Aussie Finch Forum

Hi Matcho,

I hand raised a zebra finch just before Christmas it took 10 weeks before it finally would eat itself. I was thinking that I would be feeding it for the rest of it's life. I put it with a pair of zebra finches that were only a couple of months old. It got to the stage where it only begged in the morning and last thing late afternoon. I was worried that it was not eating much during the day as it only picked occasionally at the millet sprays and seed. As I said after 10 weeks it started feeding itself very quickly and seem to not be able to stop. It hardly had any feathers when I started hand feeding and took along time for it to get feathers but now looks like a normal bird. The only thing I could suggest is put it in a cage with a pair or a couple of younger birds and it may copy them eating.
My little zebra use to get in the nest with the pair I put in the cage with it, they accepted it really well. It is now in the aviary with the other birds. Good luck as someone else said it will learn to be a bird in time and eat itself and I did take a long time for my little finch to do this.

Thanks Lyn,

Really needed to hear that. 10 weeks!!!!! Well here is the update, the chick is starting to have a little bit of a peck at millet sprays I have in the cage but I think this is curiosity although this morning didn't pay too much attention to me until mid morning and then it started the usual begging etc. Anyhow I have just dropped it of to friends house to look after it until next Tuesday as the better half has accepted a posting in Moree and I am travelling up there to see how she's settling in. Besides she wants the dogs up there with her so it was not an option taking the bird and the three dogs in the car on such a long haul. Hopefully the change of scenery will help him move forward. Will give an update when I get back.