What is she doing?!?!

[L in Ontario]

Good news is I observed her for about 25 min when I got home this evening and she only did it once and it was only like 2 repetitions this time. Then she ate, flew and hopped around the cage, and went back into the nest.

That's encouraging!

[MLaRue]

I can't say for sure it is or isn't. Only because I can't see her in person to see how she is all day. Does she really do this all day? Or for short periods of time?

Twirling in my case was never cured. I had two that lived long lives after showing symptoms - very sad - but I couldn't put them down because otherwise they were healthy.

If her head shows a small or slight tilt all thru the day - then it is starting and I would treat her with Baytril or Tri Meth Sulfa. I've heard others catch it early and the bird stops and is actually cured. I just haven't had that luck even with the one that I took to the Vet because I was so tired of not knowing why or how they got this - even went to a Avian Vet - spent big dollars for them to send me home with Baytril and no hope of it stopping but to clear the infection but the damage was already done. The Vet told me the infection damages the ear and then equilibrium.

If you have the means you might want to take her to a Vet to get their opinion. It maybe something different like a bad habit. Did she ever do this around her babies?

See above -

Baytril

http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newprodu ... ytril.html

TMS you can get from

http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/6017.html

https://www.birdsupplynh.com/catalog/pr ... c44a95d47d

[MLaRue]

I don't know Meagan I hate to tell you she has it or not. From my own experience if she isn't doing it all the time or doesn't have a slight head tilt now all the time - I wouldn't think it would be twirling.

I also hate to have you treat her with something while she is with her babies. And, then they would be treated with a medicine and might not need it either.

It is one of those things it is 50/50 - to treat or not to treat. Since ear infections start as a bacterial infection I would go to my Essential Oil's before I tried a medicine just because she is with her babies. Do you have any medications on hand? Or essential oils?

Because you are not seeing her do it as often or aggressively I wouldn't treat her - did you see this post above?

[Meagan83]

Something did occur to me last night as I noticed we have ants (again) in our kitchen... We treated the outside foundation of our house with an insect repellant a few days ago. It's not possible that any of that could have seeped into the house and caused a reaction is it? I thought this idea may be a long shot, but the time frame right. Although I cannot imagine it could get into the house... I really can't...

[L in Ontario]

I would say it's possible for it to leach inside, especially if it was anywhere near (under) a window. She may be overly sensitive to odours as mentioned before. That could certainly explain it.

I hope she continues to improve for you.

[Meagan83]

Well, here is a piece of great news, whatever was wrong has cleared up and she is back to her normal self.
I am still not completely sure of the cause, but very grateful it has not caused any harm to her.
Wooo!

[Sally]

That is wonderful news!

[lovemyfinch]

The best news

[JohnBoy]

Meagan I have only seen this in birds that were injured from flying into something like a window or wall. I wonder if the bird got a neck injury from flying around the cage while dark? I have goulds in a cage in my bedroom. I cover it at night. I have had my female for some reason unknown to leave the nest in the middle of the night and start flying all over the cage wrecking havoc on herself because she could not find her way back to the nest or to a branch. If the bird was not in my bedroom where I could hear her to get her settled, God only knows what could have happened to her. Hope this may shed some light. But as I said I've seen that with birds that had a neck injury due to flying into something.

Update: Glad she is better.

[Meagan83]

JohnBoy, I had not thought of that. That could be it also. I do keep a nightlight in the birdroom. But I know that when they are startled they can get very disoriented. There's no telling what happened. But yes, very glad she has recovered.

[L in Ontario]

Yay for having recovered! How are the babies doing? When will they fledge?

[Meagan83]

The babies are nice and fat. I think they should fledge in about another week and a half? I will post new pics tonight