FINCHforum

I went into my bird room today to find an uneasy looking owl finch.

It is slightly fluffed up, and looks clumsy. It is willing to fly, but it just kind of hangs out when I get close. I was able to reach in the flight and grab her to put her in the hospital cage. She is drinking a lot. Like right after I moved her to the hospital cage and placed water in there, she took five long gulps and keeps coming back for more little sips. She is sitting in front of a light now.

I'm wondering, there was a really bad night fright in that room last night. Could she have injured herself? Also, since moving my owls into the flights, I haven't noticed their water tubes doing down much. They had tubes at the breeder's, but I used dishes during quarantine. Could she just be having trouble finding the water tubes in the flight?

I would leave dishes in the flight till you are sure all the birds are drinking from your tubes.
Is the owl showing an improvement since you moved it to the hospital cage and it's been drinking? If so then maybe it has not found your water tubes yet, if not maybe it did injure it's self during night fright.
good luck

debbie276 wrote: I would leave dishes in the flight till you are sure all the birds are drinking from your tubes.
Is the owl showing an improvement since you moved it to the hospital cage and it's been drinking? If so then maybe it has not found your water tubes yet, if not maybe it did injure it's self during night fright.
good luck

Since being in the hospital cage, she seems to be a bit more active. She hops around the floor and then goes back to resting. She'll even hop/ fly to different cage sides. Her poop looks fairly normal, maybe a tiny bit runny.

I agree with Debbie...leave both a water dish/cup in the cage along with the water tube...they need to get use to your set up. Hope she does well for you, it sounds like she was very thirsty.

cindy wrote: I agree with Debbie...leave both a water dish/cup in the cage along with the water tube...they need to get use to your set up. Hope she does well for you, it sounds like she was very thirsty.

Thanks. I placed some water dishes in both owl flights. The pair in the other flight went right for the water dish to drink and bathe.

My only concern with the one in the hospital cage is that she seems to hop around, then goes right back and naps in front of the light.

Owls are somewhat delicate and do nap during the day. she is also adjusting and may be a bit stressed. You could put her back with her friends if she appears to be alright but just napping, add a heat lamp near where she likes to sit. Just watch and make sure she is eating, I use a seed hopper and another flat plant dish for seed and pellets. Is she eating?

In my owl/bourke aviary I have both water tubes and a big plant dish for them to bathe and drink from and another smaller bowl. I change it out with fresh water during the day. They love their baths!!

cindy wrote: Owls are somewhat delicate and do nap during the day. she is also adjusting and may be a bit stressed. You could put her back with her friends if she appears to be alright but just napping, add a heat lamp near where she likes to sit. Just watch and make sure she is eating, I use a seed hopper and another flat plant dish for seed and pellets. Is she eating?

In my owl/bourke aviary I have both water tubes and a big plant dish for them to bathe and drink from and another smaller bowl. I change it out with fresh water during the day. They love their baths!!

I haven't seen her eat yet. She is sorta flailing around the cage right now. Active, yet erratic and clumsy. I'm going to at least keep her separated overnight to keep an eye on her. I like your idea of the multiple dishes Cindy. I'm going to get a few more tonight.

leave the heat on her 24/7 for now and if you have millet try some of that also...put a seed dish down near the water, maybe some eggfood.

She seems to have gotten worse suddenly. She flops around on the floor or gets deathly still at the bottom of the cage.

She just died.

oh, so very sorry, perhaps she became disoriented in the night and injured herself.

Are the others alright, do you leave a night light on for them?

cindy wrote: oh, so very sorry, perhaps she became disoriented in the night and injured herself.

Are the others alright, do you leave a night light on for them?

The others are just fine. All are happy and hopping around. I have a nightlight for them, but there still are occasional night frights.

Oh - so very sorry to hear you lost her.

So very sorry for your loss

I am a true believer in those 'Rope Lights' on top of the cage/aviary. Or, down the sides if on top won't work out. They put out just enough light to see, but does not disturb their sleep.

Have not had 'night frights' since I started using them.

I have them on timers to come on when the overhead daytime lights go off.