Depressed Zebra Finch After Being "Attacked"?

mich · Post by **mich** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:20 pm

Hello everyone this is my first time posting here... I wish I could get some answers...

Yesterday I put my birds outside as usual, because I want them to get some sun. Then I heard some noise outside I went to check on them right away, I saw a big bird standing on top of one of the cages, and the zebra finch inside that cage seemed to be "traumatized" because he didn't move and he was sooo scared! I put them all back into the house and examined the bird. The rest of the birds are ok, but the one who was traumatized now looks so sleepy and always sits in the bottom of the cage... I'm really worried about it, is it depressed? He was perfectly fine before that incident happened... I noticed there's something wrong with his eyes right after the incident, but today the eyes seem to be better, but he still looks so tired... and depressed. I tried putting him in another cage with other zebra finches, but he still acts the same. Would a bird become depressed if he's been scared? Or he's sick? Or he got injured? But I don't think that big bird could actually hurt him because he was inside the cage?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:50 pm

I really don't know about if he could be depresed.but you might put him in a small cage with some extra heat and by himself. But I think some of the other people will have some advise soon.
Where do you live ? Do you have any idea what kind of bird it was that scared the zebra. I had a hawk try to get my zebras in outside aviary and they took a couple days to start actting normal again.
By the way welcome to the forum

mich · Post by **mich** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:50 am

Thanks for your reply! I also assume that was a hawk or something like it, I think he was trying to catch my birds... so I'm not putting them outside these days unless I am there watching them. He's still acting weird until now... but we put him in a separate cage already, I hope he's feeling better tomorrow. But he was sitting in the bottom of the cage almost all day, but he still ate. I just think he looks as if he's depressed or sleepy~ Btw I live in Los Angeles, so it's been quite warm lately, but definitely not hot.

Post by **Sally** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:13 pm

How is your bird doing, mich? I don't think he was depressed as much as traumatized. Poor thing, he thought he was about to die. I hope he is feeling better. Stress is really hard on birds, so a little extra TLC can go a long way--some favorite foods, whatever veggies he likes, millet spray.

mich · Post by **mich** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:53 pm

Hi Sally,

Thank you so much for your reply! I think he's been better since yesterday, so maybe he was just stressed and scared... I feel better too, because I was really afraid that he wouldn't go back to "normal". I will definitely give him some of his favorite food, thanks for the advice!