Zebra chick .. with missing eyeballs

[redfactor8]

Hi,

I have recently witnessed in one of my breeding boxes of Florida Fancy zebras, a chick with both eyeballs missing. I'm relating this to a genetical defect, due to inbreeding. I cannot confirm this as it is my first clutch from this pair (I bought it recently) and therefore don't know the pedigree of its bloodline.

The chick is growing normally since it is now being fed along with his brothers/sisters by a pair of bengalese. However I'm not confident it will make it as soon as the bengalese stop feeding the chicks to wean them.

Anyone had a similar experience??

[LeWi]

Salam

this is so sad :S i never had this before
and i believe it is due to inbreeding

after weaning he doesn't have a good chance for surviving. i think keeping him in a small cage ( after being weaned ) with food and water close to him may help him to survive longer, i hope he wont have any other genetical problems.

[franny]

There's a story on Finch Niche about a blind zebra finch called Snowball who lived to be 3 years old:

http://www.finchniche.com/t-handicapped.php

So he may do just fine, especially in a cage environment rather than an aviary. Good luck.

[Nagdabit]

Are you positive the birds that you have are Florida Fancy? Sometimes Fawn / Gray Cheeks can look similar and they are known for having a genetic weakness towards blindness. You can read up on the mutation at efinch... http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm

[Domenic]

There's a story on Finch Niche about a blind zebra finch called Snowball who lived to be 3 years old:

http://www.finchniche.com/t-handicapped.php

So he may do just fine, especially in a cage environment rather than an aviary. Good luck.

Franny, I noticed that article was written by a person in Las Vegas. I wish I could get in contact with her to see where she gets her finches from or if she is breeding any. From her article it said she has strawberries, melbas, gouldians, etc.

I also wanted to mention the blind gouldian Lazlo. He found a way too, so there's always hope. It may be a tough life, but it's possible. Please let us know what happens.

Lazlo's story:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8aart/id13.html

[franny]

There's a story on Finch Niche about a blind zebra finch called Snowball who lived to be 3 years old:

http://www.finchniche.com/t-handicapped.php
/quote]

Franny, I noticed that article was written by a person in Las Vegas. I wish I could get in contact with her to see where she gets her finches from or if she is breeding any. From her article it said she has strawberries, melbas, gouldians, etc.
l

Why don't you try emailing myra@finchniche.com to see if she can have Pam get in touch with you? Mind you, the article was from 2003, so she may have moved, or stopped breeding birds. But worth a try I guess.