Bizzar (severe) finch injury I need ideas

[Colorguarder08]

I got a phone call today from a friend telling me she has a rat. My immediate reaction was as I told her lay some rat traps. Then she told me it got into her finch cage and did some damage and asked me to come over and give an opinion on if it will live or die. Seeing as it's a Sunday vets are closed yay (yes I'm being sarcastic). I got here and asked where the other one was apparently the rat (assuming its a rat) ate that one and injured the it's mate severely. My friend has had this set of finches since around Easter (end of April) and I told her to remove the nest because one of the finches was a compulsive layer, she would lay about 5 eggs and one day they would disappear. My friend swore up and down she never disturbed the nest. And she would start laying again and the process would repeat. My friend kept the cage intact but moved the finch into another cage with a single finch. The rat ate through the back of the nest, killed the male (we could tell which was which because the person who gave my friend the finches said the male was born without his foot). The female is still alive. However, her leg is missing (I'm assuming as is my friend the rat ate it), she's not able to stand (which is understandable) and she's unable to fully extend her left wing leading me to assume it's broken. My friend is afraid she won't make it but I think if given the proper care she should do ok. My friend was worried that she wasn't eating or drinking water and I kinda got annoyed at that as my friends food and water dishes are taller than the finch and so I was like she CAN'T REACH the food and water how is she supposed to eat or drink so I put some food on the bottom of the cage and after a little while she was eating I'm looking for a shallow water dish to set at the bottom of the cage so she can drink water as well. I am open to any other ideas I told my friend if it lives 'til Tuesday(when I receive my last check) I will buy it a water bottle like the kind you give mice or see if I can find a bird specific one the kind with an open bottom that she will hopefully be able to drink out of.

 

[Phlox]

Without medical attention, the bird will probably die from the infection alone.

 

[Terry57]

Please try to talk your friend into taking her to the vet tomorrow when they are open. Since this involves rat bites, she needs meds to keep infection from setting in. Poor little girl, I am so sorry this happened to her.
In the meantime, if you pick up a small syringe she can be given water that way. She needs to stay hydrated and warm. You could also try some water in a lid of some sort,like a small margarine lid or something like that. I hope she makes it, they are quite resilient.
Please keep us updated.

 

[Colorguarder08]

I found an old feeder at her house that I filled with water and set on the bottom of the cage she's able to drink from that. My friend does plan on taking her to the vet tomorrow but I'm doing my best to help her help the bird make it through the night. The bird was getting more active before I left which is a good sign plus she's eating and drinking which is also good. Also I did candle the 8 eggs in the nest even though they would have been no good by the time I got there since they were left outside in 82° heat but a least none of them were fertile

 

[Terry57]

I am so glad to hear she is taking her to the vet, and that she is eating and drinking.
Finches are tough little guys, she may just pull through this. I am praying that she makes it. It is great that you went over to help her out

 

[Colorguarder08]

I know she's gotta be weak from constantly laying eggs for 3 months I was able to see weak spots in the egg shells so I'm at least glad she won't be laying for a while. I'm hoping she makes it through and in case anyone one is wondering yes there's a clean towel on the bottom of the cage.

 

[Colorguarder08]

UPDATE: she's alive active and even played another damn egg vets don't open for another hour and a half

 

[Terry57]

I am glad to hear she is still alive...that must have hurt when she laid another egg
Please let us know hat the vet has to say.

 

[kq_fan]

Oh no that's terrible! Poor thing! I hope she will be ok till the vets! Rats are bad around here Everywhere I see em run like they are just as entitled to your food as any person!

 

[Colorguarder08]

UPDATE: the vet gave some water soluable antibiotics but said she should be alright

 

[Terry57]

That is great news! Please continue to let us know how she is doing. I have 2 finches that only have 1 leg, and they get around just as well as the other ones.

 

[Colorguarder08]

She still doesn't stand up and I'm not sure if it's just because the injury is new and she's still traumatised or if it's going to be a major issue. I don't think the wing was brought up at the vets office but I can't say for sure as during the vet visit I was in the next county over being interviewed for a job. Anyways nothing visiable was done about the wing but I haven't seen it extended at all. But she does jump about (pathetically kinda reminds me of a fish out of water) to get to where she needs to be.

 

[Colorguarder08]

UPDATE: the finch is still alive and getting better I noticed she's not putting any weight on her food though and I'm ready to strangle my friend when I went over there I saw she put a nest on its side on the bottom of the cage. I told her that nest is going to make it so the finch keeps laying eggs but she won't listen to me which is frustrating

 

[Colorguarder08]

UPDATE: Sadly the finch died

 

[kq_fan]

Oh no! That's awful! I am so sorry!

 

[Terry57]

I am so sorry to hear that Poor little girl.

 

[Colorguarder08]

I really think she just gave up but at least she's not suffering.