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Loss of feathers, swollen crusty eye
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:58 pm
by love2catchtrout
Can anybody provide some advice on what is wrong with one of my Zebra finches? It started with some plucking on the back of the neck and then all of the sudden the eye looked like this. I searched the web for a while but couldn't be sure what it was or what to do about it. The finch is in a large aviary with 7 other finches. Thanks for the help!

Re: Loss of feathers, swollen crusty eye
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 2:05 pm
by Sally
It looks like this one is being seriously plucked by another bird. I would remove it to a smaller cage and provide warmth with a heat lamp. A heat lamp can be any small lamp with a 60w bulb directed at one end of the cage. Heat does more for sick/injured finches than almost anything else as an immediate fix.
You will also have to watch your other finches (are they all Zebras) to see if you can catch/see the aggressive one, which may need to be removed. Please keep us posted.
Re: Loss of feathers, swollen crusty eye
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 3:37 pm
by GrĂ¡inne Barrett
Follow Sally's advice, she's said it exactly.
Re: Loss of feathers, swollen crusty eye
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:23 pm
by Angela&Shalamar
Ouch poor birdie. It's hard to tell from the photo, but is the eye itself damaged. Keep an eye on it (no pun intended

) just in case it starts to show signs of infection. Darn zebras... I love them but they can be so difficult that's why I'm staying at one pair and my lone aggressive hen.
Re: Loss of feathers, swollen crusty eye
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:37 pm
by MiaCarter
Woah. That's not good.
Agreed with Sally. I'd remove her and let her heal up. I'd watch for infection in the eye.
I'd also look to see who's causing troubles. I would make sure you monitor the others to ensure they're okay.