What’s wrong with my Zebra? Is this normal?

[Stuart whiting]

Fraza

Sent you a message on the thread """ faces to name """

[Fraza]

Stuart whiting okay I’ll have a look

[sparrowsong98]

lovezebs Oh yeah, now after staring at the pictures for a minute I remember those two. Kelsie had a clutch right?

[lovezebs]

Fraza

Who is Kellie?
And whose Society bred with a Spice Finch?

You are confusing me my boy.

Regarding my Society Finch Kelsie...
It's not that she hasn't learned to fly, she can't fly well due to a wing that was not properly developed or damaged in the nest.

She bred with another Society Finch, producing 3 beautiful Chocolate Self babies.

[Fraza]

lovezebs oh sorry and yeh I was just telling you a story about coco whilst we was talking about flying problems with the finches so thought I’d tell one about my experience haha and sorry I read your response wrong I thought it said bred with spice finch she’s nice by the way

[Fraza]

lovezebs and I didn’t mean to tag your name in the full post I was just ament to tag you for the little bit

[lovezebs]

Fraza

No worries.

[ShannTmw]

He told me it was where the ‘thumb’ is. If I could afford for the diagnostics and then for things after I would def do it. I’m just not sure how to come up with a small fortune before it gets too bad.

[ShannTmw]

You can see her wing here.

[sparrowsong98]

ShannTmw I'm not sure, but I think lovezebs was wondering about possible amputation, as both bird pictures she posted are of her half-winged birds. I'll let her clarify that though.

[lovezebs]

ShannTmw sparrowsong98

Here is a picture of all that was left of Max's wing when he healed after his accident...

20160119_120459-1.jpg (82.51 KiB) Viewed 1463 times

This was in January 2016.

What I'm saying, is that he has adapted to his situation, and is today a well adjusted Zebra, who sings and hops around quite happily.

If a portion of the wing needs to be removed due to a tumor, etc. your girl can adjust as well.

From where the damage appears to be on the wing, it seems to me that it's something to do with with the joint. When you feel her wing in that area, do you feel a lump or bump, that you would associate with a growth of some sort?

[ShannTmw]

It isn’t the best photo but I think there’s some swelling. I didn’t want to stress her out too much by playing around with it so this is the best I could get. Since I’m new to finches (I’ve only ever had budgies but that was growing up) I don’t know how unusual this looks. Next time I’m going to take a pic of both wings to compare.

[lovezebs]

ShannTmw

Hi Shann,

It's so hard to see from the picture, but to my eyes it does look a bit red and possibly inflamed.

What did the Vet put her on? Is it antibiotics or anti inflammatory meds?

I know what you mean about not having the kind of money that some Vets ask for. It is just heart breaking at times, and even if you pay it, there are no guaranties .

See how she does in the next few days my dear, and keep her comfortable with her favorite foods and a warm lamp that she can cuddle close to. If she seems to be in a great deal of pain, personally I would consider amputation of the affected wing, or putting her to sleep.

These kind of decisions are so incredibly difficult and so so sad.

Please let us know how she's doing....

[wildbird]

I had an english sparrow very similar to this. One vet said to amputate the wing. I had an appointment for it & cancelled just before it. I noticed he was using that wing for balance and some preening. The edge of the wing would bleed sometimes as new feathers tried to come in, but didn't grow beyond blood feathers. I went to an all avian vet, very well known, now retired. He said to leave it alone and I made a good decision to leave it. The wing eventually healed and grew feathers. There was a piece of the tip missing and damage to the outside edge of the upper part. I don't know what happened to him before I got him. He was never able to fly very high, just a few inches, but he was a very happy bird and lived 13 years. I would never have a bird in the condition yours is in killed! The wing will heal. Vets just like doctors, don't know everything. Remember your bird was doing pretty well until you went to the vet. Given the choice, your bird wants to live.

[ShannTmw]

She’s on antibiotics for illnesses and possible infection he said. He also said that she was pecking at her breast and there was some separation there. I have no idea what that means. I’m not going to make any decisions yet, she’s been a lot more active for the past two days, beeping like crazy. But she still is pecking her wing and breast.
The reason I went to the vet is because she wasn’t doing very well, seemed very tired and in pain and stressed out. But it does look like dried blood sometimes on her wing in the affected area. There also doesn’t seem to be feathers growing other then the blood feathers.
It does look swollen as well. I’m going to try to get a better picture of both her wings for comparison and I’ll post those.
I’m still learning how to handle these tiny little birds haha. Parakeets are so much easier to handle to me.
She’s been eating like crazy and loving her egg shells and broccoli. She’s bathing as well as she can, she doesn’t go right into the water more dunks her head into the water. She doesn’t seem to like the heat lamp, when I have it on she sits puffed up and doesn’t beep or move much. When I shut it off she’s more active and beeping. So not sure what that’s about?