LyricalDream
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 4/2/18
- Messages
- 44
Back on April 1st my zebra finch laid an egg. You can read my other post for all the drama - mama dying, papa abandoning baby, baby has a dead foot, wing hurt, etc. I've gotten her through 95 percent of the problems, however I've run into a few new ones that have me scratching my head. Hoping maybe you all can help me out once again!
1) My nest cam broke, so I'm going on sounds alone here, but it sounds like she's not eating food yet. She screams bloody murder for about five minutes and then shushes. I thought it was papa attacking her at first. After a few days of investigative work I've seen her screaming bloody murder while papa sits on his perch. He also freaks out, hops down and then she shushes. She screams about four times a day. I'm assuming she's relying on papa for food and not eating herself. As she's on the floor I've moved their food dish to a sour cream lid so she can get into it. Still no results. Is there a way to coax her into eating? I've tried all sorts of veggies, pellets, seeds, you name it. What happens if she doesn't eat? Will papa just feed her forever? And how much is she supposed to be eating on her own? I'm not sure if the four or five feedings are normal for a finch of her age.
2) Not *as* pressing, but something I could use advice on. Papa - his new official name - ripped her feathers out when she was young on her left wing. It also happens to be the side with the dead foot. She's figured out walking okay. She now uses the bend in her foot (the joint) to walk instead of the foot itself. But she seems to be lacking wing strength in her left side. Currently she will NOT fly at all. I thought at her age she should be hopping up onto perches? How much flying is normal for a baby her age? I went to pick her up this morning for a 'flight session' to try to get a little strength into her wing (I had to do it with my cockatiel - she's not in any danger!) and she was able to fly up to the bottom of her floor tray. About an inch. And she had the corner to prop her up so it wasn't really 'flying' exactly. What age should she be fully flying?
Also, when is she considered an adult and not relying on Papa finch anymore? I WILL NOT let her breed. She's too fragile! What do I do if she's not feeding herself by that time? Just let Papa do it? He looks a tad stressed!
I've been messaging @finchly for help, but I think we're both stumped on the feeding issue. (I also don't want to bother them too much!) Any help would be appreciated! She's doing so well. (If loud. Her screaming gives me headaches)
1) My nest cam broke, so I'm going on sounds alone here, but it sounds like she's not eating food yet. She screams bloody murder for about five minutes and then shushes. I thought it was papa attacking her at first. After a few days of investigative work I've seen her screaming bloody murder while papa sits on his perch. He also freaks out, hops down and then she shushes. She screams about four times a day. I'm assuming she's relying on papa for food and not eating herself. As she's on the floor I've moved their food dish to a sour cream lid so she can get into it. Still no results. Is there a way to coax her into eating? I've tried all sorts of veggies, pellets, seeds, you name it. What happens if she doesn't eat? Will papa just feed her forever? And how much is she supposed to be eating on her own? I'm not sure if the four or five feedings are normal for a finch of her age.
2) Not *as* pressing, but something I could use advice on. Papa - his new official name - ripped her feathers out when she was young on her left wing. It also happens to be the side with the dead foot. She's figured out walking okay. She now uses the bend in her foot (the joint) to walk instead of the foot itself. But she seems to be lacking wing strength in her left side. Currently she will NOT fly at all. I thought at her age she should be hopping up onto perches? How much flying is normal for a baby her age? I went to pick her up this morning for a 'flight session' to try to get a little strength into her wing (I had to do it with my cockatiel - she's not in any danger!) and she was able to fly up to the bottom of her floor tray. About an inch. And she had the corner to prop her up so it wasn't really 'flying' exactly. What age should she be fully flying?
Also, when is she considered an adult and not relying on Papa finch anymore? I WILL NOT let her breed. She's too fragile! What do I do if she's not feeding herself by that time? Just let Papa do it? He looks a tad stressed!
I've been messaging @finchly for help, but I think we're both stumped on the feeding issue. (I also don't want to bother them too much!) Any help would be appreciated! She's doing so well. (If loud. Her screaming gives me headaches)