I'm breeding my little finches and as you know I have had a few hiccups that is nothing major or worrying however when my best male starts to look poorly I have to stand up and take notice to maybe intervene for his life maybe in jeopardy.
What it is, is yesterday I witnessed he was wobbling his head. I would approach the cage and he'd snap out of it and hop around around and then end up back in his nest. Afterwards he'd come out again, eat and then pause sitting on a perch and start wobbling his head again. He's doing this a lot.
His crop appears very very full. He's generally messy but so is the hen because they are feeding 5 chicks. He eats, often, drinks as usual but his crop area is bulging and the main thing is he's fluffed and wobbles his head with his eyes half to fully closed. It's not neurological, it's like he has something literally stuck in his throat and is trying to shift it.
Considerations -
- I have bred him before and had no issues.
- Diet is varied to include egg, veggies, vitamin supplements, grit, seed and water.
- Hen is ok.
- The pair are in their own cage.
- Only been doing this for about 24 hours
I captured an example of him doing it but he's shy of my phone so it's been hard. He does sit on a perch and carry on for much longer normally.
By the way. I keep a lot of birds in the same room, so it's a noisy audio. You can turn it down or even mute it as the he's not making any sounds when he does this.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DETcRxu_Cuo
I thought I should remove him to a hospital cage and immediately rest him. Let him relax and stop having to feed young. But that leaves the hen alone with 5 young chicks. He's a lovely bird, my first cock zebra and I dont want to risk his health. What are your thoughts Zebra specialists.....
