Sleeping on back?

[FinchNerd]

I've had zebra finches before, when I was younger. Back then I knew far more about them than I do now. I'm having to relearn a lot since getting two males last year, Aristotle and Socrates. This morning, Aristotle did something I've never seen a finch do and I've certainly never seen him do. As far as I know these birds are perfectly healthy. I've seen no signs or illness or anything.

This morning, I checked in on the birds and Aristotle was in the nest but he was laying on his back. I freaked out, thinking he was dead, reached into the cage, and as soon as I touched the nest, he flipped over onto his belly and looked up, very alert as if startled from sleep. He proceeded to jump out of the nest, fly around, and hop about on the perches.

Was this just a one time fluke? A sign of illness? Is it at all normal for a finch to roll over onto its back during sleep? He has been acting completely normal the rest of the day. Jumping around, singing, eating, etc. I guess it's nothing to worry about, but I still thought it was strange.

[dingal2000]

That would of scared the hell out of me too, and to be honest i`ve not been witness to anything like that myself, i didnt think birds slept on there backs

[FinchNerd]

I didn't think so either. It scared me. I just knew he was either dead or had some neurological problem or something. But he appears to be just fine. I'm going to watch him close and see if he does it again. It was very weird.

[dingal2000]

Maybe Socrates pushed him over and he didnt wake up LOL

[FinchNerd]

LOL Maybe so! Socrates was out of the nest when I checked on them. I suppose it's possible he could have jumped in and out of there before I walked in and shoved Aristotle over. Perhaps Aristotle is just a really deep sleeper.

[L in Ontario]

OMG - Finch tipping! I'm sorry - it just hit me... like cow tipping.... which I've never done btw!!

[Finch Fry]

HAHAHAH. This is hilarious. Perhaps Socrates was not impressed with what Aristotle had philosophized about and decided to smack him around.

I did get my zeb to do this one. I held him in my hand for a routine health check and he was on his back in my hand, but i was grasping him. When I opened my hand to release him, he laid there, like dead, but his eyes were open. I laughed at him and told him to get up but he just sat there, paralyzed. I laid him on the floor of his cage and nothing. I stepped back and then he flipped over and hopped to his perch.

I felt like it was a defense mechanism... acting dead so that I wouldn't eat or bother with him. Too bad, I sure was hungry.

[cindy]

Liz that was hysterical

Chris, cereal is more filling.

Some little baby parrots, some baby parakeets do this or sleep flat, it is a little scary at first. I have to admit I have never seen or had a finch do that.

[L in Ontario]

While I've seen tiny finch hatchlings sleeping on their backs, I haven't seen a adult one doing that. How is he today?

[FinchNerd]

He is perfectly fine today. Nothing abnormal at all. Maybe it was just a fluke or a finch-tipping incident. lol

[cindy]

Maybe he is a back sleeper, not a side or tummy sleeper!

Liz..we have coined some interesting expressions and terms on this forum...finch tipping is a good one!!!!!

[Finch Fry]

coined some interesting expressions and terms

D-cups

[FinchNerd]

"And the Gold Medal in Finch-Tipping goes to...."

[dingal2000]

Well if it was the other one that done, you could say he was "flipping the bird"

[FinchNerd]

Nice.