What is normal zebra finch poop?

[fhgwgads]

My pair currently have a 2 week old baby and an egg that is a few days old. When I first got them their poop seemed fine. My boy is not of concern but by girl seems to have poops that are a tan-orange color and watery. My boys have been a constant white and gray. I don't know if it has to do with an illness or having a baby. I did notice once she started feeding that her poop decreased in amount. She is active, takes baths, preens, comes out and eats a lot, explores, but is mostly in the nest with her baby. I just wanted to make sure that everything is ok. She is in the nest in the morning, and she will come out a few times to interact with my boy, in the afternoon sometimes she will come out and sit on the perch and look out the window.

I had read that if the poop isn't "black and white" it's not a good thing. They are provided with clean water, liquid vitamins maybe 3 times a week, a finch seed mix with several seeds, fruits, oats, songbird seed, dried greens, millet, and I give them egg food as well as soft boiled eggs mashed and crushed shells and cuttlebone whole and crushed (seperate, not on food or in water).

She seems healthy and happy but I just wanted to make sure. I am not sure if theres anything specific I can do. She doesn't seem to sit in one spot puffed up, she doesn't shiver, and she doesn't look sick.

[fhgwgads]

Also... I took pictures because I thought maybe it was easier to tell...

His and Hers

Sorry about the fact that they are pictures of.. well... poop.

[debbie276]

Her's does not look normal to me. Are there any other symptoms of an illness with her? Are you feeding them anything that would dye their poop that maybe she's eating but not him?

I would email Laraine those pictures and see what she thinks. Her email and phone number is here: http://www.ladygouldian.com/

[fhgwgads]

Everything I am giving them is what I listed and she isn't showing any signs of illness right now. Thanks for the link I will send a message now!

[Jeff McKee]

I live in Ontario. Just 25 miles down the road is the University of Guelph. Veterinarians learn their trade at the U of G. Good news for me! If I have a concern, it costs me $100 to get a bird checked out. Considering my birds are worth $1500 to $2000, well, this is a good investment for me. I get a proper answer, for an investment of about $1 per bird, in my aviary.

I'm not sure what your situation is. Whether you have an University nearby, or whether that is cost prohibitive.