FINCHforum

I'm new to finches, and I've had three society finches (one male and two females) for a little over two weeks. One male and female have always been active, building nests, chirping, etc. since I got them. The other female has always been more timid, and while she has participated in building nests, her contribution has been significantly less than the other two. She's always been a bit less active it seems.

For the last few days I've noticed that she is very inactive and lethargic, esp. compared to the other two birds. She just sits on a perch most of the time and seems to be very tired, leaning lower and lower towards the perch as if she might fall off any second. Sometimes she closes her eyes like she's asleep. I saw her eating some yesterday, and she seems to be eating and drinking at least some still today.

During her first week here, I saw her mate with the male every day, and I even saw them mate this morning. Her vent now looks very odd compared to the other birds; it looks swollen, and she seems to be breathing rapidly. She isn't chirping or making any noises today.

So is she sick? Is she about to lay an egg? Is she egg bound? I'm so new to finches that I have no idea if this is normal for her or if I should be concerned.

Thanks for any advice!

Hallie

hfinney not to worry u but I think she is I’ve only ever had one egg bound but she finally passed it about two days after
if she bred a week ago she can only be two days over as it takes five days after to lay an egg since breeding give her loads of calcium and better food and get some info of the other members luckily she will be fine m, what’s her age

What’s the male been like has he built her a nest expecting eggs hope goes well anyway

hfinney

Hi Hallie,

If your girl IS egg bound, you do need to be worried! This is a killer among female birds,

Offer liquid calcium to the corner of her beak immediately, and repeat every two to three hours.

Place her in a small hospital cage in a wash room with the door closed, and run some hot water to get the room steamy.

You can even hold her bottom over a bowl of hot water (not boiling water!).

Keep her in the steamy bathroom, and place a warm lamp over her (goose neck lamp with a 40 or 60 bulb will do). Also cover part of the cage, to offer a shaded area in case she gets too warm.

Good luck.

Hens can hold sperm for two weeks... dosing rate for liquid calcium...

schedule for liquid calcium 1 drop first hour
1 drop second hour (noticed an improvement) Then 1 drop 3rd hour.
Then give 2 drop 2hrs later at least get 3/4 drops into the bird first day if you can

Heat lamp at least 80 degrees in one area of the cage for her to go to.

issue with steaming a bird is you run the risk of chilling the bird if not under heat... chilling will cause the muscles to constrict. Dry warm heat is the best according to my avian vet.


are you positive she is egg bound, remove her from the cage to give the liquid calcium to the side of the beak, do not force the beak open...the drop will slide in. Check the belly to see it the egg is down low... if not egg the other possibilities are the egg is higher up or illness.