Zebra Finch lovers help! I have 2 male and 2 female finches - Yesterday when I came home, I found one dead?

Question

I have four finches: two boys and two girls. For the past few months, they have been happily co-living and even separated into couples. They do lay eggs, but none have hatched. About four days ago, one of the males (lets call him Joe) had got stuck in his nest and hurt his beak. The other male (Bob) was flying at him and attacking him while he was stuck and this is how it caught my attention. Well, I helped Joe get free and both the females were fussing over him, helping him clean off the blood from where he hurt himself. Everything seemed to be back to normal until yesterday when I came home to find Bob dead and covered in blood. I believe that he was killed by one of the other birds (possibly Joe?) and now Bob's girlfriend is very sad, won't go in their nest where they have an egg, etc. I'm just not sure what to do. The folks at the pet store recommended that I don't replace him, but I am looking for a second opinion. Please help! Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

hi its mr.x if i answer ur question i wantu to answer mine ok? its called: URGENT BIRD QUESTION (10 POINTS BEST ANSWER)!!!?.

in the brackets that might not be right well anyway lets get to ur question. i think joe and bob got in a scuff over dominance is bob hurt any where? don't try and replace bob the others will get stressed by the new arrival and could die! (that happened to my budgie) bobs girlfriend will get over it soon enough give her time if she is stressed still within 7 days take her the vet. dont worry from mr.x p.s answer my question.

Answer 2

Zebras can be aggressive if they're paired off and breeding and other birds are present.  It's territorial and they're just doing their job protecting their space.  Not sure how big your cage is - if it's a normal flight (30" long at least) this shouldn't have been a problem.  But if your cage is smaller than 30" it was definitely territorial aggression.

You cannot house two pairs of finches in anything smaller than a 30" flight.  Even some finch species need to be kept in something larger than that if paired and trying to breed.

They are just too aggressive when they have eggs/chicks to defend.. even if its against their own kind.

There's no reason why you *can't* replace bob - I would just suggest doing it only if you intend on separating the other female and the new male into another cage.

Word to the wise - your other pair, if they are indeed the culprit, will not relent on the female.  She's still an intruder and a potential threat to their nest.

Answer 3

So wait, your bird hurt himself bad enough to have visible

blood on him and you Didn't take him to a avian vet?

Whatever, anyways.

It's possible he was killed by one of the others. Zebra

Finches 'can' be little bullies at times, ESPECIALLY

when eggs are present.

However, I wouldn't rule out that he died from his injury

Because it was a beak injury, he may have been unable

to eat properly. Or it could have been infection from the

injury, but thats a little fast moving for infection/disease.

However, Zebra Finches can starve to death in as little as

24 hours due to their very high metabolism.

But as you denied your bird proper avian care, we'll

never know....

I would suggest not getting another.  

Answer 4

I do believe that the other male killed your bird.  I suggest that you don't get another one because the female will not accept a new mate.  If you want to keep breeding her, separate her into her own cage and put the male in a cage next to her.  Let them get used to each other, then one day, just put them together.  See how they do.  If they get along, you should be okay.  

As for the eggs, first see if they are fertile.  If they are, get an incubator so they will not die.  You may have to hand raise them or you can see if you can put them in the nest with your other pair.