Dizzy Zebra Finch

[LindsayG]

Hello,

I have a Zebra finch that is about 10 months old. Her first nestlings just hatched last Thursday. This morning when she got out of the nest she fell, and seemed dizzy. She's eating fine, and seemed better when I came home at lunch, but not all the way back to normal. She's been putting her head to one side a little bit, but not back and forth. I called the bird store where she came from, and they said she could have contracted ear mites, but they hope not. Does anyone know how serious this is? Could it be something else? Lucy is a really sweet little bird. I'm going to be heartbroken if it's anything serious.

Thank you for any tips,
Lindsay

[lovemyfinch]

I don`t have an answer but do wish a speedy recovery for your little one.

Welcome to the forum

[kenny]

hi
it might just me an inner ear infection,but at the worst it could be a stroke,but if she is walking ok and doesnt seem of her food or behaving odlly then it might just be the ear infection ,i vant think of anything else it could be

ken

[LindsayG]

Thanks for the responses. It's very weird. She seems fine today, which I'm very thankful for. Who knows, maybe she just got a little low on energy with feeding her babies. I think I am a worry-wart with my birds! I'm really glad to have found this forum for more information.

Lindsay

[awranic]

Perhaps she is low on calcium you could try giving oyster shells or calc boost.

[kenny]

hi
maybe its flight path from the nest was a bad one and it could have had a rap on the noggin and was slightly stunned for a while,if she is ok now i cant see it being anything serious


ken

[LindsayG]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. She was all better until this morning, and now it's happening all over again. Falling, dizzy-looking, head rolling. I don't know what to think, unless she is just depleted from caring for the babies, which are two weeks old today. Can these birds get something like hypoglycemia when they are worn out? I have been giving them seed, egg food supplement, a breeder's formula called Petamine, water with minerals, gravel, cuttlebone, and veggies (alfalfa sprouts, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, and grated cucumber). She seems to mostly want to eat seed and cucumber.

[LindsayG]

Is it possible that she is just giving everything she eats to the babies? As soon as she eats, she's in the nest feeding them. Before she used to sit for awhile.

[ac12]

hmm
I have a similar hen. She will preen herself, and fall forward off the perch. She just hatched her first clutch of eggs, 3 of 5 hatched, a few days ago. I can't figure out what is happening with her either.

[Frankenfinch]

I sure hope it's not but it sounds to me like Twirling. Heres a link about it http://www.finchniche.com/a-twirling.php I really hope im wrong. Hoping the best for you and your little hen

[LindsayG]

hmm
I have a similar hen. She will preen herself, and fall forward off the perch. She just hatched her first clutch of eggs, 3 of 5 hatched, a few days ago. I can't figure out what is happening with her either.

I found a vet in another town that has experience with finches, and I'm taking my hen tomorrow morning. I will let you know what I find out, in case it could help you, too. It's really distressing to watch, huh? My hen had 3 of 6 eggs hatch on 3/31, and first had this problem on 4/4. She was better the next day, then back at the dizziness/falling today. It looks similar to twirling, but I can't imagine why she would get all better and then worse again. It doesn't make any sense. I hope your bird gets better.

[LindsayG]

I sure hope it's not but it sounds to me like Twirling. Heres a link about it http://www.finchniche.com/a-twirling.php I really hope im wrong. Hoping the best for you and your little hen

Do you think it is likely for it to be twirling if she gets better for over a week, then sick again today? She has been fine from the 5th through the 14th. I read the article, and I've seen some video of twirling birds. It's similar, but I don't know. Thanks for your post. Birds really do have some interesting health issues.

[Frankenfinch]

I'm not sure. That article also talked about how a calcium deficiency can cause the bird to appear dizzy like awranic mentioned. Lets all hope it is just that and not Twirling. Good look with the vet tomorrow. Keep us updated

[LindsayG]

I'm not sure. That article also talked about how a calcium deficiency can cause the bird to appear dizzy like awranic mentioned. Lets all hope it is just that and not Twirling. Good look with the vet tomorrow. Keep us updated

You're right-- it's calcium deficiency. The vet took one look at her told me that's what it was. Definitely not twirling, she said. Since Lucy doesn't seem to want to eat egg food, just seed, she gave me something called Pet-Cal to crush up and sprinkle on the seed after misting it with water. I had to put some water on some of it and pull it up in a syringe and feed it to her before she went back in the cage. She also gave me a recipe for Egg Bread that she said will really help while they are breeding/laying eggs. I'll post that a little later (just got back to work). I don't intend to have Lucy raise any more young after this, if I can help it!

[LindsayG]

hmm
I have a similar hen. She will preen herself, and fall forward off the perch. She just hatched her first clutch of eggs, 3 of 5 hatched, a few days ago. I can't figure out what is happening with her either.

Try getting her some extra calcium. I posted about the vet visit, and I will post the Egg Bread recipe later. She also wants me to cook egg shells (240 degrees for 30 minutes after washing them), grind them up and give them to her.