I think my finch is pregnant...

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:36 pm

I have a black-hooded nun-finch, and a white-hooded nun-finch. The white hooded one is a male, and the black hooded one is a female. I have had the white one for 4 years, and the black one for 2 years. She has been sitting on the bottom of the cage for about 3 days now, all puffed up. We thought she might be pregnant, so we made a nest of new papers on the bottom of the cage. We put food and water dishes on the floor of the cage, and she has been eating and drinking, as normal. But she has been panting quite hard...is that normal behavior for a pregnant finch? All the petstores in our area don't seem to know much about them, and do not sell them. Are they rare? If you have any info, let me know!!!

-Thanks,
NorthernFinch

Post by **Sally** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:23 am

Birds don't really get pregnant, like we think of with mammals. They develop and form the egg, which hopefully gets fertilized, and it passes thru the oviduct in about 24 hours. Hens that get eggbound will sit on the floor all puffed up, often with wings drooping down, but they don't eat as usual. Also, if they are eggbound, they will either pass the egg or succumb within a day or so. Since she has been with this male for 2 years, has she ever laid eggs before? Does she have a good source of calcium? Have you provided heat for her by wrapping a heating pad around the side of the cage, or hanging a light bulb just over the cage? Anytime a finch gets puffy, it usually needs heat. A hospital cage (just any small cage will do) is almost a must.

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:23 am

Wow...thanks for all the info. The black one has never laid eggs before, so we added a little nest to the cage. And by calcium, we have a cuttle bone, is that what you meant? We have never added a heating pad or a light bulb to the cage before. Do we just buy normal heating pads? Anyway...i just had to ask, because none of the petstores in our province sell them. And just today we have noticed that they haven't been eating their millet spray treat, and they would usually eat in in 2 days, but they haven't touched it...

-Thank you soooo much for you time, and info
NorthernFinch

Post by **Sally** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:19 am

I would suspect an illness if they are both not touching their spray millet. I have a small cage that I use for a hospital cage. I provide one perch in case they want to get off the floor, and I give food and water on or near the floor. I just use a regular heating pad, set to low, and it will wrap around the back of the cage. Then I put a towel over the cage to keep the heat in, plus give the sick bird some quiet and privacy. I use cuttlebone, but I also give them a mixture of oystershell grit and eggshells for extra calcium. All my birds make frequent visits to the grit cup.

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:29 pm

NorthernFinch,

I’m very sorry you’re having problems with your Birds, hope they get better.
But, from my experience as limited as it is, when any Finch passes up Millet, there’s got to be something wrong. I have Zebra Grass, and those guys literally ATTACK it, and don’t leave till it’s ALL gone !

However, I understand that Millet is kind of a treat, and there’s not much nutritional “value” to it, save that they like it, like candy.

Have a good Day !

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:53 pm

this sounds serious. My gut says she need calcium and fast! I would do moist heat under a heat lamp too.

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:12 pm

Thanks for the info eveyone!!!

I have added a lamp above the cage, and she looks less puffy. We are getting some eggshells ready now. For the "hospital cage" ,should we just get a very small cage and add a nest to it? I am new to this whold bird breeding thing... so i need all the information I can get. Once again, thank you, your information is EXTREMELY helpful!

-NorthernFinch

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:05 am

NorthernFinch,
I’d say yes on the larger Cage, if she’s cramped up, she won’t be able to exercise much via the confinement. But you don’t have to buy an expensive piece, put the seed at one end, water at the other, keep the “flight” area open well, where she can move.

I keep the food forward in my Cages, easy access for me, then about half way up the height of the cage and toward the rear, a perch across the width. Then another up high, leaving the center of the cage open, where they (she) can fly back and forth. Personally, I just don’t like to see my Birds just sitting around doing nothing. Toys, Mirrors, some Jute/Sisal/Hemp string tied around a Perch, really gets them pulling on it, and keeping them active.

Have a good Day !

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:15 am

Thank you for the info.

I don't have a big cage for them.. I just have a normal cage, with my 2 birds in it. The cage has 2 perches on opposite sides,and a mirror. She is still sitting in her nest on the bottom of the cage. She gets lots of rest, because the other bird doesn't bother her. Should I really get a hospital cage? I don't think we need it. She seems to be doing better though. We gave her some eggshells last night, and covered her cage with a towel. Thank you!

-NorthernFinch

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:34 pm

NorthernFinch,
The other cage was basically for “isolation”, just in case she’s got something contagious, which would put your other Bird in jeopardy. But, if they’ve been in the same cage for all this time, and the other Bird hasn’t been effected, then there’s no immediate need. However, it is a good idea to have “something” standing by, just in case you need to do that quickly.

Your attention to her, certainly indicates care and concern on your part in their interests, but, I’m reaching my limit on recommendations for you. So, come on guys, you experienced Bird Keepers out there, chip in and help here !

I’ve re-read the post here, and suggest that you might get some Cuttlebone, which is a regular source of Calcium for them. Beyond that, if she doesn’t perk up soon, you should contact an Avian Vet, and get some professional advice.

Have a good Day !

Post by **Sally** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:58 pm

If you have a hospital cage, it is for just the one sick bird. It enables you to keep it warm, quiet, and isolated from other birds. Heat is one of the best things you can give a sick bird, and it is easier to give extra heat with a hospital cage. When I say hospital cage, it can just be a small cage that you keep on hand for that purpose. It is better to have a small cage when a bird is sick, as you want to keep it quiet and still as possible. That is why I put a towel over it (also to keep in the heat), and why I put food and water on or near the floor. It is a good idea to keep a small bottle of liquid calcium on hand for hens--some of them are really prone to eggbinding, and that is extremely serious, and the liquid calcium can save them.

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:13 am

NorthernFinch,

You might check out the atricle here in the Info Center at:
http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/lighti ... midity.php

Hope it helps !

Have a good Day !

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:14 am

Heyy Everybody,
Yesterday we went to the pet store and bought an infra red light for above the cage. The man at the store said the bird has a cold. Last night she finally hopped up on her perch. We got her some oystershell gravel, and she really likes that. She was sleeping on the bottom of the cage, but will hop on the perch for food and water. When I woke up this morning, SHE was on the perch, and HE was on the ground! There okay thoguh. He was taking a bath in her water dish. Both are fine, and look A LOT better!

Thanks for your information, You all helped sooo much.
-Northernfinch

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:28 am

I am sooooo glad to hear your good news. Keep us updated as to her health. I want to know how your girl does. I think I would also add some liquid calcium too. Just to have on hand.

NorthernFinch · Post by **NorthernFinch** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 5:19 pm

Hello Everybody!
She has been acting normal, eating, hopping, and best of all...no sign of sickness! She hops from the low perch to the floor ALL the time...but hasn't tried going to the high one. I know she will though. I would have never known what was wrong if I hadn't talk to you people. I thank you sooo much. You see, I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, and as you know, our winters aren't fit for a finch. So we have them in a cage, like the ones you call Hospital Cages. None of the petstores in our province sells nun finches anymore, so i want to keep mine for a while. I care dearly about my finches, but wow...you people have huge cages and like study finches. It was great to have such wonderful information. Thank you all soo much!
-Yours Truly, NorthernFinch
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P.S- how do you put pictures on, I want to show you my pictures!

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I think my finch is pregnant...

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I think my finch is pregnant...

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