FINCHforum

hi. I'm new to looking after finches or any birds!! I've always had a very keen interest in wild birds just that when I see one I always know the name of it lol!! Anyway I have an outside aviary which is 9ft long x 5ft wide 7ft high with a night box which is 5x2x3 ft. I've have a pair of white zebra finches and a pair of fawn zebra finches and also 5 bengalnese finches. It seems the white and fawn zebras have swapped partners and vice a versa all have layed eggs which are now 3 days I look after my finches more than I do my wife lol!! Always changing cleaning etc.... but to my shock this morning one of the society's finches I found dead on the aviary floor I checked for anything visable on my little chichi my grandsons name for it but couldn't see anything noticeable please any advice on the above would be appreciated I'm so addicted to this wonderful hobby Regards Mike.

Michael blackman It's often very hard to tell why a finch has died. With two pairs of Zebra finches breeding, there is always the possibility of territorial issues, where one or more of the Zebras will go after any bird coming near their nest. With your size aviary, I wouldn't expect that, unless all the breeding is taking place inside the night box, where there is less space.

It also could have been a night fright caused by a predator trying to get into your aviary during the night. Some predators can even reach inside the aviary and get birds that are roosting close to the wire.

Welcome to the forum, though it is under sad circumstances. There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on finch care. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to direct you to where to find supplies, get help, etc.

I'm going to move your post into its own thread, so it won't get lost in this one. I will title it Dead Society Finch and keep it in the New to the Hobby forum.

Sally

Yea I'm inclined to agree here, well said

Poisoning is also a possibility in outside aviaries if someone nearby had been spraying to eradicate pests. In this case, losing just one bird is actually lucky!
Anyway, as Sally has said many deaths can never be explained, we just have to live with this.

Michael blackman, so sorry that you lost a little society. I lost a gouldian for no apparent reason about a month ago. He was not showing any sign of being sick and was dead within a few hours of finding him on the floor of the aviary. Heartbreaking.

My house sounds like yours. I fuss after the birds and hubs is on his own.

Thank you very much for all the advice just trying to find my way round the forum also.

Mike