FINCHforum

I don't really know what's wrong with him, he was fine yesterday! He's been with me for almost a year and lives with another male Zebra and both of them have accepted each other as cagemates. This little fella I named Cocoa hasn't been picked on for a long time.
I went to the cage to give them food and water and I noticed both of them sitting in the food cup, which is something only one does at a time. Bean, the other one, flew away but cocoa remained laying in it. His eyes are closed but open occasionally when he moves in small hops. He keeps making a small popping noise as he tilts his head back slightly. He resists sliding from one side of the cup to the other slightly but for the most part is just laying in the cup and popping. He's moving so little that I took the cup out of the cage and I have him sitting next to me and he didn't move when I pet him.
Bean is seemingly fine and is jumping around the cage looking for cocoa.
Please help me, I know it's not much information, but nothing seems to be externally wrong with him but he seems like he's dying.

willertac

I'm so sorry to hear that your little guy is not doing well.
Personally, I would offer him some heat, like a lamp over the area where he chooses to sit. If nothing else, then it offers comfort. Make sure he has food and water nearby.

He might have injured himself somehow....

Good luck

When you say he's making a popping noise do you see him struggling to breath? Does it sound wet?
It may be time to find an avian vet if it is a respiratory infection.

good luck

my thought as well, something upper respiratory... if a wet breath sound it could be either infection (bacterial or fungal) or possibly heart related.

Is the bird thin feeling in your hand, light with a sharp keel (like a sharp "V")?

I come with unfortunate news of his passing only shortly after I had written the first post. Whatever it was I was too late. But thank you all for your input to the matter.

willertac

I'm so sorry.

willertac

Oh Hun, Im sorry as well.

So sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, our finches are so good at hiding illness that by the time they look sick, they are really quite ill and often beyond saving.

So very sorry for your loss
I would watch Bean closely for signs of trouble for a while, just in case.

Thank you, everyone. I got a new female to keep him company, but both are in separate cages so I can observe them.

Congratulations and best of luck