Poorly Pudgeey

[Helper and Seeker]

Hello Everyone,

General query as I am very new to the Finch scene.

I got my Zebra Finches about 2 months back and have named 3 out of the 6. My favorite being Pudgey for obvious reasons he is alittle plumper than the rest.

Anyway before they all developed their adult plumage Pudgey started to look really tatty and losing his feather on the top of his body (back) and also underneath around his rump area. He was eating as per normal which for Pudgy tend to be every 5 seconds so he can keep his slim like figure intact :razz: , drinking fine and also bathing. His eyes were abit almond shape but I expected that him not beeing well and all.

Did remove him from the rest thinking he could get abit of rest and recover as he was always sleeping with head tucked into his back. And he was always had his feathers plumped up.

Any how he started to improve none of the other birds caught whatever it was and all his little feathers grew back. His little red cheeks are paler than the other males as is his beak.

About 3 days before we moved he started looking tatty again.

Not sure what to do? Have I just got a runt of the litter kind of thing.

And again all the other birds are 100% fine.

Many thanks

Debbs xx

[laurab]

Hiya

I'm really sorry no one has got back to you sooner on this :neutral: I often see something similar with some of my young bengies, and it could be a case of 'runt' of the litter as you have suggested. I have also read that seaweed helps feather growth....I keep meaning to get some, I will let you know when I do. ;-)

[Helper and Seeker]

Thanks Laura,

And no worries about me not having a reply sooner. Peoples lives are manic at the best of times.

His feathers are growing back thankfully. He looks more like a Wren in shape than a finch. He sleeps most of the time but seems happy enough in himself.

Debbs

[Waxbillman]

hello Debbs

i'm afraid to say if he is 'wren' like rather than finchlike, and sleeping allot it means he is most likely still ill - normally anyway, though i suppose runty birds may looks like that, especially when young

good luck with him anyway

Matthew