March 14, 2022
Zebra finches
Hi
I got 4 large zebras just fledged but don’t fly they look like there wings messed up.
The nest was full nearly to the top maybe they where kinda squashed and got damaged wings cos of it…tnx
Question:
Answer:
Hi Chris,
If the nest was the kind made for finches, it should have been large enough. When finches fledge, their wing and tail feathers are generally still growing in. They also need to be groomed generally by the parents, to get the sheaths off of them. If the birds aren’t OK after a few days, then there might be a physical issue, so you should take them to an avian vet. They could be stunted – this can be from poor nutrition or if the parents have been over bred or are related to each other. Breeding finches need a pelleted diet, not seeds, as well as leafy greens, veggies and egg food. If you have only fed seeds, this may be caused by malnutrition. If this pair has had several clutches in a row, this could be due to them being over bred. You should only allow them to have 2 clutches of eggs per year with a 6 month rest in between. It can also be genetic. If this does end up being some type of deformity, I would not breed the pair again.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
