Fledgling Died today

anita · Post by **anita** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:52 pm

Hello
I am a novice with Zebra Finches. My pair of birds had eggs that began hatching 17 days ago. This morning I was all excited because I thought that the first one of the babies had decided to leave the nest. He was alive on the bottom of the cage, and he appeared to be walking about but without attempting to fly. I thought he might be just learning because he'd walk a bit and fall over. Since t's his first day out of the nest, I left him alone for the day thinking maybe the parents were going to try and train him to fly. Sometimes when I checked he appeared to be sleeping but at the end of the day he died. Was it too early for him to have left the nest? And what should I expect in the first hours out of the nest? There didn't seem to be any clear sign of an injury but maybe he flew out of the nest and hit the wall. Any insight?
Thanks,
Anita

lyderbug · Post by **lyderbug** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:46 pm

HI anita. Welcome.

Sorry to hear about the baby.

I've bread socities before, never zebs. When our socities fledged they were about 20 some odd days old. They parents continued to feed them as the clumsily attempted to fly.

As far as zebs go, I wish I could help you. I'm sure someone will be able to give good advice.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:47 pm

If the nest is too high he might of fallen too hard down or was frightened and injured himself.

When my goulds first fled they were really clumsy and they slept on the bottom of the cage for the first 2 days till they learned how to fly to the pearch. After 2 weeks out of the nest they are almost as good as the parents in flight. Amazing how fast they develop.

Chris

anita · Post by **anita** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:02 pm

Hi Chris and Lyderbug,
thanks for your answers so far.......
I thought about the nest height. It's a drop of 12-14 inches. The nest has now been moved down a little so that it's only about an 8" drop. I also removed any unnecessary items that they might fly into hoping to kid-proof it for the remaining two babies which should come out in the next few days I imagine.

It's surprising how attached we get to those little birdies...

Maybe my cage is too small. It's only about 18 x 12 x 19" tall. I'm planning on getting a much larger flight cage next week. How long should I wait before transferring them over?
Anita

lyderbug · Post by **lyderbug** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:07 pm

Def wait untill all the babies have fledged and are eating on their own. It will take a couple of weeks, otherwise you risk losing more babies.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:15 pm

So sorry for your loss. At 17 days, it was just short of the fledge age, but it might not have been quite ready to leave the nest. Most finches are a bit clumsy the first day or two of fledging--he might have flown into the side of the cage, or the parents may have neglected him, any number of things can go wrong between the time they hatch and are weaned.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:39 am

Welcome Anita.

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. These little babies are so delicate seems anything can happen quickly for no reason.

Hopefully you will have better luck next time!

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:01 am

I'm so sorry ya lost your litle baby. I wouldnt make any changes until the rest are weaned and on there own, Bu tI would DEFINATELY get a larger cage that one you have is way to small for 2 birds let alone 4

Best of luck with the 2 remaining babies,, we look forward to hearing about them,

anita · Post by **anita** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:21 am

Hello All,
Well, the other two babies left the nest this morning and one of them looks like a pro, flying all over the place and and the other......he sat huddled in the corner all puffed up and eyes squeezed shut all day long, with what looked like labored breathing. I saw no attempts at flying. Whenever he moved he wobbled all over the place and looked like he wasn't going to make it. Somebody had given me advice to provide some heat so I placed 2 reading lamps directed at the corner of the cage where he was huddled.

Around supper time he started perking up a little and I went out for a couple of hours. When I returned he was nowhere to be seen, he was happily back in the nest, peering out at me! I'm so excited, it looks like I might have 2 survivors.

I've sourced out the new cage and as soon as they are old enough they will be transferred to a much larger cage.

Thanks for all your words of wisdom.
Anita

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:06 am

Oh thats great they are both doing well, A heat source like a light can do AMAZING things some times.

I ALWAYS have a red heat bulb on my Gouldians large cage so IF they need it they will go sit under it on there own,

Keep us updated sounds like they will be fine good work and Congradulations

anita · Post by **anita** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:52 pm

I'm down to just 1 fledgling now. Fledgling #2 was hanging in there for the past couple of days, sometimes leaving the nest, sometimes staying inside. But he never looked right, always fragile and weak and not thriving. The birds actually belong to my 12 year old son. He's been gone for the past 2 days. I checked on the baby before going on the 10 minute drive to pick up my son, all excited that the baby was still living. He was alive when I left home. When we came back home I encouraged him to go and check on his little "survivor" and lo & behold....he was dead!

He must have been sick because the other fledgling looks strong and in fact looks to be even larger than the daddy finch! I'm not worried about him at all.
Anita