the info.
@Cindy:no metal cuttle bone holder. Everything is plastic or wood. I can't see of any hazards but I know they love to fly crazily around the flight cage so maybe she just got a little roughed up.I did change around their perches yesterday so maybe she isn't quite used to the setup and ran into some thing. She's eating and drinking fine and seems pretty active so I guess she's recuperating alright. Once again thanks for the quick help. I knew I could depend on my forum for help. Liz I hope all is well with yours too.

[ac12]

Clear Gatoraid or Pedialite can be used as a substitute for NV Powder.

[AngieCort68]

Thanks Gary.