FINCHforum

My zebra finches have been fighting and the female has been hurt by the male. Her feathers have been plucked and she has some pink fleshy spots. She's been lying in the food dish breating heavily making her go up and down. The male is fine but sometimes chases her away. I put something in the water that gives them essential vitamins but they wont drink it and the female wont leave the food bowl. She lays eggs in the food bowl so maybe shes doing that. She's eating thankfully.

I'd get them separately as soon as you can. If he is plucking her that badly, she needs to be away from him. If they won't drink the water with vitamins in it, I'd give them plain water, drinking water is more important than giving them vitamins. I'd put a heat lamp on her (can be as simple as a 60w bulb in a gooseneck desk lamp) on one end of the cage, so that she can get the benefits of the warmth yet move away if it is too warm.

I'm tired and everybody in my household is asleep and I have nowhere to put the male bully. I'm going to bed. When I wake up I'll give her the heat lamp and see what I can do about the aggressive finch as well as give them new water. My female is acting better now and they're not fighting however they both start squawking and chasing eachother as well as start pecking the other birds beak.

They should be quiet for the night (don't know where you are exactly, but I'm assuming it is late, since everyone is asleep). Hopefully, things will have calmed down by morning, but you will have to keep a close eye on him, don't let him beat her up.

I've been doing that all day. I'm scared to death and I'm locating some avian vets. I think im going ti have to get a smaller cage as a temporary holding facility for the aggressive finch. It won't be too small but its not a flight cage and its cheap.

Ryan722 wrote: I've been doing that all day. I'm scared to death and I'm locating some avian vets. I think im going ti have to get a smaller cage as a temporary holding facility for the aggressive finch. It won't be too small but its not a flight cage and its cheap.

Hi mate,

Take note of what Sally says as she's absolutely right,

I'd personally separate them asap, any std cage will suffice and she'll eventually feel safer and perk herself back up again

I agree with both Sally and Stuart. Zebras can be aggressive ones during breeding. Heat will be good for the hen. Poor girl. Sometime the males settle down once the eggs are laid and the hen is incubating.

If he bloodied her you can clean the area off with some Hibicleans (drug store) it contains chlorhexidine. It will keep the staph and bacteria at bay. Dilute it 1 tablespoon to one gallon of water. You can make smaller batches of course. Do not get this near her eyes though.

Thanks a lot guys! My dad is at work but will get a new cage as soon as his lunch break starts. My female has a heat lamp in the main cage. Here's a picture: https://imgur.com/td9VaVh

As you can see the injury doesn't look to bad but when she expands her feathers and starts preening it looks bad.

Ryan722 wrote: Thanks a lot guys! My dad is at work but will get a new cage as soon as his lunch break starts. My female has a heat lamp in the main cage. Here's a picture: https://imgur.com/td9VaVh

As you can see the injury doesn't look to bad but when she expands her feathers and starts preening it looks bad.

Poor little hen, hope she'll be ok, she should be once separated,

She'll be like that for a while but don't worry yourself to much because once she goes through through the moult she should look a lot better