A Case Of Neglect! :-( Anything Else I Can Do?

[nixity]

Poor little booboo!!!
He looks SO much better in the second video though - I think you're right.. from the first video, the squinty eyes especially, and the description of the conditions he was in, I really wonder myself if he was simply severely dehydrated!

Pedialyte is an excellent option in a pinch (unflavored) and usually it's diluted 50/50 I believe.
Just an FYI with the Thrive don't use for more than a couple days or it can cause diarrhea

[ac12]

Might also give them chopped up hard boiled egg. The nutrients in the egg might give them an additional jumpstart.

[moonrise]

He's a little more perky!

He's still wobbly and hugging the lamp, but I see that he's made a few more big poops while we were asleep. He can hear our two cockatiels, and chirps back at them occasionally.

I don't think he's out of the woods yet, but he does seem to be improving and is more alert.

The vitamins at Walmart are just generic bird vitamins, so I put a drop in his water/Pedialyte mix. Figured it couldn't hurt. While I was at it, I gave the societies a cup of it, too. They promptly drank a few sips, then took a bath in it. They seem to be enjoying their new cage.

Poor things! I'm glad you rescued them! I'm sure these birds will be happy with you!

I only hope you didn't pay them much money for them, because they might turn around and buy some more birds at the next pet store. The scams going on with people "rehoming" pets on Craigslist are despicable! Lots of people buying cheap animals and then "rehoming" them with a sob story, and of course they want money to "make sure Fluffy goes to a good home"...

(Sorry for venting!)

Yep, I can usually spot the flippers and puppy mills a mile away. Some of them don't even try to hide what they're doing. Love that FLAG button. It's just awful that some people do the things they do.

The ad for the birds said the cage was $20 and that the birds were "free". I figure the woman knew full well that the birds weren't in the best of shape, so if she "gave them away", the new owner couldn't come back and complain if the birds didn't make it. After all, all we bought was the cage.

On the good side, she'll have a hard time finding another bird and cage for $20 around here. The local pet stores have pretty much stopped selling anything except parakeets, which are usually $20 each, and a used cage usually goes for at least $20.

Well, I'm off to grab some breakfast, then to do the daily bird room routine. Hubby laughs at me. It would go a lot faster if I didn't stop and talk to every bird for several minutes! (Hey, birds are people too! )

[6finchfriends]

I'm so happy they are all doing better! It could be that if the little Zebra had been starving, it might take his body a while to recover and digest food properly. It's that way with mammals anyway. Might be an answer for the huge poops. I wonder if probiotics would be beneficial for the little guy? Not that you'd want to load him up with too many things at once. Soaked and/or chitted seed are really good if you have time to make it for them. chitted seed is full of nutrition. Soaked seed is easier to digest. Keep us posted and I'll be sending lots of good Karma your way ! Have you named him yet?

[moonrise]

Thanks, Trish! No, I haven't named him yet. I'm trying not to get too attached ... probably too late for that, though. ;)

He's doing something new now. When he poops (still big 'uns!), he makes unhappy-sounding beeps (grunts?) as he strains. I hope pooping isn't causing him pain. The poops aren't dry now, like that first one was, so I'm unsure why he would have to strain so much.

He accidentally landed down into his water cup a few minutes ago when I was changing the cage paper, and since his bottom was already wet, I gently washed it off in case there was any dry poop stuck to him. I didn't see or feel any, but his bottom may be a little irritated. I dabbed him off with a paper towel and put him back under the lamp so he won't get cold while he finishes drying. He sure wasn't thrilled about the accidental bath or the fanny wash!

[bugaboo5]

Awww, so glad to hear that the lucky boy is doing better. In regards to the ginormous poops -- I think it might be because he was severely constipated due to dehydration. It probably just got all backed up in his tiny intestines and he wasn't able to push the "garbage" through because he didn't have enough liquids in his body to soften things up for the "garbage" to zip through. Once he gets his intestines all cleared up, I think he should be fine. Please keep us updated on this sweety pie.

[annague]

You know, Moonrise, they say the friendly flora in intestines helps things like that so if you have some probiotics or something similar to give him it might help him... just a thought.

[moonrise]

He didn't make it.

He passed away while we were asleep. There was only one tiny poop in the 10-12 hours since I changed the paper, so I guess there was more damage than could be undone. It doesn't look like he ate anything else during that time, either.

Thank all of you again for the help and advice.

There are a million things I'd like to say to his previous owners, but it wouldn't bring him back ... plus I've heard it said that "you can't fix stupid".

I hope he at least enjoyed the clean water and food, and the warm lamp.

RIP, Little Elvis. (That was going to be his name, because of his black "sideburns".)

[nelloyello11]

I'm so very sorry that he didn't make it. I've been following his story, really hoping for a happy ending, as I'm sure everyone has been. I know you were trying not to get attached, but I know that's hardly possible with these little guys. I hope you can take comfort in the fact that you made his last few days many times happier than all the days before that.

[debbie276]

So sorry to hear he didn't make it

[annague]

Awww.... so sorry to hear it. Still, you made his last time on earth bearable and that has to be worth something. RIP, Elvis!

[6finchfriends]

Oh I'm so, so sorry At least he passed in a clean cage with people that loved him and gave him everything a little finch could want. You did good. They are so tiny.... How are the other's doing? Hope they are fairing better.

[MRobinson]

I've been following his little story as well. I'm so sorry that he didn't make it. At least you can take comfort in knowing that you provided him with loving care and goodness towards the end of his little life instead of him passing away in total misery.

I applaud the efforts you made to try to help him.

[finchmix22]

Gosh! I am so sorry he did not make it. I really thought he had a chance, but I agree with everyone, that he was blessed to have you care for him to the best of your ability so he did not die starving and miserable. At least he received TLC. I cry with you on his loss.
How are the Societies? Are they doing O.K. ?

[moonrise]

Thanks, y'all. ((( hugs )))

The societies are doing fine, but I'm keeping a close eye on them. One is definitely a male, and the other two are probably females. Well, I know one is for sure, because there were broken eggs in the nest. The male sings his little heart out.

Except for when he sings, I can't tell them apart.