Several Steps To Take With A Sick Bird

[DanteD716]

So, I noticed that there are several things we finch owners like to provide when a bird falls ill, no matter what the scenario is. I thought maybe I would type them up in this topic, fire first time finch owners our non-members viewing the forum who have a sick bird.

Step 1:

Move your finch into a hospital/solitary cage. (A hospital cage should be smaller than your average cage, to prevent the bird from flying around too much, and losing energy) You want your bird to be alone to prevent him/her from potentially spreading the virus, and they wrong have to worry about other birds bothering them.

Step 2:

A heat lamp is always beneficial to a bird that is under the weather. Make sure there is a spot on the cage where they can escape the heat. If you dont have a heatlamp might for animals, a small lamp with a 50 watt bulb will be a good substitute.

Step 3:

Make sure your bird has plenty of fresh water, and seed. If your bird is having a hard time flying, place them in shallow dishes on the floor do your bird can easily access them. I also like to provide fresh eggfood (smashed up hard boiled eggs) for birds having a hard time eating. Shah the shell up with the egg, as the extra calcium helps; especially with a potentially eggbound female.

Small notes:

-Providing only one perch that reaches across the entire cage is best, because a bird who is having a hard time moving around wont have to fly to get out of the heat from the lamp.
-If your bird can't fly or perch well, try padding the bottom of the cage, and the sides, with paper towels to prevent him from crashing and hurting himself.

[DanteD716]

I hope you guys like it, and if I have missed anything feel free to add!

[Angela&Shalamar]

Also I'd add that anytime a bird seems ill and needs to be isolated a complete physical should be done. That way should you need to consult a vet your ahead of the game and not scrambling to answer their questions.

1. what happened? Did you see a fight. Did you have to free a leg/or wing? Also how long has the bird seem ill. Is this something acute (sudden severe onset) or something you've been noticing or suspecting for a day or two or longer.

2. is the bird underweight? Can you feel it's keel (breastbone) overly much. Should be able to feel it some but it shouldn't be overly pronounced.

3. How is it breathing (best to check this before capture as handling stress and increase heart rate) Is it fast/slow/normal is the bird breathing easy or seeming to struggle/gasp

4. what do the feathers look like? Smooth and completely, fluffed, ruffled, missing?

5. what about the eyes are the clear and open? inflamed, swollen, is there discharge? closed?

6 Is the bird able to move it's wings/ legs? Can it perch?

7. Is there blood? Where exactly...check the whole body including the inside of the mouth and around the vent.

8. Does the bird stool appear normal? If you cant' tell in a community cage is there any on the bird like diarrhea? What color is it and does it have an unusual smell?

9. Run your fingers over the wings along the bones can you feel any break or fractures. Also run your hands down the spine is there any swelling? You can do the same for the legs. When checking the leg make sure to work up close to the hip as well as further down

10. Are there any masses/swellings anywhere on the bird. If so where and roughly what size?

11, As you handle the bird do you see any parasites on it's feathers or crawling on you?

12 What age and sex is the bird.

13. Have you changed anything in the birds enviroment? New cleaning product, new feed, new feed source, new water source, more or less heat....?

14. Also keep a record of any treatments you give for reference in case you need to consult a vet.

Also I would try to have the hospital cage in another room with no kids/pet or other birds around. Quiet can help with stress and shock. Also ill animals should be tended LAST to reduce the chance of spreading infections. If not possible disposable glove and maybe even a change of cloths are not bad ideas. Having the name and number of at least a couple avian vets handy at all times is a good idea. Nothing like scrambling to find a vet in a crisis.

[DanteD716]

Great points! Thank you!

[Angela&Shalamar]

O almost forgot is the bird dehydrated? It can be hard to tell in a bird but if you blow back the belly feathers where they leg joins the body and get a look at the skin it will loo extra wrinkly and "sticky" when the bird is dehydrate...easier to see in hatchlings.