FINCHforum

Hi, My zebra finch baby is very active and eager to eat. I have been hand feeding him since day 1. He seems very small and still has pin feathers. He/she is 18 days old. I have looked at pictures of 18 day old chicks and he doesn't look anything like them. I'm guessing its due to me hand feeding him but I'm hopping he keeps up being as strong as he is. He grows a little every day. His eyes are only slightly opened. Is this normal for a hand feed baby? Here are some pictures. Thanks.

[thumbnail]http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z42 ... ALL068.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z42 ... ALL067.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z42 ... ALL066.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z42 ... ALL065.jpg[/thumbnail]

WOW, I would have thought they would have more feathers then that at 18 days old What are you feeding him?

Katee Exact handfeeding formula sometimes I add apple sauce to substitute some water. I'm pretty sure they are suppose to have more feathers and be bigger.

Hmmmm, I only use Exact hand feeding formula when I hand feed and haven't had a chick develop slower then normal so if there is a problem I don't think it would be because of the formula. I don't have zebra's so maybe someone that does can comment and/or give suggestions.
Good luck

He does look a bit underdeveloped to me, and something about the development of his head looks off.

How often are you feeding him and how are you keeping him (i.e., what sort of brooder)?

He gets fed every 2 1/2 hours sometimes 3 hours. He's in a baby wipe warmer with a thermometer that reads 95 degrees. I knew something wasn't right, but he acts perfect.

As soon as this little guy gets a little bigger I'm switching brooders. I have a brooder set up with a heating pad for him. Do you think there is a chance he'll catch up on size?

He is VERY cute.

He is way behind on development with so few feathers, and his eyes should have opened fully by now, as they start as slits about 7 days old. I agree with nixity, his head shape looks off. Was this baby tossed by the parents?

At 95 degrees, that is too warm for the brooder. Normally, at this age, a baby will be fairly feathered, and so I would have dropped the temp into the mid-80's, but I wouldn't think more than 92 at this stage.

Thanks, the parents wouldn't sit on the eggs so I incubated them in the warmer. I'll adjust the temp. I have been searching the internet and couldn't find anything that would give me an idea on why he would be small and his head be shaped weird. His eyes slit open when he was 8 days old. I hope he makes it. I'm really attached to him.

I wonder if it could be that the temperature,turning or humidity wasn't right during incubation.
Best of luck

I've thought about the humidity maybe being to high because the temp gage I have doesn't tell the humidity level. I turned the eggs throughout the day before they hatched.

18 days old?

he look like he is about 6-9 days old,
his eyes look weird, so does his head.

he should look like this

Vargs - 17 days old zebra finch by Elma_Ben, on Flickr

but dont give up on him, but If he doesnt develope normaly then you should think about what is best for him.

I was gonna say, dont give up on him for at least 2 more days, see what happends..
He dont look normal and isnt growing.
And he isnt developing normaly. You should think what is best for him. In nature and if he werent in your care, then he would be in bird heaven now.

He grows a little he has little pin feathers coming in on his belly now. His wings were almost bare last week. Hopefully he'll hit a giant growth spurt. But when I think realistically I already know the chances of him living is slim. I would try to save everything if I could. I hate the thought of ending his life I'd have to have my husband do it.