GIRL POWER!!

A new finch was found through CL and I picked her up Sunday morning. I placed her next to the others in the small cage she came in. After watching her for a bit I realized she cannot fly! Yes, I have a broken finch. I believe it is due to the fact that she has been kept in such a tiny cage for so long. Fun Fact: Birds flight muscles deteriorate at a rapid pace. They must have the chance to fly or they lose the muscles needed to do so. This can happen in just a 24 hour span. This is just more proof that I am 100% correct in my collected knowledge of animals. Awesome.

A little background of the newest member that I have decided to name Bob. She started out with her daughter (a very cute white finch) and had to be rehomed. The next owner decided to place a male in with the mom daughter duo. Mom was pissed when her daughter and the new male decided to become a pair. She and the male battled long and hard. Her tail feathers (or lack there of) are proof of this. Sometimes, she would go into jealous fits of rage and trash their nest. It came down to the male winning and her sleeping at the bottom of the cage and generally being a malcontent. Can you hold any of this against her? I wouldn't want my daughter sleeping with some new guy right in front of my face! And when you're locked in some tiny room by a much larger force, it must be very frustrating. I mean, you and I can go for a walk, burn off some steam. She can only sit there and stew about the whole thing. Let alone the fact that she had her daughter all to herself before all this. Then she had no one. No one to hang out with, no one to practice flying with, no one to show her that she's still young enough to be attractive and loved. No one but me and two raucus males that is!! Freedom from that hellish cage and males waiting to have lots of sex! Does life get any better than this?! I think not! And once I figured out the whole flying issue, I moved her to a larger cage and placed anything enjoyable (nest, bath, etc.) up nice and high. The needs have been placed low but that will change once she's fluttering comfortably. Here's a nice little picture of the newest of the new on the floor of her bigger, better home.



Since I have read everything I can put my eyes on when related to finch care, I have two choices with the introduction to the new cage. I can either move everything around and strip all nests down so everyone has to claim new territory. I like this one as it gives me a chance to revamp the place and take more pictures for you. The other one is to send her in as a pair with another bird so she has a fighting chance with someone having her bath. I do need another female, it's true. Considering her past however, I think this is a lousy idea that could cause major controversy... The third solution (because I am a thinker that enjoys doing most of my contemplation outside of the box) is to simply let her and one of my males get all cosy in the smaller cage and when I put them back, switch with the last lonely male and do it again. :) This would give her a reason to fly and would make it less violent when everything is said and done. Don't get me wrong... I'm still ripping their place apart when I put them back in. It seems only fair. I am going to match her up with the little piebald guy since he's had it the worst and is easy to be pushed around (why pick someone that will fight back when she gets all bitter?). Besides, I have no idea which of the zebra finches is which. The next female might have a bit of a struggle if I still can't figure it out by then. Have faith! Both of the zebra finches are super aggressive and have no problem defending their bitches.