FINCHforum

I wrote yesterday because my baby zebra had no food in it's crop. The parents are again feeding him/her after electrolytes and hand feeding a little. He does not stand up on his feet, or fly at all. I've been putting him onto a perch at a slight angle with my hand under him because his feet didn't seem to grip at all. I thought he was paralyzed. He wasn't moving them. I did this to force him to grip to hold on. Now he can grip better but will not push up to a standing position and stays on the floor of the cage hopping around on his belly. (At least he's hopping since the exercise). He only flapped his wings as I did this exercise as he felt he might fall off the perch (hoping he would also exercise them). I noticed he is lazy with them. If one wing opens, he doesn't try to pull it back in. Another baby in the females lineage had the same problem with her feet a few years ago but died in an accident. Different father. Any ideas to help him?

Poor little guy...I wonder if it is something genetic, since both finches had the same mom. The only advice I have is to be sure he is being fed, otherwise supplement with formula. Also keep foods/water low as he weans and learns to eat/drink on his own...Good luck to you both.

You can try continuing to exercise him and just hope. I think I'd stop breeding mom this sounds like a congenital problem of some sort. Are they getting enough protein and calcium/phosphorus in their diet? Are there other chicks in the clutch if so how are they doing?

The mom of this baby was kicked out of the nest by her mother and I found her pretty cold on the bottom of her nest. I put her back...booted again. So I put her with my 9 year old who never hatched any babies. She raised her and she was always a runt...very small. I never thought she would be able to be a mamma. I got her a mate when I finally separated her when the mom got an eye infection (a perpetual problem that never seems to be contagious, but just in case). I was surprised to see a baby. They hid the egg under shredded paper...only laid one. I will watch to make sure they don't have any more. I do think it's genetic also. Thanks! I will keep water on a saucer for him/her, food down low, watch that they keep feeding him (keep wanting to call it a him) and work with him to exercise him. They have a very good diet, protein, a great seed, and a lot of dried greens (I love https://ladygouldian.com/Herb-Salad, and also her dried parsley flakes) If anyone has any other tricks that worked I'd love to hear them!

Checked the baby over really well tonight and worked with him, exercising his legs. His one foot actually does very well. He lifted himself up on it, grips my pinky. The other foot, nothing! It's pulled up and curled and he winces when I try to touch it. I'm not sure if it may be hurt. I'm hoping now that it's not the hereditary issue I believed it was if one foot extends normally. I lowered the nest and perches. Maybe the first time he came out of the nest he fell and hurt it. It is a pretty tall cage. Here's hoping anyway! Time will tell. He's eating well and very animated. That's a big change from last night. Just very grateful he's alive right now.