FINCHforum

Okay, so this lady has some finches for sale. I go to her home, and she has to very nice looking zebras and something that looks like a ball of feathers in the bottom of the cage. I take all three. I've separated the sick one, treated her with mite spray, antibotics, heat light and such. She seem healthy, eating well, moving and very vocal. Her wings at raw stubs. There is not feathers left on either, just the feather stem. But the thumb portion ( don't know what it's called off the top of my head) is red, and raw. MY question is, is there anything else i can do for her? I'll see if i can get a picture up.

any advice would be helpful.

You really have taken on a problem. Is the sick one a baby, or weanling? Has it been feather-plucked to this point? What did the owner tell you about its condition?

Definitely keep it separated, in a hospital cage, with a heat lamp. I would also give it lots of protein--fresh eggfood would be good. I'd also give it a feather booster like Feather Up or Feather Fast. I wouldn't give any antibiotics unless you know you are treating a specific illness.

Keep us posted of any changes.

Make sure everything is close to the floor of the cage. I would suggest a solid bottom instead of a wire grate. Keep food and water on the bottom and you could put in a natural wood perch about 1 inch off the floor. He should be able to jump to that.

In the beginning of my "finch" craze I purchased a couple of birds that were what I would consider wingless. I think they were just handicapped and lived a full and happy life with things adapted to their reach.

It could be a handicap, an accidental loss, or most anything. All that we can do is adapt to our surroundings or adapt our surroundings to our needs.

Enjoy that one as it will be a happy one with a real reign on your heart. They are the ones that show we are loved sometimes more then the others.