Sudden death

Ameza · Post by **Ameza** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:02 am

Hi guys.

One of my younger finches suddenly died yesterday. She was around 7 months old and seemed very healthy, I never noticed anything strange, no strange droppings or puffiness or anything. She just suddenly lay there on the floor dead.

I'm just wondering what might have caused this, I know zebbies can hide illness easily, but usually there are some signs. When I examined her body all I could noticed out of place was that her breast feathers seemed really thin, not like she was plucked, just like she had only thin layer of feathers.

If anyone has any ideas what it could be, let me know. I am keeping an eye for her cagemates, if this is something that can spread :/

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:55 am

Ameza, so sorry you lost her. It is difficult when it suddenly happens. Perhaps she had an internal issue, a slight defect say in her heart. You dont think she hit the cage side or anything?

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 8:05 am

There is a condition called "Going light" or sometimes "Failure to thrive" - it has to do with the bird eating and eating constantly but the body not properly absorbing the food. I know one of the symptoms involves the breastbone feeling odd and loss of weight. I wonder if it could be this?

P.S. I'm so sorry for your loss

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:37 pm

Sorry she passed away. Good point by Lisa - she could have Gone Light if her breast bone seened sharp or prominent to the touch. Or as Cindy mention, she may have hit the side of the cage at a wrong angle. And sometimes we just never know.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:45 pm

Another thought Ameza...it may have had a birth defect that may have taken the bird earlier but because of your good care you kept it going and gave it a nice life and more time with you.

bugaboo5 · Post by **bugaboo5** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:34 am

I'm sorry for your sudden loss. With the exceptional care you provide for your birds, I'm also leaning towards perhaps a fluke genetic issue (heart condition?). Again, so sorry for your loss. It never gets easy.

Ameza · Post by **Ameza** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:06 am

Thank you all.

Her two siblings that were in the cage with her are showing no sings of illness or anything out of he ordinary, so it seems at least not to have been anything contagious.

I was wondering if egg binding was possible? I have never had a case of egg binding, but I was wondering if that could happen over night?

I guess I'll never know for sure, I just hope she didn't suffer.

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:35 am

So sorry for your loss.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:24 am

So sorry for your loss. Eggbinding is always a possibility with a hen, and 7 months is old enough to be laying eggs. However, it usually is not that quick. You usually notice a hen that is in eggbinding distress, as they are on the floor of the cage, obviously miserable. They can be too far gone to save, but you normally realize you have a problem before you lose them.

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