FINCHforum

Hi,
One of my zebra finch chicks has its head tilted downward all the time. It's been like this for two days or at least that is when I noticed the condition. Other than that it is being fed and growing normally. Anyone familiar with this?

Please check out the photo.

Thanks.

I've never seen anything like this
I don't see how it would continue to develop normally so that it would be able to fly/perch/eat..
I'd be inclined to euthanize the chick, personally..

nixity wrote:I've never seen anything like this
I don't see how it would continue to develop normally so that it would be able to fly/perch/eat..
I'd be inclined to euthanize the chick, personally..

You are right but I prefer to know what it is first... What if it turn out to be some kind of an illness that can be treated?

I found an article that talks about some different things that can happen with baby birds and possible solutions. One thing I noticed in the article is that it keeps referring to the babies as being like modeling clay or Play Doh, saying conditions can change from day to day. I would give it another couple days before you do anything drastic.

Here's the article if you'd like to read it. There is a section that talks about crooked necks and backs:

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/babies.html

I am noticing the wings are on the small side....

I pulled some information from a medical book on reproduction

Msculoskeletal - Bent neck.....low incubation temperature.

Stunting _ egg contamination, heredity, parental malnutrition, possible hypothyroidism.

To me this chick if it survives and if the neck straightens out may still be challenged if the wings are stunted.

Something happened either during development in the egg to create this defect....how are the other chicks and how many have the pair had in the past. Was this the first chick to hatch?

cindy wrote:I am noticing the wings are on the small side....

I pulled some information from a medical book on reproduction

Msculoskeletal - Bent neck.....low incubation temperature.

Stunting _ egg contamination, heredity, parental malnutrition, possible hypothyroidism.

To me this chick if it survives and if the neck straightens out may still be challenged if the wings are stunted.

Something happened either during development in the egg to create this defect....how are the other chicks and how many have the pair had in the past. Was this the first chick to hatch?

They have had five clutches before and this is the sixth. But I remember the third clutch of four chicks where two of them developed normally but the other two grew feathers on the wings only had a weird head movement and kept falling from the nest and you get the feeling they were not aware of their surroundings. Eventually the mother abandoned them and they died.

this looks like stunting. Maybe the chick was pushed off to the side? not fed enough? i suggest you get or make a small incubator and you may have to hand feed. Once the chick is stunted, a lot of parents good or not, will refuse the chick. It also shows signs of stunting inthe following ways:
Small wings-large feet
Small head
red skin
If the parents are feeding(as it appears) keep the chick with the parents. Try to get his head propped up at least a little bit. Can he move his neck?

hardroumli wrote:Hi,
One of my zebra finch chicks has its head tilted downward all the time. It's been like this for two days or at least that is when I noticed the condition. Other than that it is being fed and growing normally. Anyone familiar with this?

Please check out the photo.

Thanks.

Ive had alot of chicks in the past and never seen this, yes give it a while and see what happens

My advice is that this pair not breed again for awhile....6 clutches, a few issues with development...I think the pair needs a rest.

If the six clutches are back to back or close to each other the parents aren't being given ample time to regain their reserves and strength. I would not let them nest for about 4 or 5 months.

Where are located, just curious about the temperature there.

Can you tell us the diet of your birds especially the food you give parent birds to feed the young.

cindy wrote:My advice is that this pair not breed again for awhile....6 clutches, a few issues with development...I think the pair needs a rest.

If the six clutches are back to back or close to each other the parents aren't being given ample time to regain their reserves and strength. I would not let them nest for about 4 or 5 months.

Where are located, just curious about the temperature there.

Can you tell us the diet of your birds especially the food you give parent birds to feed the young.

You are right about giving the pair a rest because the clutches are infact back to back, but the thing is... the female will keep laying eggs with or without the male.

I live and work in Jeddah-Saudi Arabia where the weather is very hot and humid. the temperature can reach 113 degrees at this time of year. And regarding the feed... I provide them with seed mix produced by Trill http://www.trill.com.au/products/finch.asp and eggfood once to twice daily that contains egg-eggshell-pumpkin-carrot-bell pepper(orange color)-spinach-parsley-sweet potato-bread crumbs and I add to it cod liver oil (seven seas).

The male takes over the feeding and never let their crop empty. The picture of the chick was taken at night that is why the crop is not much filled.

Your diet is excellent. I would continue to feed this to the parents during resting. The feeding and work they go through with 6 clutches back to back will wear their system down despite the nurishing foods which possibly can show in thier offspring. Take all nests away once these fledge out, make sure the female gets plenty of calcium. Rest them for a good 4 to 6 months.

Hope the baby's neck straightens, it can survive with tiny wings you just have to adapt the cage a pit to meet it's needs.

Thank you all for your advice and thank you Cindy.

Please keep us posted on the little one's progress. Best wishes!

I have seen this before in Canaries where many clutches were produced. The intensive breeding does not allow for enough reserves to build bones and sufficient liguature in the chicks. From memory some of the chicks can straighten out with time. Perhaps it would be timely to give the parents a break from breeding and raising chicks. General rule is no more than 3 clutches per season and for myself I only allow 2.

What a wonderful recipe! I'm glad the little guy/girl will have a chance, will be pulling for him/her.