Zebra Finch doesn't look/sound right

[sasdrum]

Hi all, I woke up this morning to find my Zebra 'Meep' with puffed up feathers and sounding hoarse. I haven't seen him drink anything all day. He was eating quite vigorously this morning though. He is a juvie (estimated between 2-3 months) and he's the only finch I have so he's not getting picked on. I just got him Wednesday. I was planning on getting him a friend next Wednesday (as that's the soonest I can get another one here), but if he's sick I don't want bring in another bird. He did just start trying to sing a few days ago and he's hardly stopped since he figured out how to make this different sound. His chirping sounds fine though and he's still active and playing with his toys.

His cage is 22x14x16, with wooden perches, a swing, an egg treat stick, nest, cuttlebone, food and water silos. He has a spinning mirror toy that he's been quite interested in. Food is Lafeber's pellets and I have been giving him higgin's snack attack and millet every couple days (rotating between the two). I do have 6 fish tanks in my condo though. None of them are directly in the room, but I'd be scared to test my humidity. A.C. is on 76 and he's by a window, though it's been really cloudy today.

I went ahead put diluted clear gatorade in the water silo and added a small heat lamp to one section of the cage. Since that's something I read to do.

Thank you! I'm hoping this is just an over-reacting noob moment, but I'd rather play it safe.

[Diana]

was he left in the sun?

[sasdrum]

I made sure that half the cage has the sun blocked with my curtains and this window only gets direct sunlight during the later hours of the day. He's moved quite close to my lamp and is just staying there now.

It has been overcast all day and just started raining.

[Sally]

That cage would be OK as a hospital or quarantine cage, but I would not put any more birds in that size cage. Better to get another larger cage (longer rather than taller), and then keep this one for emergencies. I think your problem is that this little baby was sold too soon. He was just barely weaned from his parents, weaning itself is very stressful, and now he has been moved to a new home (was he shipped as well?). That is a lot of stress in a very short period of time, and any kind of stress is very hard on our little finches. Do you have anything like NV powder or Thrive? These are supplements that give the bird a little boost. I personally like NV powder and give it to all new birds for the first few days they are in my home, it is something you have to order online.

[sasdrum]

He's perked up a lot in the last 12 hours. He sounds a lot better too. I'll definitely order some supplements today for him and hold off on that second finch until I can build him a nice flight. I'm planning on matching the dimensions of my 55 gallon aquarium. If my 29 hadn't leaked I would have already started on it, but that's my next project.

He did seem really freaked out when he arrived in the box at the pet shop where I get my fish. I was at the store 10 mins after he was delivered to pick him up and get him home. He was driven over from a facility in Atlanta and the shop I use is their first stop of the day. (One of many reasons I use them).

Should I offer some hand feeding formula? He appears to be eating the pellets...some of them. I'm watching him throw half on the floor right now. He is drinking now though.

[sasdrum]

Well, Meep is back to his hyperactive self. I tacked some extra netting from another project onto an old wooden 10g fish tank stand and rigged an access between the cage the new "play area" (29x12x20). He's clearly enjoying the extra room. I plan to close him up in the cage at night and when I'm not home since I don't trust this netting, but until I get the new flight done, it will have to suffice.

He is still staying near the heat lamp and the vitamins should be here Friday. Thanks!

[Diana]

Glad Meep is ok now. Have you considered giving him a little brother or sister?

[sasdrum]

That's the plan. I want to get another male, but I'm not entirely comfortable putting two finches in my current cage (24x14x16), even with my tacked on "play area" (29x14x20). Just as soon as the details are all worked out on my flight cage build, I'll start working on that. My goal is to finish the cage before I head up to Greenville after the 25th. Then I can hopefully hand pick a male zebra.

I did let him fly around my room for a bit today. He quite liked stuffing himself in my pile of stuffed animals and sitting on top of my window curtain rod.

Anyway, should I be looking for an adult or another juvie? Is there a difference?

Thanks!

[Lithium]

Honestly, it depends on the bird. I'd get a female, because she might be accepted better than a male. But if you want a male, I'd get a younger one.

[sasdrum]

The last thing I need are baby finches, so yes. I'm looking for a male. I can definitely do younger though. Thanks!