Gouldians dying, need help, please!

[Jude1322]

Two friends and I got together and ordered quite a number of Gouldians from Florida. They came in quite thin, but otherwise healthy looking. Within a few days, one by one started getting puffy, then tucking head under wing and sleeping a lot during the day. We thought they were cold, so put heat lamps on them, and I medicated them for Protozoa using Ronivet. I gave them probiotics and nv which is like a bird Gatorade. Nothing helped, they started dying. They had all they wanted to eat in front of them and all the millet they could eat and got hemp seed to help put weight on them, but they stop eating. We keep loosing some each day, does anyone have any ideas on what might be happening? Do any "over the counter" antibiotics work? Help, Judy

[Sally]

So sorry this has happened to you. Have you contacted the seller to let him/her know what is going on? If the birds came in quite thin, then I would question how healthy they were to begin with, as a healthy bird will not be quite thin. If they are not even eating spray millet, then I would say they are probably pretty ill, as most birds will take to that, even when they don't want to eat a regular finch mix. Do they have access to water in a dish/bowl? Some birds aren't used to different tubes, etc., and will literally die of dehydration with water available to them, but in a form they don't recognize. I always give NV powder in the water to new/shipped birds, as it really helps with the stress, but I think more than just stress is going on here.

[debbie276]

The ronivet should be given for 7 days, have you given it that long? Like Sally mentioned, gouldians should not be thin. It could be a number of things from your description. What do their droppings look like? Any sneezing and/or coughing? During quarantine did you worm them and/or give them a treatment for air sac mites?
I also would recommend you contact the breeder and let them know whats going on.
If you contact Laraine at www.ladygouldian.com either by email or phone she may be able to help you diagnose the problem after asking you more specific questions.

good luck
please keep us posted

[Smurf]

So sorry to hear this, it sounds like you'll need to treat them with appropriate antibiotics, do you have any avian vets you can contact ? there's no cure all antibiotic so unless you can quickly get help with diagnosing the illness to administer correct treatment you could lose more birds.

[Jude1322]

Thank you for reply. Yes, they got the 7 day course of Ronivet, and I did spot on with Scatt. I think that Scatt also takes care of worms too. I asked before birds arrived what they were used to drinking out of and have observed them all drinking from bowl. I read some one else's post about sick birds and yellow poop was mentioned. Is yellow droppings a sign of coccidiosis? I have yellowy watery droppings from them. We also got an owl finch and a pair of star finches that were shipped with gouldians and they are very active and look fine, so could this be just a gouldian thing? Thank you again, Judy

[wildbird]

I would definitely contact the seller and find out why the birds were so thin when they arrived, and whether they were eating before you got them. I would also keep the owl finch and star finches away from the sick birds. It is best to find out what you are treating for before you medicate them.

[debbie276]

Any updates? FYI Scatt, S76 and the like don't treat for all the worms. It's best to use a wormer like worm away.

[Jude1322]

Ok, I have worm away also. Thanks for everyone's input. We have contacted the seller, of course, they have never had this happen before and only assured us of live arrival. One of the other friends that bought with me is working with seller, I am working to save birds. I will contact Laraine and let you know what I found out. Thank you again, Judy

[WesKnapp]

Who was the seller? I bought a bird a few months ago from someone in FL and it always seemed not top shape and now has a major health issue. Curious if it's the same seller....

[monotwine]

Coccidiosis is one of the most common diseases that kill birds. It can also present itself after the birds go through a period of stress, such as travel and a new environment.
However they would have had to be sick for quite some time to be shipped to you in poor condition as cocci doesn't kill birds quickly. Its the finch silent killer and takes time to develop in large enough quantities to make birds very ill.
You can easily identify coccidiosis in affected birds faecal samples using a microscope that can magnify to about x200.
It is best to try diagnose the actual cause before treating.

Treating for it as a preventative would do no harm if you have tried all else (which it sounds like you have) or don't have access to an avian vet or good microscope. I would treat all the birds that were shipped from this supplier and not only the Gouldian.

Sorry to hear your birds are dying. I sincerely hope the seller compensates you for your losses.

[lnlovesorange]

This post was brought back, but I doubt she'll sign back in, but in case she does, Judy whatever happened with your birds? WesKnapp

[WesKnapp]

thanks. curious

[monotwine]

oops never looked at the previous dates.