FINCHforum

(Sorry for the haste!)


My female Zebra Finch, was recently attacked by a fellow bird (Lovebird). I left home for about an hour to 45 minutes. When I arrived home I saw her wing bleeding and the lovebird in the cage with the her and the other Zebra finch (female too). The lovebird had somehow escaped from her cage and went inside theirs. The one attacked was introduced Saturday.

I have put pressure and cornstarch on her wing, beak, and leg (blood present). She has been eating a little, but it looks difficult fo r her because her beak.

She is recently in a hospital cage with dim lights and it is warm in side.

What do I do? There are no avain vets around here! I'm very scared And it's very costly to have a home call by one about twenty or so miles away.

Please help!

She looks no longer in shock, she keeps eating. She is hopping a little too

Oh, you poor thing! It sounds like you have done the right things. Blood loss is always serious with such little birds. Keeping her warm and quiet is very important, and to help her appetite, I would offer her spray millet, egg food, whatever her favorites are. The fact that she is hopping a little and eating a little is a good sign. Keep us posted.

And vets are not always an option with our finches, it can be so expensive, and they are used to dealing with much larger birds.

Thank you so much for the help on the food, and your kind words! she has been eating seeds, but I will defenitely giver her lots of soft foods!
She is also sleeping a lot, even in the brighter light. Is that normal?
It is the day after, and she has survived the night. . .she eats and drinks well, other than that she is sleeping lots.

Thank you so much for your help!

-Geraldine

Thank you so much for the help on the food, and kind words! she has been eating seeds, but I will defenitely giver her lots of soft foods!
She is also sleeping a lot, even in the brighter light. Is that normal?
It is the day after, and she has survived the night. . .she eats and drinks well, other than that she is sleeping lots.

Thank you so much for your help!

Oh no! I think Sally is right that you are doing the right thing. I don't know that I would be terribly worried about her sleeping a lot. She just needs to rest and recover from that ordeal. Someone else may very well know better though.

Thank you becca! I'll keep her monitored though. . .her breathing is a little heavy,not so much so as to say uneven. Is that okay?

Sorry for the double post, but it won't let me edit!

I just realized the my other Zebra Finch has slightly swollen eyes onher lower lid! I'm very scared, and slightly panicked. . .Why is this?! Please!

You do have your hands full don't you. You must check this web site...
Common Bird Injuries & First Aid.
It gives you quick tips and how to handle injuries and illnesses.
I hope the little guys are going to be ok. Keep us posted. There's always someone with great ideas here to help out.

The link won't let me click on it.
Thank you so much though, livinonprayer! I'm now googling the title and finding good sites!

Also the "swollen eye" turns out to be a droopy eye! why is her lower lid drooping severly on one side?

Alos the one that was attacked, she is always letting out her wing out, just letting it rest out. Does thta mean it is broken? Will I need to tape it? Or use splinters?

I am sorry to hear of what happened to your little birdie!!!
I unfortunately can't offer you much advice but I hope it all goes well.
They are pretty fragile little things but eating and moving around are good signs, don't know about the wing thing though. Make sure she has vitamins too.

Good Luck!!

I'm happy to report that her swollen eye wasn't really swollen, it was just a bit droopy. But today she looks a lot better, and her eye is no longer drooping!

I'm very sad to say that the zebra finch that was attacked, Grey, died this morning.

Thank you all so much for your kindess and helpful advice, I'm ever greatful,

-Geraldine

I'm so sorry about Grey, I really was hoping she would pull through. They are such fragile little things . I'm glad the other is doing better.

So sorry for your loss. Finches just don't stand much of a chance when they get into it with a hookbill. I was hoping that since she was eating and moving around a little, she would be OK.

Just read this thread. I'm so sorry, Geraldine! People ask all the time about deliberately mixing hookbills and finches - I think your story definitely supports keeping them separated! You even had them in separate cages and still ended up with a problem. Glad to hear that at least the girl with the bad eye is doing better, and know that you did everything you could for Grey.

Sorry for your unfortunate incident Geraldine-I'm sure it has been heart wrenching...queenb