FINCHforum

I have a female zebra finch with babies (2 weeks? old) who is not looking too well. She is sitting fluffed up, eating some...just doesnt look good. I caught her and dad to have a closer look at them and it seems both have dirty vents. Dad is acting normally. The prolem is that they are in a mixed aviary with a pair of LG's with 5 fledglings, 1 pr owls, and 1pr Societies with 4 fledgelings.

The babies are old enough to peek around outside the nest but not flegde. What do I do? Treat the whole aviary? If I move them out will the parents quit feeding the babies?

Help..help..help.

First I will remove the hen to a hospital cage with a heat lamp, take care of her first as she seems to have the biggest problem. If the father is looking OK for now leave him to feed the babies.

If the father also seems to deteriorate I'd consider removing him as well and separate him to a hospital cage, the last thing you want now is to infect your entire aviary so take a close look at symptoms.

How old are the society babies? Are they are more or less the same age (recently fledged)? If you remove both parents you can move the zebra babies to their nest and the societies will foster them.

you could even try to move the complete family into the hospital cage and treat them all at once. be a shame to see the young birds get whatever mum & dad have