FINCHforum

A few days ago, I found my blue-capped cordon bleu hen dead on the bottom of the cage. I have no idea what happened. She was housed in a mixed flight with two red throated parrot finches, a few gouldians, and her own mate. I hadn't noticed any issues, other than she seemed a lot more vocal once I moved her to that flight. She was always peeping and calling out, but I never noticed anyone picking at her or chasing her. I'm starting to wonder if maybe she wasn't eating, but I think she was possibly stressed from being in there and I didn't realize it. I just wasn't familiar enough with the species to know if her calls were normal or from stress. Anyway, it was very shocking and sad The male seems to be doing great, so I guess I'll begin the search for another female for him.

slwatson

Stacie, Im so sorry for your loss. Did you check her body to see if she was very thin? Possibly keep an eye on the others to make sure there isn't an illness in the cage.

So sorry to hear this. I agree with Babs, did you check her breastbone to see if she had gotten thin. I wonder if she could have been egg bound and just went so fast that you had no chance to see it. The other thing I wonder about is if the activity of the Red-throated Parrot finches could have upset her? I will say that I once had a pair of Red-throated Parrot finches in a flight with a lone Green-backed Twinspot male. I found the GBT dead one morning, obviously plucked/beaten to death, so the Parrot finches were at fault. I can only assume that they were in breeding mode and became aggressive due to the third bird being with them.

So sorry

Babs@Sally

I did check the body and the breast bone did appear a little thin, but I wasn't sure if that was from the body drying out after she died. The scary thing is...I do have a male gouldian that's in a hospital cage right now who was in that same flight, and he was showing signs of either a respiratory infection or air sac mites. He's doing great now...I gave him enrotex and scat just in case, but he had been scatted before. Everyone else in the cage looks fine.

Sorry to hear about your loss. It's always upsetting especially when you don't know the cause.

slwatson

Sad news Stacie.
I just very recently lost my Yellow headed Star hen overnight (again for unknown reasons ).

So sorry.

slwatson
So sorry to hear your news. Hope you can find another hen for your male. Good luck!

slwatson

So sorry for your loss ...hope the male gets a good partner.

lovezebs

I'm sorry you lost your yellow headed star hen....I just wish I knew the cause, so I could watch out for it with my other birds.

Sorry to hear, Stacie. Lost a gouldian hen within 24 hours, still don't know what happened. It's so frustrating when you don't have an answer!

slwatson

Anyway the other finches in the cage could be blocking them from being able to feed? I've only heard parrot finches can have a bit of an attitude when breeding. Possibly they were hoarding/guarding the food dishes?

Babs

I've never seen that behavior in my PF's.
The males, are randy rascals, chasing the females endlessly, but have never seen them interfering with any other species.

lovezebs

Elana I am sorry you lost star-girl.

Babs

Thanks Babs,

There is a post about my little Sunny.