One of my eldest finches - she was 1 of 2 when I only had 2 finches and first started - is acting strangely tonight. She was sitting on the floor with her eyes shut. I immediately gave her a heat lamp and a fresh bowl of egg shells. When I caught her to apply liquid calcium to her beak, I noticed her whole body feels hard. Also, when I was catching her, she would put her wings up to fly and they would stay in place (in an upward position)... not to sound gruesome but almost like a rigor mortis on a live bird.
As she is my eldest, it may just be her time, sadly to say but I am concerned about the rigidity of her body. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Edit to add: She is a zebra finch
Sick finch - body feels hard?
- Lisa
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- EyesofFreedom
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Re: Sick finch - body feels hard?
Is it possible she could be egg bound?
Was she able to fly?
Was she able to fly?

Zebra pair Scratch & Sniff
Owl Hekyl

- Lisa
- Weaning
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Re: Sick finch - body feels hard?
That was my thought as well, which is why I gave her liquid calcium to the beak and also a fresh dish of eggshells. While she was at one time, quite the fertile mother bird, she hasn't had an egg in quite some time (probably due to her age).Is it possible she could be egg bound?
Was she able to fly?
She is able to fly but you can tell she really doesn't want to. She was only doing it to avoid being caught. She did run part of the time instead of flying.
- EyesofFreedom
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Re: Sick finch - body feels hard?
Uh oh
Sounds like she is getting arthritic... you may want to try and arrange her cage for easier travel


Zebra pair Scratch & Sniff
Owl Hekyl

- Lisa
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Re: Sick finch - body feels hard?
Just wanted to post an update - Peanut is alive and well and doing just fine this morning. No more puffiness, no more lethargy, she's bouncing around good as new 
Whatever was ailing her must have passed.

Whatever was ailing her must have passed.
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Re: Sick finch - body feels hard?
Good to hear 

Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56