FINCHforum

My male diamond dove started acting strange yesterday. I noticed he was kind of looking upward. Just...staring up. But he was still eating and walking around fine, so I kind of dismissed it. Well, today he has no balance, isn't eating and he is staring upward. He's skinny, too.I even stuck my hand in the cage to see if he would move and he didn't. He just fell over. I'm afraid he's close to death but I don't know what to give to him. Did he bonk his head? I just don't know where to start. Do birds get inner ear infections? I need to move fast, he's going downhill and I don't want to lose him.
I don't think he broke his neck because he can still look straight every once in awhile.

I really do wish that I could help you. I do however wish him a speedy recovery.

I just don't know what to give him. I can't find anything online. I finally found an article that said "Signs a Diamond Dove is Sick" and one of them was loss of balance. But then said nothing about what it is. I need to give him something...but what? His mate is cooing a sad song to him and I really love the little guy. Sigh. Guess I have some research to do.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/d ... #Potential Problems:

I guess I'll give him S76 for parasites?? Hmmm...

I am so sorry for your problems. It is so sad to see something like this happen.

I really doubt that it is mites or parasites. I wonder if they get have stargazing or twirling like in goudians.....

There is an article on ladygouldian.com about that if you would like to search it out.

Perhaps try some type of antibiotic. It could possibly be an inner ear problem.

Yeah, it looks like twirling to me. Unfortunately the causes of twirling are still hard to identify. Sometimes it's an inner ear infection though.

Gosh that is too bad. I have read somewhere where another Diamond Dove owner had the same problem and mentioned it was because the dove had hit his head hard and ended up with some mild brain damage....but that the dove was still eating and functioning pretty well. He had to put perches and food and water close to the bottom of the cage since the dove couldn't ever fly up anymore.

Probably not much you can do but adjust his living quarters for his condition and hopefully he will continue to feed and eat well in spite of the twirled neck. Good luck.

I really cant help you either. I do have a pair of Diamond Doves. Maybe my breeder could help you out. She breeds alot of Diamond Doves. Here is her webpage http://www.sissysbirdcolony.com/
Tell her that Terry from Maryland gave you her webpage. Good Luck

Terry