Newbie with a Challenge -- help appreciated!

[L0te]

Hello all. I am new here, new to finches, and new to birds in general (I’m more of a reptile person).

I am taking in a sick zebra finch on short notice. I have a trusted exotics vet I use for my other animals, and have made an appointment for her, though she is not yet in hand. In the meantime, I wanted to do some research and get some feedback from a knowledgeable community!

From what I know, this female was previously picked on severely by two male cage-mates, and lost a significant amount of feathers. She was separated into a very small cage and has regrown most plumage, however it looks like she has a few significant issues, including:

• Possible eye infection – red/inflamed-looking skin below one eye. Eyes clear/fully opened otherwise
  Occasional loose stool that sticks to rump feathers
  Squishy bump on her chest – not hard like an abscess. Texture feels like it’s full of coffee grounds. Not protruding through feathers but gives her chest a very noticeable/odd profile
  Feet/legs look puffy and scaly
  Looks underweight to me, but unconfirmed

All of this has apparently been going on for a long time, though I don’t have further details; this bird is a trooper. Obviously she needs the vet visit pretty bad.

Now, as I said, I don’t have bird experience, but I’m willing to give her my best shot. I don’t have other birds, so I’m not overtly worried about quarantine, though I do have reptiles. I’ve got an 18x18x30 cage lined up, finch seed mix, spray millet, wicker nest. I think there is a cuttlebone in there as well. Are there other necessities that should be on my shopping list? Should I be supplementing? Anything I can give her to fatten her up a bit? “Toys”/enrichment? Treats in general?

I’ll be doing more research before I pick her up, but if anyone could point me at some good info/resources, I’d appreciate it. I'd be interested in any thoughts as to what might be going on health-wise, especially with that lump.

Wish I could have joined under better circumstances!

[finchmix22]

Welcome to the forum! O.K. I assume you have a heat lamp if you have reptiles. Put a heat lamp on one side of the cage, so she can get away if it's too hot, but she can warm herself and not use her energy to stay warm. Make some eggfood, hard boiled eggs pulsed in a food processor with some handfeeding formula into a crumbly, not wet texture. The droppings need medication, probably Ronex 12% for 7 days. The vet visit may be very stressful, so I wouldn't get my hopes up. I've had finches die from the stress of a vet visit. Yet, if that is the way to get her some medication, you have to try. She will need an antibiotic eye ointtment probably. When finches are sick or stressed, they need extra heat, good food and filtered water, and sometimes, an electrolyte helps the stress. If she is "going light" losing weight, she may need some mix of handfeeding formula and the electrolyte mixed to a watery thin paste that is given to her beak. If she is eating, then you can sprinkle a supplement over her food.

I hope she recovers and you are very kind to take her and try to help. There is also a lot of good information in each section here as Stickies. YOu can look under health and breeding for good suggestions.
Keep us posted!

[wildbird]

Be sure the vet you're taking her to is an avian vet & not just someone who will see birds, but has little experience & knowledge of small birds. Otherwise you are better off treating her yourself & can get medications from the lady gouldian website. I think it is ladygouldian.com.

[L0te]

Thanks for your comments!

I do have a spare heat lamp and will have that set up. Is there a particular brand of feeding formula you would recommend? I have used unflavored Pedialyte for struggling reptiles before-- would this suffice for electrolytes? She does seem to be eating, as she has been in this condition for apparently months without much change for better or worse.

My vet is Dr.Bacon at the Central Marin Cat & Exotics Hospital. He is listed with the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and is apparently involved with Mickaboo (the big Bay Area bird rescue organization). I just reached out to Mickaboo via email to ask if they could vouch for him as well.

That said, if I could get these medications online without adding the stress of travel and additional handling onto an already sick animal, I would definitely be interested. I'd still like to get her looked over, but if I could give her some time to recover/fatten up first, that seems ideal.

I found the Ronex on your recommended site:
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_ronex12.php

This site also recommends Tetratex for conjunctivitis:
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_tetratex.php

Does that sound reasonable? Can/should these medications be offered in the water at the same time? And would you actually recommend the probiotic after? Lets play 20 questions

I managed to snag a "bad" pic (doesn't show feet, infected right eye, or a good view of the bump!), but this is her:

[lovezebs]

L0te
Welcome to the Forum.
I hope your little girl pulls through.
Deborah, pretty much covered most of it. If you have reptiles, then you have heat lamps. Placing one over a perch at one side of cage will be appreciated. Only make sure she also has a shady spot to retreat to if she gets too warm. Good food, as mentioned and maybe some vitamins. Perhaps offer a few greens such as slices of cucumber and a romaine lettuce leaf to start ( those are unusually favourites ).

I wish you and little Zebbie all the best of luck at the Vets.

[finchmix22]

L0te
I notice you have lots of lettuce in the bottom of the cage. That could explain the droppings. The bump could be a cyst. Try to take a pic of the side with the eye. Yes, ladygouldian has good advice. You can call their number and Larraine will give you her expert opinion. She is very knowledgeable about sick finches.
Yes, the pedialyte if unflavored can be used. Handfeeding you can use either La Feber or Kaytee exact. Both are fine.

[L0te]

lovezebs finchmix22

Okay, I finally have Feathers in hand as of last night. The previous picture was taken at the petstore she'd been dropped at, where they'd given her some greens.

She has been pretty fluffed up a lot of them time which i've read this is common of sick birds, but she likes sitting near the lamp. She has been making plenty of little sounds (quickly earning the nickname "Beep" around my apartment!) and moving around a fair bit.

I offered finch seed mix, millet spray, and a mix of kaytee handfeed mix + crumbled hard-boiled egg. I have seen her eating the millet in earnest, and pecking at her seed. It looks like some of the egg food is missing as well. I figure it may take her longer to discover that it's something tasty, as she hasn't had it before.

Re: the pooping issue I was told about, it looks like I misunderstood. She doesn't have loose stool; she has dry stool that clings to her backside for quite a while before falling off. I have not seen her drink. Going to try and pick up some pedialyte + veg tonight.


I was able to get a few good pics of her bad eye, and her profile that showcases the bump on her chest. She is a little fluffed up, but most of it is the mass.