Sudden Deaths

[jessyh]

I am in total shock. I went into the bird room a few minutes ago. I usually peek in 2-3 times a night to make sure everyone is ok. I walked in and my male Euro Society was dead. This is the first adult bird I have lost. At lights out, he was totally normal. He's always been perfectly fine and active. Man, he was gorgeous, one of my very favorites. My fellow finch friends and breeders were envious of him.

What could have caused this? At first I thought night fright, but nothing has happened in the bird room and the couch where I have been sitting is only a few feet away. I would have heard something. Could this have anything to do with new babies? He and his girlfriend have laid 2 clutches of infertile eggs. Apparently that's common for Euros, they are hard to breed. Well, this second clutch was taken from them at full term and I gave them 5 abandoned zebra eggs that were a few days away from hatching. So the timing was perfect. The first zebra hatched 2 days ago and they have been protecting him very closely. Feeding him well. Can stress of new babies kill birds? Could that baby zebra have something? Will a lone female society raise a clutch alone? I really don't know where I'd put these new baby zebras!

I'm totally confused. They rarely left him the past 2 days and they have had super huge poops, bigger than normal sitting parents have. Could he have sat on the baby so long that his poo backed up in him and it wouldn't come out? I just don't know how he could have died when he's been just fine. If it makes any difference, I took pictures of him. But they don't seem to show anything out of the ordinary.

[dfcauley]

Gosh.... I am so sorry this happened. It is especially difficult when the bird appears to be fine and then it is gone. Normally they will show some signs of sickness.

I really doubt that taking care of babies could have caused this.
Sometimes we just never know what it was which makes it even more difficult.

I believe that they female will be able to take care of the clutch by herself. I have heard of this many times. How many babies are there?

Again , so sorry for your loss.

[jessyh]

I hope she can care for them alone. After losing those 3 baby birds yesterday, and him today...I really don't want to lose more babies. His band is a NFS band with the year 06. 3-4 years old isn't old is it? There are 4 eggs and 1 baby zebra. Unless more have hatched. I just wish I knew what happened. Sigh. I love having pets but losing them really hurts. Especially when it's one of your favorites and your first adult to go.

Also, I do have one spare male society in the community cage. Would it be a terrible idea to put him in the cage? Seems like she would be protective. Maybe I won't try that, I'll see how she does alone.

[lovemyfinch]

So sorry for your losses.

I wouldn't put another male in with right now, it could cause her to abandon the baby as well as the eggs that are left.

[L in Ontario]

I'm so sorry to hear of this Jessy.

I too would not put a new male in with the female - she should be able to take care of the eggs and chicks on her own. Quite often we never know what happens to our fids to make them die like that.

[cindy]

Jessy, I am sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your little finches. I hope all goes well and all the babies do well. Make sure mom has plenty of good food and rest her well after the chicks fledge, she is going to need it. She is doing a big job on her own.

The giant poops are shocking at first but I can always tell if the female has been out to eat, it is just from them holding it so they don't mess in the nest. I don't think it has anything to do with his death.

[jessyh]

Well, the widow society seems to be doing well on her own. I peek in the room a million times, day and night and I've never seen her out of the nest. I hope she isn't sick, just protective. She's probably so confused being alone with a bunch of kids and her mate gone. I can't see how many zebras have hatched, I don't want to mess with her. But I see quite a few fuzzy butts in there and a whole lot of wiggling. So, maybe she will do this on her own. I'll let ya all know how the kids do. I might sell/trade her to a friend of mine once she's done. I don't want to be on the hunt for Euro societies and my friend already has some anyways. Wish her luck on her lonely little journey!

[lovemyfinch]

Best wishes to the single mama.