A little blind society finch

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In addition to raising zebra finches, we have four resident society finches. They are rescues and have found a happy forever home with us. Here, they can grow old and receive the needed care.

The average lifespan of a zebra finch is 5 to 7 years. For society finches, it is even shorter, about 4 years. That is very little time from when they mature until they grow old. Just like with any other species, birds can face numerous ailments related to old age. 

One might ask - is it possible for an elderly bird to still lead a happy life? The answer is YES! One of our society finches is blind. She has cataracts and has lost most of her vision. However, she still has full functionality, and is a happy bird. One should never give up on a disabled bird. I will not go into extreme cases where there is an ethical issue of quality of life.

Birds, just like any pet, deserve the best quality of life we can possibly provide, and they rely on us, their owners, to take care of them. They depend on us for a droplet of water, quality nutrition, and pretty much everything. Moreover, birds have no choice - they get what we serve them, and it is only fair that we do our best to ensure their happiness and good health. Otherwise, there is no point of owning a bird, ever.

Our little blind bird is still very active and happy. To ensure that she is comfortable and confident despite her condition, it is important to keep her surroundings in exactly the same state at all times. That means that food, and drinking and bathing water must be fresh and available in the same location at any given time, and that all cage accessories (e.g., perches, swings, ropes, etc.) are not modified or changed around in any way. She has memorized the cage setup and can easily find what she needs. Birds have amazing memory. She also follows the sounds of her companions for clues about their whereabouts, activities and times of the day.


Despite being blind, this highly adaptable bird is happy and full of life. We cherish every day she is with us.

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