Is there something wrong with this zebra?

[David]

I just noticed one of the zebbie looks like a bone - shape on the chest, only been like this since 1 week ago. I fed everyone with nutrition food like eggs, calcium, fruits , veggies, seed and other food. Not sure if this is normal?? because most my birds should have round shape on the chest. I hope no nothing wrong with this bird. Any ideas would be great, thanks in advance.

[Ricardo Ronsini]

I belive she is corpulent ;)

That lump would be subcutaneous fat.

Grab her and blow her feathers, you should see a yellow mass.

[David]

Hmmmmm I hope not just fat, she was like this lately , and I thought it's too bonely. Let me try to blow her feather tonight before she sleep and see what happens. Thanks Ricardo.

[lovezebs]

David

She might be chubby, but we had a member on here whose bird had some sort of a tumor on it's chest, but for the life of me I can't recall who it was.

[David]

Elena
I see. As long as she is normal then I'm happy. Just don't want any tumor in her I hope. Will observe her more and see.

[najione@icloud.com]

David
When buying finch :article:
Catch the zebra finch and cup it in your hand to feel its chest. If the keel bone is prominent it may be too thin. Hold the bird to your ear and listen for clicking respiratory sounds that may indicate respiratory disease.

[wildbird]

The bird looks fine to me.

[David]

Thanks all of your comments, I think she looks fine no fat or anything when I held her close and check. It's just little weird when see the bone shape like in her chest. Hope it doesn't look worse but keep it this way

[lovezebs]

David

Looking at the pictures again, I wonder if it's just a genetic thing, like one person being tall, another short, etc.

Do you happen to have any other of her family members with which you could compare?

[David]

Elena

Yeah I compared other siblings and all normal but only her with this bump maybe genetic thing, I hope she can still be a healthy bird.. she eats ok and everything normal just the bump makes me worried.

David

[Stuart whiting]

Elena

Yeah I compared other siblings and all normal but only her with this bump maybe genetic thing, I hope she can still be a healthy bird.. she eats ok and everything normal just the bump makes me worried.

David

Hi David

In fairness I don't think there's actually anything wrong with yer hen zebra, I'd say it's most likely to be a genetical throwback,

We get this with all birds at times and for example take a look at high quality exhibition zebras where they are literally twice the size of normal pet zebras,
The exhibition birds are much bigger because pairs of birds are often carefully selected and bred for size and because of this we at times get throwbacks.

If birds are also being closely bred which is what we call inbreeding it can cuase slight deformities aswell,

If this is the case I'd then not worry in the slightest as the bird should be in a normal healthy state

[David]

Thank you for your kind words. I think you are right , the hen is just eating and behave normal so I won't worry much about it just do my best to provide all the nutrition food for all the birds and make sure them healthy!