FINCHforum

A couple of days ago i walked out to my aviary and saw a zebra sitting on the garden wall. She must have escaped someone elses aviary and was attracted to my birds in my aviary.
It was starting to get dark and with the weather we've been having here lately i knew she wouldn't survive the night. So i grabbed my net and patiently inched closer until i was within striking distance. This is where everything went wrong. She took off from the wall and i just managed to catch her in the net, but she somehow slipped out. So instinctively i swiped the net again, but hit her with the rim and she smacked onto the floor unconsious. This all happened in about 3 seconds.
She stayed unconsious for about an hour. I gave her heat and put her in dark, quiet place. Now she seems to be recovering. Shes eating and drinking, and bounces around the cage like any normal bird but she wobbles a bit on the perches. When she sleeps, she cant keep her head still, it seems to fall to one side then jerks back again continuously. I think i may have caused some kind of damage.
Any advice on what i should do would be greatly appreciated. I feel so terrible and have made myself sick with guilt.

What rotten luck...for both of you.Not much you can do,at least she's eating ok.Might be brain damage or the inner ear with balance problems...who's to know. Good luck...and don't feel too bad...you did your best.
Paul.

Thanks Paul. She seems to be better today, not shaking her head as much. I'll just have to wait and see how she goes.

She probably had a ringing in her ear after the whack, I can't see any serious damage if she is eating normally. My wife will sometimes give me a whack if I have too many beers and I will behave the same for a day or two afterwards.

Well done for catching her in the first place, if you hadnt she would have died anyway.
I accidentally let my finches go back in March and didnt manage to catch any of them, even the one female that sat on the top of the avery for two days trying to get back in. I always wonder how long the poor things would have lasted before they died and I feel so terrible about it.

Geordie wrote:She probably had a ringing in her ear after the whack, I can't see any serious damage if she is eating normally. My wife will sometimes give me a whack if I have too many beers and I will behave the same for a day or two afterwards.

Thanks guys. She does seem much better now and i havn't seen her wobble lately.

whitecharmer Well it sounds like she is doing fine,you must have done the right things for her good job