FINCHforum

Hi. I recently got two finches and I'm new to owning finches. What I've noticed from their behavior so far is that the one closes both his eyes constantly. Is that normal? Both also seem to stay on the floor pecking the newspaper. Maybe they're looking for extra seeds on the floor?

Cammy77 do you know what sex they are ?

I don’t think it’s a good sign either if one is closing there eyes all the time unless if it’s only when he’s perching and having a sleep

The pecking at the newspaper is most likely that they are interested in nesting and are trying to rip it to make a nest


Add a picture if you can.

Thanks

I think they're both male but I'm not entirely sure

Cammy77 ok if you click post reply at the bottom of the page then scroll down it should say add file and you can select a photo from ur camera roll, just make sure it’s crppped down

Thank you.

Cammy77 oh so they are both males and they look fine from the picture if I’m being honest the left one actually looks overweight if it’s him closing the eyes a lot maybe he just gets tired quick

Well, closed eyes, on bottom of cage a lot, and fluffed up-to me, is not good. For more than 24 hours..even worse.

If you try to catch, is he slow or frisky? If slow, my experience is he is not feeling well. I would pick him up (I always calm then in my hand by stroking the head feathers back as if he were being groomed) and listen closely by putting the bird next to your ear. Listen for noise of any kind (not good) which would indicate breathing distress, possibly respiratory infection. If so, remove and place is sick cage with heat. I use a rolled up heating pad, or sometimes a ceramic heat lamp...with plenty of room for the bird to move away. If they are really sick, I will remove perches. Cover with towel. No drafts. Sometimes I will run my diffuser with eucalyptus or peppermint oil next to the cage. I can't say enough about sovereign silver...i put a few drops in water source, if really sick, a drop on beak (away from holes).

Medication is the last resort.

There are plenty of opinions on treatment, this is only what I would do. The key is to move fast. His response to heat will tell you a lot.

Hope none of the above is necessary and he bounces back. Isolation will limit transmission of anything to your other bird.

The one on the left looks like an English Zebra to me. They are quite a bit bigger and I have heard that they are not as active, so that may be why he seems to sleep more.

He is quite slow compared to the other one. He likes to sit in the seed bowl. Which I find that cute. I hope he's healthy though..

Little update: I listened to the big ones breathing and he sounded like a cat purring very softly as well as breathing very fast, probably because he was scared and had a small panic attack there. When I put him down he layed in my hand for a minute because he couldn't move, then he got off and back on his perch.

How's he doing? Same?

Cammy77 I think he’s just a really lazy finch I took care of my grandmas finches when she became ill and when I let them out to fly they got tired rapidly and would just sit in my hand panting but with time they are now in my aviary

He's been the same. I hope him being fat is nothing too serious.

Cammy77 I don’t think it is I think it’s just due to genetics it is actually something many breeders like because they look like expedition zebras

Does this look right?