New Zebra Finches

[Bluebonnet]

These are my 10 new zebra finches that I bought off Craigslist. I didn't see any pics of them before I went to get them, so I didn't really know what I was getting.. Still not sure, really.

Here's the main 2 cage setup, 5 in the top and 5 in the bottom.

This is a pic of 4 of them from the top, including the newest member of the family.

So these 5 are in the top cage together.

[DanteD716]

Al normal grey, top picture, middle bird is a baby split to pied. Very severe plucking! The blqck beak indicates they are not in adult feather

[Bluebonnet]

Al normal grey, top picture, middle bird is a baby split to pied. Very severe plucking! The blqck beak indicates they are not in adult feather

I don't know what to do about the baby being plucked. I'm new to babies and thought it was just feathers not in yet.

[DanteD716]

He should have fledged with feathers

[PrettyBird]

I agree with Dante

The 3 in that picture all are plucked. One is worse than the others...

[cindy]

The 5 that were together are most likely a family, the little one with the black beak is probably not weaned yet.

What I would do is offer them clean water, fresh seed and some pellets...Zupreem fruit Blends for canary and finch. In the mean time boil a few eggs, they need the protein to help build their reserves up and to grow the feathers back...boil the egg, grate it with the shell and give it to them, only leave it in a couple of hours do this two to three times a day for now.


Also the plucked ones need to be warm, if you have a heat lamp and a 4 watt bulb set it near a perch so they can go to it to warm up.

[Bluebonnet]

Oh goodness. I'm so overwhelmed right now. Thinking I should have stood by my first inclination not to get these.

I am trying to put together the flight cage I just bought and I need to find some wire because the bottom is not setting down right.

So I will take out the 2 worst ones from the bottom and put them in a cage of their own. Was thinking the flight cage, but should it be the tiny cage, for both together? Sorry, bit confused right now.

I did put egg in the cages and they all were eating it, even the baby. I also saw mom feeding the baby numerous times, so think he/she should stay with the parents?

The guy I got these from said the foot was like that when he got them last January.

[cindy]

Do not move any birds until you are absolutely certain the baby does not need to be fed. I would leave everyone in the same cages for now and get good food into them. Then once the baby no longer needs the parents then think about moving them.

It is to late in the day to move the birds, movong birds to a new cage should be done early in the day so they can get use to their new surrounding.

[tinysparrow]

hi linda

i want to encourage you that you did the right thing by bringing these little birds into your life. i recently was given 12 zebra finches from someone who was unable to take care of them anymore and when i got them into my house i realized that most of them are either blind or partially blind. they were also plucked like your little ones seem to be. the good news is that i've had them for a few months now and they are doing really well.

i know its overwhelming as you said at the beginning when you see they may need some extra love, but it gets better forum members are always here to help you when you need it!!!

and yes, you are doing the right thing by keeping the baby with its parents so they can feed it.

[Bluebonnet]

Do not move any birds until you are absolutely certain the baby does not need to be fed. I would leave everyone in the same cages for now and get good food into them. Then once the baby no longer needs the parents then think about moving them.

It is to late in the day to move the birds, movong birds to a new cage should be done early in the day so they can get use to their new surrounding.

Oh no, I already did move them! I didn't see you response until now, I was looking at the other thread for my new zebras. Oh gosh, but I can't undo it now, that would be worse for them I'm sure.

[Bluebonnet]

hi linda

i want to encourage you that you did the right thing by bringing these little birds into your life. i recently was given 12 zebra finches from someone who was unable to take care of them anymore and when i got them into my house i realized that most of them are either blind or partially blind. they were also plucked like your little ones seem to be. the good news is that i've had them for a few months now and they are doing really well.

i know its overwhelming as you said at the beginning when you see they may need some extra love, but it gets better forum members are always here to help you when you need it!!!

and yes, you are doing the right thing by keeping the baby with its parents so they can feed it.

Thank you, I'm making mistakes with them already it seems. So glad to know there are such nice people on here.

[Bluebonnet]

The baby hasn't been moved. I wasn't planning on moving it unless the general concenous was to do so. She's still with mom and dad.

[kathmcm]

Oh goodness. I'm so overwhelmed right now. Thinking I should have stood by my first inclination not to get these.

You did the right thing! They've had a hard time, and just need someone to look after them. They will reward you

[Bluebonnet]

Oh goodness. I'm so overwhelmed right now. Thinking I should have stood by my first inclination not to get these.

You did the right thing! They've had a hard time, and just need someone to look after them. They will reward you

Thank you. I hope the reward is a volume control for them.

[finchmix22]

Linda,
I sent you a pm. I can help since I live so close to you. Contact me and I'll help you out with those poor finches.
Deborah