New mommie of Spice Finch - Beak scare!

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:19 pm

Hello all,

I came across your wonderful forum after recently purchasing two spice finches, I have read up and hopefully have provided a good home! I noticed one of my babies have a bald spot right above his beak

It looks red and irritated like he has been scratching at it?! Is this a result of molting? It appears they are both going through this process, I just noticed Pip had a loss of feathers above his beak. As I am first time Finch mommie I just want to make sure I am providing a healthy enviornment for my featherbabies!

Thanks in advance!
Mom to Pip and Squeak (males)

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:25 pm

Welcome to the forum,have you checked out the finch info center
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php
It might be moulting or it could be mites not sure I think someother members will give some advice soon

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:28 pm

Thanks B Camp I will definitely take a look at that again! I appreciate the warm welcome!!!

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:39 pm

Now it looks like he is puffing himself up, is he sick? Help!!! Is he trying to get warm?

Poor baby!!!

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:55 pm

Can we please get some more details. What temperature is the room at. Are you talking about baby spice finches, or are you just referring to the adult spice finches as your baby. Can you give us a rough age.

Being puffed up is an indication of being cold.

Also, how big of a cage are the birds in.

I am not too experienced but if you can give warmth to the finches, maybe a small lamp in one corner of the cage, it will provide them with a warm zone to hang out in if they are in fact cold.

Not sure on the red spot, hold out for some of the more experienced.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:13 pm

SugarSpice
Being puffed is normaly A sign of not fealing well like chris said give it some added heat, lamp will be fine just place so he can get close or be able to move away if he gets to hot .Is he on a perch or setting on the floor,if hes on the floor make sure you have some millet and water that he can get to easy [seed]
Are both of them or just one of them,they should be seperated if you have another cage to use like a hospital cage ,look on that link for health
http://www.finchinfo.com/health/index.php
How long have you had them ?
Keep us up to date

Post by **Sally** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:29 am

Sometimes when birds are new, they have been stressed by the move, and so they will get a bit puffy. Giving them a little extra heat will usually help. If you don't have a heat lamp, just putting a regular incandescent lamp aimed into one end of their cage will do. Also, new birds don't always know how to get food and water, so be sure and supply these items in open dishes.

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:23 pm

I checked in on them this morning! They are both adults but seem to be young in age. Not completely sure... I just call them my babies ;)

They are sitting together on the perch and as suggested I added a lamp they are huddled in that corner so maybe they were cold after all!

The cage they have is quite big for two little birds but I wanted them to be able to fly around as they would in a natural enviornment! I have seen them both eat and drink and have put extra greens in for added nourishment!

I cleaned the cage this afternoon and was shocked at the amount of feathers in the bottom of the cage!!! Is that normal? Could this be what is referred to as molting (maybe the reason for the feather loss above the beak?)

Thank you all sooo very much for your responses, I want my babies to be in good health!!

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:24 pm

In an additional note I put in a warm bath, as I read in other posts this would help with molting and feather maintenance. The water was bath warm... is that the correct temp?

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:37 pm

I just use tap water for there bath ,but I would give them some egg food,just hard boil a couple eggs take the eggs mash with a fork shell and all give them some they won't eat a lot ,whats left after a few hours throw away because it will spoil, put the rest in baggy put in fridge.then you can give them some a couple days a week.They will eat a lot of different things look on that link it will give you a lot of ideas
Glad they seem to be better

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:16 pm

Great! I will give the eggfood a try and see if they bite

I am sure they will love it in addition to all of their other goodies! Thank you so much for your help. I am having new mommie worries constantly!

DVBourassa · Post by **DVBourassa** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:50 pm

If they don't eat the egg right away just keep trying. My birds take several days before they'll try something new.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:54 am

B CAMP wrote:SugarSpice
Being puffed is normaly A sign of not fealing well like chris said give it some added heat, lamp will be fine just place so he can get close or be able to move away if he gets to hot .Is he on a perch or setting on the floor,if hes on the floor make sure you have some millet and water that he can get to easy [seed]
Are both of them or just one of them,they should be seperated if you have another cage to use like a hospital cage ,look on that link for health
http://www.finchinfo.com/health/index.php
How long have you had them ?
Keep us up to date

I hope you are making progress with them. I agree that seeing them all 'puffed' up all the time is not a good sign. There is something going on.

Is the heat lamp helping? Are they trying the egg food?

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:54 am

They seem to be doing lots better, I think the heat lamp definitely helped! I also put a warm towel around them at night so they can sleep with the lamp off! They are both eatting and drinking normally and flying about so that is definitely comforting. I did see them trying the egg food and they absolutely love their cuttlebone and veggies! Thanks again for all your help!!!

SugarSpice · Post by **SugarSpice** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:55 am

It seems I am confused I have Society Finches not Spice Finches! OH my!