FINCHforum

I have a zebra that was hurt between his neck and top of his feather and it looked like he had a bloodly quill. Then the entire wind got red but then seemed to heal. Now he had picked himself to bloodly you know what and just is sitting in the bottom of the cage with his eyes closed. I notice he is picking either at the blood to try to clean it or something but not sure what to do at this point. Can I spray him with some water to clean it up and put some neosporin on the open wound area. Will that hurt him to get it in his mouth?
PS... he got in a fight with my other finch, that is how he got hurt, no mites.

thanks all..

The first thing you need to do is remove him and GENTLY clean the wound so you can see how severe it is. It may require veterinary attention. If it's small enough and not bleeding you can just leave it. If it is still bleeding you have to get the bleeding to stop (quikstop or something equivalent). Birds don't have much blood to loose before they die. If it has stopped bleeding, after you have determined that it is a small wound, place him in a small hospital cage with a heatlamp and a dish of food & water on the ground. You don't want him flying around much at all. That may open the wound again. Keep us posted and good luck.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare ... =bellsouth

Here are two pictures of him, not looking very good.

Cannot see the pics. If he still looks bad - you may want to take him to a vet... I'm sorry.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare ... =bellsouth

this link should work

I could see the first photo, but have to join snapfish to see the second. All you can do at this point is either take the bird to an avian vet, if you have one nearby, or keep him comfortable. Is he eating and drinking? If he has made it thru the night, that is a good sign. Keep the heat lamp on him, put food and water dishes on the floor so he doesn't have to fly, and wait it out.

Join Photobucket Malzmom...it's free and easier if you like placing pictures.

Here's the link telling how to post pics right within your message. It's easy and then everyone can view your photos right here.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4554

I did post the pictures here under Heath concerns. Bloody Wing.
Hopefully you will be able to see them.

How important is the heat lamp? I live in S. Florida and it is about 85 here and warm where he is on the lanai.

The heat from a lamp is very important he will feel better with it

I agree with Bill, any time they are sick or injured, heat seems to be one of the best things we can do for them. Put the heat lamp at one end of the cage, so he can get under the lamp if he wants, but can get away from it if it gets too warm. I did go to the gallery and saw both pics. It looks like the blood has coagulated, so now it will just take time. I would offer eggfood, millet spray, or anything else that will get him to eat, he needs to keep up his strength.

Just curious, who did this to him?

Malzmom wrote:I did post the pictures here under Heath concerns. Bloody Wing.
Hopefully you will be able to see them.

I don't see that thread.

I had two finches, I think they got into one day. Then about three days later one was dead and this guy had a bloody stain on his wing. It did get better but then it just got like this. He keeps picking at it so either to clean it up or make it worse, not sure.

I put some neosporin on it last night, can I continue to do that.

One thing I am leaving for Easter for two days, i will have a friend come over and check on the birds. I can pick up a heat lamp and put it on a timer I guess.

If you have just the one bird in a cage, you don't even have to have a heat lamp, you could just use a regular incandescent bulb, either in a gooseneck lamp placed next to the cage, or one of those cone-shaped clamp lamps. And I would leave it on 24/7. He may be trying to clean himself up--if you can wet a cloth and try to get some of that dried blood off him. I wonder about a bath dish, with warm water in it. I have never had one this injured, so can't say from experience, but if he really wants to get cleaned up, he may get in a bath dish.

What kind of finch was the other one? Another Zebra male? That's some serious aggression, and you probably need to figure out why before you would put another bird back in with this one.

You asked about the neosporin. I think it would be OK, as I have used it when I am putting closed bands on fledglings, to help slide the band on, and have had no problems with it.

Liz, the photos are in the gallery, under Health.

I don't think you need to buy a heat lamp,just a regular lamp bulb would work or better yet get a red 60watt reptile bulb and leave on day and night for a few days ,he can still sleep with the red bulbs.