Zebra Finch staying still / Lethargic - sick?

[Leliana314]

Hi all,

I have a pair of female Zebra finches (Leliana and Arya). They're about two years old, and live in their cage (indoors only). For the last week, Leliana has been very lethargic - sitting on the lower perch near the side of the cage, and not moving very often (except to eat).

A few nights ago, when I was about to cover them for the night, I saw the pair of them sitting on top of their nest. Leliana was rocking back and forth.

Earlier today, I was putting a new cuttlebone inside the cage when Leliana slipped out. She fluttered straight to the floor, and didn't move even when the cat came over. I grabbed the cat before it could touch her, but it's made me extremely worried that she didn't even try to escape the cat.

She hasn't been on the floor of the cage, and she hasn't looked puffed up, so I don't think that she's eggbound. What could be the problem?

[Sally]

The first thing I do with any bird that appears ill is to give them a heat lamp. This can be as simple as a gooseneck desk lamp or small lamp with a 60w bulb aimed at one perch in the cage. When they are sick, they are spending their energy trying to get better, not in keeping themselves warm, and heat can make a huge difference.

The other thing I do with any hen is suspect egg binding, even if she hasn't been breeding. I administer a drop of liquid calcium to one side of the beak. Along with the heat, I add some humidity (a damp towel draped over the other end of the cage from the lamp).

Tomrrow, check her droppings to see if they look normal or very different. Is her vent soiled? Has she been eating and drinking as usual?

[Leliana314]

Her vent looks a little wet, but otherwise normal. Her droppings look a little wetter than usual, but not discolored.

She is eating and drinking normally. (It's pretty much the only time she moves.)

If it weren't for the incident with the cat, I'd think that she might be healthy but just lethargic.

I'll try getting some liquid calcium for her today.

[Leliana314]

I took her to the vet and she got an X-ray. It turns out that she's not egg bound, so that's good. We got some antibiotics for her, so hopefully those help.