Finch born without eyes

[Rhenderson]

I have a grey finch that was born without eyes. He stays at the bottom of the cage and the parents still feed him
I am not sure what to do. If the parents stop feeding him how can I feed him.

[Sally]

How old is this baby? Has he fledged? Birds can handle many handicaps, but not being able to see would be extremely difficult. As far as handfeeding, here are several articles on handfeeding:

http://www.finchinfo.com/breeding/handfeeding.php
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12441

If this baby is either fed until weaning or handfed by you, the only thing you can do is try to set up a small handicap cage for it, with easily accessible water and feed. Personally, with no eyes, I can't imagine any possible life, as how will it fly around a cage without banging into the sides?

Welcome to the forum, though it is under difficult circumstances. There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to answer locale-specific questions later on.

[Rhenderson]

He rarely tries to fly but when he does flies straight up and down again. He is fledged out and his nest mates are about ready to go in there own cage. I just don't think he will ever have a very happy life sitting on the bottom of a cage waiting for one his parents to feed him. This is a terrible question but what how can I put him down humanely? I feel so sorry for him.

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

Not sure how helpful my story is but I have a clear red factor canary that came to me (for free) as part of a package deal with only one eye. In my open aviary he would gain altitude by flying in an upward spiral to get where he wanted to go. He has show-quality form and great color...and he actually sired 6 babies before going blind the other eye a few years ago.

Anyway, when he was completely blind, rather than putting him down as others suggested, I named him Stevie-Ray and set him up with his own "apartment" near my computer work station. His space has low perches and three identical porcelain dishes for food, veggies and bath water. I can tell that he still has a happy life because he gets around his apartment pretty well and often breaks into beautiful songs - particularly when I play his favorite tunes. Sometimes I hear him singing after 10:pm (because he can't really tell day from night). He's an older bird now but he still becomes very active when he senses I'm in the room or when I have other birds in a quarantine flight close by. Of my 200 birds he's my favorite and lately I'm wondering if he can be trained for closer encounters like eating treats from my hand or perching with no cage near my work station.

So I know this is a hard decision for you. It takes some creativity and a time commitment to provide some sort of life for a handicapped bird like this.

To answer your specific question about humanly euthanizing a pet bird...When I have an irreversible health problem that I know I can't fix and the bird obviously has no life, I take some paper towels and use a quick snip with a pair of scissors to end it all very fast. I'm sure others have humane ways to do this as well but for me, I need it to be over quickly in order to control my own sadness over the event. My precious bird is then carefully wrapped in white and respectfully, sometimes tearfully buried in my garden.

I know this is a hard decision for you.
Best wishes from all of us who care for these little treasures.
Paul

[monotwine]

Shame sorry for your situation. Others have given good answers.

I too euthanase (or my hubby does for me) by quickly snipping off their necks. Gruesome, but honestly the quickest. You need very sharp scissors and the birds neck needs to be held firm (slightly stretched out but not uncomfortable for birdy). This enables you to do the deed without causing unnecessary injury before decapitation.

However putting him/her down may not be entirely necessary. Why not see how it survives and if it can handle its handicap. You will just need to provide a constant unchanging environment for it. I've also had handicapped / sight impaired birds (not entirely blind though). They get around well enough but in truth never live as long as others.

Also you should consider the cause of this blindness. Do you have Zebra finches? You say only a grey finch. Some of the Zebra finch mutations when crossed do produce blind offspring. Perhaps consider not letting this pair breed again.

[delray]

Rhenderson So sorry you have to do through this! I too believe that every creature deserves a chance.. I think that what Paul did is a great way to give him/her a great life! Low perches and very accessible food. It's worth a try. Best of luck.

Welcome to the FINCHforum! I am the tech assistant and social media manager here. Please let me know if you have any questions, bird related or tech related. I am here to help!

Brian

[finchman]

I'm so sorry for your situation. A less gruesome way to euthanize could be a box with some sort of tube attached. Run the tube into the end of a vehicle tailpipe and into the box. Start the vehicle, let it run for several minutes. and the carbon dioxide would quietly put it to sleep. I know of pigeon racers who would cull birds like this. Either way a very sad situation.

[finchman]

Carbon Monoxide, not Dioxide

[paul-inAZ]

Carbon dioxide is also an approved and painless method of euthanasia for small animals.
It can be generated at home with baking soda and vinegar and an enclosed container.
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/index.php

The illustrated apparatus can be simplified further by using a sealed container and putting the baking soda/vinegar mix into a cup or glass that the bird can't get into.

[Rhenderson]

Thank you all for such great advise. I am going to try to set him up with his own apartment and see if I can make him comfortable and happy.
I will keep you all updated on how he is doing.
Thanks again you are awesome!!!!

[Sally]

Paul's Amazing Birds What an inspiring story, and so encouraging for those faced with a similar situation. Your canary is a very lucky fellow!

[tam]

I say give him a chance. good luck