Adjusting to new home- Quarantine & Climate Change

[xdartfrogx]

I never really thought about this before, and I figure it's a question worth asking. When a new zebra finch is brought home and put into quarantine, should it be given any additional supplements, other than food, water and fresh treats? Another thing I realized is that our home gets very warm during the summer (flat roof house). Is there anything that can be administered to help offset the stress of the climate differing throughout the coming days and months, especially to new birds?

[Sally]

I like to give new birds NV powder in their water for at least a few days, it is a supplement designed for stress, and I believe it helps get them through those first few days. There are other brands out there as well, just look for one that is designed to help with stressful situations. If you use tube waterers, I would place a dish of water in the cage. Not all birds know what a tube waterer is and may take a few days to figure it out. Every bird can figure out a dish of water.

I wouldn't worry about the temperature. Most finches adjust to heat better than cold. And even with the cold, as long as they have time to adapt to colder temps, it is wet and drafty conditions that are bad in winter.

[xdartfrogx]

Sally, is there anything I could make at home in the meantime? I see NV powder is not available locally. I would have to order it and wait for it. Also, I'm noticing one of my male zebbies being poofed up today (my grey pied crested), as well as the female zeb x society hybrid. I have noticed my two males take a nap mid-day, but he just seems lazier than usual. The female & male in question are in separate enclosures, separate rooms. Not seeing anything on either of their vents. The hybrid was on a zupreem only diet from previous owner, I offered her some seed for the last 2 days. Male zeb on normal seed/greens diet. The zupreem poops are impossible to tell if there is an issue as they are colored already Not seeing anything unusual with males' droppings. The temps inside our home have been hoovering in the 80's all day yesterday and today. Should I be concerned? Maybe offer boiled and blended eggfood first thing tomorrow morning?

[Sally]

Here is a link to a homemade electrolyte recipe that debbie276 gave to the forum: http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18044 And you can order NV powder from www.ladygouldianfinch.com, since they are also in CA, shouldn't take too long to get it.

Temps in the 80's should be no problem at all. Eggfood is always a good treat for them.

[MiaCarter]

Agreed.
I'd make a homemade electrolyte formula or you can do unflavored Pedialyte.

Egg food is always great. I feed it daily, especially for new birds, as it's packed with good nutrients. (Though some can't feed it daily in the long term as high protein diets can trigger chronic egg laying. That's not a problem for my current birds, so we do egg food daily, but others find it's best to do 3-4 times a week. But daily in the short term can only help.)


I'd also do a good quality multivitamin since there's a good chance they came from a seed-only diet or a not-so-fabulously balanced diet. For females, I'll also do a 2-week course of Calcium Plus as you don't know how their calcium levels are and you don't want to run into a problem with egg binding. If you don't have Calcium Plus, you can boost calcium intake by scraping a light layer of cuttle bone over the egg food (plus egg food contains calcium and D3).

The couple cases of egg binding I've experienced involved females who were new to me. One came from a situation of neglect and overbreeding; the other had a poor all-seed diet. So maybe I'm overly cautious in this regard, but better to be safe than sorry.


I've noticed that when it gets hot, my guys seem more lethargic and nappy. So that could be due to the heat, especially if they're not accustomed to it.

Stress taxes your body, it makes you feel more tired, so that could be a contributor too. (Ever notice after a super stressful experience, you feel dead tired?)

In cases where I've had super stressed birds (new to me and usually unwell, fresh out of a bad situation or suffering from an illness/physical issue) who get visibly nappy and clearly appear stressed, I'll do a nap time during the afternoon for 60-90 minutes. (My bird room is an inner room without windows). It was something my vet suggested and it really helps. Sleep is like a reset button. Stress can be cumulative throughout the day. In some larger birds with serious psych issues, you can clearly see this as they get naughtier and more stressed throughout the day. A nap gives them a chance to relax and de-stress for a bit. All social interactions are on hold too, so they get a break from that too. (Good if there's a new cagemate.)