FINCHforum

I think my male zebra finch is rather old and that is what is causing him to look unwell. He's usually fluffed up with eyes half closed and just sits in one place a lot wheras the other finches are flying around beeping and totally alert and carrying nest material around etc. So what should I do with this male? I have a carry cage I can put him in if that would be best for him. As I notice he gets attacked a little, but not much. And his mate won't stop laying eggs and of course he helps incubate and I feel raising more babies would be the worse thing for him, yet if the female keep laying eggs consistently then I fear she'll get egg bound as finches are not meant to lay excessive amounts of eggs. They're only meant to a lay a certain amount and then hatch them. Anyway I'm a bit stuck here so any advice is much appreciated. Thanks!

Flight Feathers

Do you know how old he is?

You could place him in a hospital cage, with a warm lamp over him, and his favorite foods readily available to him. See if a bit of r&r will perk him up.

Does he by any chance have a metal ring in sometimes these have the year they was born on aswell as the month

lovezebs wrote: Flight Feathers

Do you know how old he is?

You could place him in a hospital cage, with a warm lamp over him, and his favorite foods readily available to him. See if a bit of r&r will perk him up.

I have no idea how old he is but I think he is at least over 2 ?? He hasn't got a ring sadly For now I have him a cage with two of his sons (think they're both boys) and he's still the same (fluffed up half asleep...) Do you think it was raising babies that's made him like this? The female seems fine and she's raised tons more babies than him.

Just over two years is not old. He could have a bacterial infection and there are so many other things that match those symptoms. If you had a trusted, competent avian vet, I would say take him there. Though, I have not had much good luck with them lately. Otherwise keep him safe and comfortable. Be sure the other birds don't pick on him. Hopefully he will get through this on his own.

Raising babies would not have caused this.

wildbird wrote: Just over two years is not old. He could have a bacterial infection and there are so many other things that match those symptoms. If you had a trusted, competent avian vet, I would say take him there. Though, I have not had much good luck with them lately. Otherwise keep him safe and comfortable. Be sure the other birds don't pick on him. Hopefully he will get through this on his own.

Well he actually may be 3,4, or 5 but I really don't know. If I get a chance to talk to his previous owners I'll definitely ask them how old he is. I know all their other finches died... Thinking they died of old age.

I'm pretty sure we don't have an avian vet here sorry.

The symptoms have come on somewhat gradually. Like he's seemed more tired out than the other finches for some time and he's gradually gotten more tired which is why I think it to be old age.

wildbird wrote: Raising babies would not have caused this.

So it wouldn't have tired him out if he is an old bird?

Thank you for all your help!