Help finch can't fly?

Gizmo92 · Post by **Gizmo92** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:25 pm

My zebra finch has suddenly lost his ability to fly. He can kinda flutter but cant stay in the air. I'm worried he wont eat i place him bye the food and water but he cant stay up there and i cant put it on the floor or its cover in poop. tyia.

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:03 pm

Gizmo92,

Wow, that sound kinda serous to me ! Maybe you should take it to the Vet, and have ir checked out.

Just in case it's got something contagious, ya might clean/sanitize that cage while it's out of it. Just in case.

Hope your bird gets better soon.

Have a good Day !

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:13 am

You may want to try talking him out of the cage with all the others, and putting him in a smaller hospital cage where he has his own food and water and it's closer to the floor.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:37 am

That same thing happend to one of my zebras. She was also having a hard time keeping her balance when standing or walking. I really thought she would not make it. So, I put her in a small hospital cage next to the other birds so she would not feel lonely, put the food and water at the bottom and covered the cage. I left a small opening so she could still see the other birds. I put some extra vitamins in her water and said a prayer. This happen on a Friday and come Monday morning, if she was'nt better I would find a avian vet. Monday morning I found her eating food and thought that was a good sign and she did not seem as lethargic. I waited one more day and she looked like she was going to make it. She fully recovered from what ever it was, no other birds got sick, in fact she is a new mommy. Bottom line is ?????? .....

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:05 pm

Wow EH !,

It never dawned to me to isolate, I had read that somewhere too, just been getting used to Finching and am in an information overload as I'm writing NOW !

Kathleen,
Congratulations !, mine just laid two egs in as many days, wonder what she'll show me tomorrow !

Very glad your Bird is better, but, I've herd that putting Vitamans in water is very short lived. They said something about them settling to the bottom and sorta getting weak. Have you herd that ?

Hope the both of you have a very good X-Mas !

Have a good Day !

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:51 pm

Have not heard anything about the vitamin thing, but then I'm no expert on the world of birds, however, I figure it can't be a bad thing either. Also, if taking care of a bird that might be sick, the water should be changed more often than usual. I give clean water about every other day anyway, so I know what they are getting, "clean water". PS good luck with the new eggs !!

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:39 am

Kathleen,

Umm, I've been changing out the water each day, just in that I'm checking the amount of seed eaten, and it was easy to put the water containers on the tray, and then refill them.

I had hoped to put the Tubular type water feeders on all my cages, really can see just how much is there, and it's a LOT cleaner, but....

I have a Filtration System on the house here, takes just about everything out of the water, maybe even stuff we'd like for it to leave !

Given that, do you know how tolerant these Birds are to Cholorine, or the problems that not having it in the water might cause?

I know they don't have teeth, but, Cholorine does prevent some bacterial growth, which could cause problems, if the containers aren't cleaned frequently (slime and all that yucky stuff).

Have a good Day !

Gizmo92 · Post by **Gizmo92** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:58 pm

He is all better now i dont know what was wrong but hes up and about but he still can't fly. He walks around and hop/flaps from place to place.

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:03 am

You didn't happen to mention taking him to the Vet, where he could hear you, did you ?

Very glad he's better !

Have a good Day !

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:49 am

Gizmo92.....I'm so happy to hear good news....don"t be surprised if you see him flying around and looking back to normal....I don't know what had happend to my little zebra either. PS are your birds outside or inside?

Houston....wow that's a good question, but one I cannot answer about the water being so filtered. Maybe you should post that question as a new topic and you might get some answers. Good luck...