Signs of illness include fluffed-up feathers, lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing.
- Isolate the sick bird from others to prevent spreading disease.
- Keep them warm (27-30°C) by using a heat lamp or warm room.
- Offer fresh, easy-to-eat food like soft egg food, warm millet, and fresh water.
- Visit an avian vet ASAP for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Finches sometimes regurgitate food as a normal bonding behavior, but frequent vomiting, wet feathers around the beak, or undigested seeds in their cage could be a sign of a crop infection or digestive illness. If you see this happening, get them checked by a vet immediately.
If your usually friendly finch becomes aggressive, unusually quiet, or isolates itself, it may be sick. Sick birds often sit puffed up in a corner, avoid socializing, and stop their usual behaviors like singing, playing, or preening.
A healthy beak should be smooth, clean, and well-shaped. If you notice overgrown, cracked, or discolored beaks, it could indicate nutritional deficiencies or disease. Similarly, check the feet and legs. Swollen, red, or scaly legs could mean mites, infections, or arthritis.
Bright, clear eyes are a sign of good health. If your finch has swollen, watery, or half-closed eyes, it could have an infection or respiratory illness. Crusty or sticky discharge around the eyes is also a bad sign. If the eyes are always closed or sunken, the bird is very weak.
Watch your finch’s breathing closely. If it is breathing with its beak open, making clicking or wheezing sounds, or moving its tail up and down while breathing, it may have a respiratory infection. Labored breathing can also indicate air sac mites or lung infections, which need urgent vet treatment.
A healthy finch is active, jumps around, and flies happily. If your finch is sitting still for long periods, staying at the bottom of the cage, or struggling to fly, it may be sick. A weak bird might also lose balance, close its eyes often, or lean to one side.
Check your finch’s poop daily. Healthy droppings should be solid, with a white part (urates) and a dark part (feces). If you notice watery, discolored (green, yellow, or red), too dry, or very smelly droppings, it could indicate digestive problems, infections, or liver disease.
Finches love to eat constantly. If your bird is not eating much or ignoring food, it could be a sign of sickness. Watch if they are dropping seeds, refusing to eat, or struggling to swallow. A sick finch may also stop drinking water, leading to dehydration, which can be very dangerous.
A healthy finch has smooth, clean, and well-groomed feathers. If your finch looks fluffed up all the time, it might be sick. Birds fluff their feathers to stay warm when they feel weak or cold. If the feathers look dirty, matted, or dull, it’s a sign of illness. Bald spots or excessive feather loss can also mean stress, mites, or malnutrition.
