Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Thu May 23, 2013 6:30 pm

Hi All,

My Zebra Finch (FEMALE) appears sick. She looks like she is being plucked by other Zebras. I believe she is the one without a mate. She is flying around but it making weird sounds.

ANY IDEAS?

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Thu May 23, 2013 6:32 pm

Also, she is completely bald on top of her head and at the top of her back as well as the front of her chest.

Casper
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:34 am
Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Casper » Thu May 23, 2013 7:46 pm

it sounds like she is being bullied!

Can you take her out and put her in another cage?
Totally owned by a spoodle called Pepsi, 4 very cute zebra finches (2 fawn females, 1 ??? and 1 white male) and about 60 guppies! And loving every minute of it!

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Ginene » Thu May 23, 2013 8:25 pm

RockinCanary
I agree...remove her so she can get some rest. Poor little girl :(

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Thu May 23, 2013 8:34 pm

Ok, I have removed her and placed her with my passive and friendly canary. Previously she was in a a double flight cage. Now since placing her with the canary she is making very quick repeated beep sounds continuously. She is very bald!!! It is quite appalling. Any more ideas?

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Thu May 23, 2013 8:34 pm

Also, I do not want my Canary to get sick in the event she does have something!

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Thu May 23, 2013 8:46 pm

Here is what she looks like. She has stopped making the beep noise.
Attachments
2013-05-23 20.37.14.jpg
2013-05-23 20.37.26.jpg

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Fri May 24, 2013 2:34 pm

Anyone?

User avatar
Nanajennie
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1526
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:59 pm
Location: Vermont USA

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Nanajennie » Fri May 24, 2013 3:11 pm

RockinCanary This must have been going on for a while. It broke my heart. How long have you had her? When did you first notice the plucking??

I hope she can recover. :(
Jennie

Coconut: Pineapple Green Cheek Conure LOVE OF MY LIFE

Creamsicle: Pied Sea Green Red Throated Parrot female
Rocket Pop: Red Throated Parrot male

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by debbie276 » Fri May 24, 2013 3:25 pm

She does look very plucked in the photo. I'm sure having her away from the one plucking her and being fed hard boiled eggs and fresh seed, in time she will grow all her feathers back. If she seems chilled, a little extra heat would be nice. :)
good luck
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Ginene » Fri May 24, 2013 3:33 pm

RockinCanary
Poor baby :shock: ...Zebras can be awful. Thank God she is out of there!!! Debbie said it all...egg food, heat and lots of peace will heal her in time. Just keep an eye on the canary. Even though it is a sweet canary, birds can sense a weak/sick cage mate...Good luck!

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Sun May 26, 2013 6:13 pm

Hi,

Thank you for all your help. I was doing some reading into this and am thinking perhaps it is bird mites? Any thoughts?

User avatar
Nanajennie
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1526
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:59 pm
Location: Vermont USA

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Nanajennie » Sun May 26, 2013 6:17 pm

I read today that if mites or lice cause significant feather loss its an infestation. Looks to me like she was plucked, but that is my humble opinion

From what I read, if its lice, she wouldn't be the only one affected on this level, and there would be a lot of scratching and stress signs.

Keep ups posted. Best wishes
Jennie

Coconut: Pineapple Green Cheek Conure LOVE OF MY LIFE

Creamsicle: Pied Sea Green Red Throated Parrot female
Rocket Pop: Red Throated Parrot male

User avatar
RockinCanary
Fledgeling
Fledgeling
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON
Contact:

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by RockinCanary » Mon May 27, 2013 5:37 pm

Ok, so I have seen no signs of improvement. The canary and the finch get along just fine. The plucking looks like it was done on the back, chest and under the wing and it looks awful. I am surprised that this bird is still alive. How long does this take to get better if it is indeed plucking and not something else?

User avatar
Ginene
Molting
Molting
Posts: 4333
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:52 pm
Location: Staten Island, New York

Re: Zebra Appears Sick?? HELP

Post by Ginene » Mon May 27, 2013 8:28 pm

It takes time, protein and lot of energy to grow feathers. It will happen...if your concerned about mites/lice, you can purchase a spray at the pet store. Stay away from birds discs that hang on cages...they do more harm than good.

Post Reply