UPDATE !! Zebra finch/ twisting of head

hfentj · Post by **hfentj** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:52 am

I wouldn't do anything right now, let him eat the millet, give him a few days then start him back on his normal feed. Good luck Heidi

JavaMama · Post by **JavaMama** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:23 pm

I am glad he is doing better! I have no advice, as I am a new finch owner. Just wanted to let you know that I have my "feathers" crossed for your little bird. Hope he fully recovers!

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:51 pm

I'm puzzled about feeding corn.
Compared to the beak of my zebra, a corn kernel seems awfully large.
Do they somehow poke thru the outer layer first, to get to the insides of the corn?

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:10 pm

Most of the time I steam my corn on the cob for them they do poke it to get at it .

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:53 am

B CAMP wrote:Most of the time I steam my corn on the cob for them they do poke it to get at it .

c

I buy the corn that is still in the shuck, after I clean it I break it in half and give it to them. They devour it!

JavaMama · Post by **JavaMama** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:34 am

dfcauley wrote:
B CAMP wrote:Most of the time I steam my corn on the cob for them they do poke it to get at it .
c

I buy the corn that is still in the shuck, after I clean it I break it in half and give it to them. They devour it!

Does the corn have to be on the cob still, or can I thaw some frozen kernals and put in seed cup?

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:35 am

Sometimes it just seems A little harder don't want them to have to work to hard to eat it but your right they can eat any way they can get it

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:56 am

I think either way would work. When I give them frozen peas or something I just drop them in some hot water for a bit. My Societies like to eat the corn right off the cob, they LOVE it!!

Renee

JavaMama · Post by **JavaMama** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:00 am

GOULDYGIRL wrote:I think either way would work. When I give them frozen peas or something I just drop them in some hot water for a bit. My Societies like to eat the corn right off the cob, they LOVE it!!

Renee

Do you cook it first, like steam the cob or offer it to them raw?

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:04 am

I give it to them raw. I remove the husk and cut a peice off for them.

Renee

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:19 am

JavaMama wrote:
dfcauley wrote:
B CAMP wrote:Most of the time I steam my corn on the cob for them they do poke it to get at it .
c

I buy the corn that is still in the shuck, after I clean it I break it in half and give it to them. They devour it!
Does the corn have to be on the cob still, or can I thaw some frozen kernals and put in seed cup?

I like to leave it on the cob. Seems easier for them to get hold to.
Mine to not like the frozen. They want the fresh! Quite expensive this time of the year. Last ones I bought cost me 89 cent each. I have to buy them for my rabbit too. But... I am getting ready to plant some in a garden bed.

Suenell · Post by **Suenell** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:43 pm

I was doing a search for this exact problem with one of my little F males. This is exactly what he's been doing on & off for a couple of months now.

Mine has what seems to be air under his skin around his neck. Some days he seems to get more air under his skin to the point where he's gasping with his little tongue showing. It's horribly frightening. But he's always seemed to get over it. This time it's different though as he too is twisting his head around as if to (puke) dislodge something from his crop.

I've got a charcoal/shell/grit combo available at all times for all my birds' digestion & I fill the small feeder every day (they do eat it, I don't find it all in the pan). I can't say if he eats it or not.

I do feed my Fs small fruit blend pellets & a fortified mixed Finch seed. I'll be sure to put more seed in their cages as I thought the pellets would provide a more nutritious food.

I'm going to capture him to feel his crop then put him in a cage with heat too. I'll put water, millet & the charcoal blend to see if he gets some relief. I hope both of our lil boys recover ok!

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:59 pm

When you talk about giving your bird a charcoal/shell/grit combo, is the grit bird gravel? If so, I would leave that part out. The oystershell grit is fine.

Suenell · Post by **Suenell** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:09 pm

Sally wrote:When you talk about giving your bird a charcoal/shell/grit combo, is the grit bird gravel? If so, I would leave that part out. The oystershell grit is fine.

Yes it's real fine bird grit. OK I'll leave that part out.