Lost two gouldians and others sick - Update 6/1

[bugaboo5]

I'm sympathetic to your losses, AngieCort. We all know how much you care and love your birds. You are a excellent bird mommy. I hope your beloved mother and son do not bear the guilt for these unfortunate series of events. I'm going to be praying for the other birds -- I hope they pull through!!!

[AngieCort68]

Woke up early this morning (I am on vacation so I didn't want to sleep in) to make sure the birds were ok. Didn't want my daughter who gets up before everyone else for school to find the birds if something happened overnight. They both look ok and both are sitting away from the heat so I am hoping that means they are feeling better. At what point should I try to put them back with the other? How long should I keep them in the recovery cages? Thanks everyone for all your help.

[debbie276]

GREAT news!

[bugaboo5]

Woke up early this morning (I am on vacation so I didn't want to sleep in) to make sure the birds were ok. Didn't want my daughter who gets up before everyone else for school to find the birds if something happened overnight. They both look ok and both are sitting away from the heat so I am hoping that means they are feeling better. At what point should I try to put them back with the other? How long should I keep them in the recovery cages? Thanks everyone for all your help.

I think you should keep them in quarantine or in the recovery cage for at least a week. I would offer the additional heat; especially at night, when it is colder. I would continue to monitor their conditions, just to be on the safe side. Good vibes and prayers sent your way.

[AngieCort68]

The dad still appears to be breathing faster than normal. He eats and drinks fine and is looking better but still breathing faster than normal. The other one looks a lot better than this one though they both look a lot better. The four still left in the main cage all appear healthy and eating good too. No signs of anything wrong with them. Should I do anything else for the one breathing fast? Thanks in advance.

[CandoAviary]

Great news! If they have improved to this point then I would assume 2 things went wrong.. lack of food for whatever reason and stress. Maybe the youngsters (I think they are 5 or 6 months old) are challenging Dad. Maybe the cage with all the parents and chicks is just not large enough for them all to interact peacefully. I forget how many and size of cage. Do you have the other finches mixed with them?

The breathing fast could be heat (panting), stress, or possibly air sac mites or some congestion/infection....
Maybe treat for ASM with a mild iverlux in the water. This is easy and should not hurt the bird at all. Of course I have ASM on the brain as I am treating every single one of mine as they are being moved to the outdoor flights... you never know what is floating around so whether they need it or not... they are getting it. Have treated at least 300 birds so far

Depending on the bird... I may put him back and watch to see what the problem may be (such as fighting) or not...all depending on what else is in the cage with him... Also depending on his breathing I may would isolate him and administer antibiotics. This is an extremely hard call to say without being in the company of the bird... I can usually tell of heavy breathing is from heat/stress.. or asm or sickness... just have no idea what you consider heavy breathing... so it is hard to diagnose via internet.
But the fact that they have improved is very encouraging.. this means it is not that serious... because if they were really sick they would not be improving but getting worse.

[AngieCort68]

Candace I am going to record him and put it on internet so u can see what I mean. He appears livelier at times and continues to eat so I would think he is improving. I have added the Iverlux to the water but which antibiotics should I use. I have Amoxitex and tetratex from Morning Bird. Thanks.

[CandoAviary]

I would use the Amoxitex for a respiratoy infection See if the iverlux works first..unless he begins to gets worse instead of better. I use antibiotics as a last resort.
Usually if it is a respiratory infection they don't get livelier..they continue to go downhill as their lungs get more congested. With ASM they will go up and down depending on the mites.
Another thing.. if it was from some sort of chemical poisoning/householed fumes then he may have damage to the lungs/air sacs. Some birds will never recover totally from that. They may be breath inpaired forever... much like someone with damaged lungs from years of smoking or recurrant respiratory infections... scar tissue builds up limits the breath.
I just can't see the other 2 passing withing 28 to 72 hours from ASM or respiratory infection..especially when they were in health when you left. Lack of food could of weakened him so that if there was an underlying condition of asm then his immpaired immune system would not keep them in check... but I am still not ruling out other things. Sending prayers for those feathered dears

[AngieCort68]

I am happy to report that the two gouldians I had that were sick have recovered. I have put them back with the group and they have adjusted well. I have multiple eating stations and plenty of millet. I am not sure why I lost the other two but I am happy that I didn't loose those two that were sick. Thanks everyone for your advise and quick responses to help me take care of them.

[Lisa]

Glad to hear it!

[Sally]

I merged this with your other thread about the sick Gouldians, since this is a continuation of the same subject. Glad to hear they are doing better.

[CandoAviary]

I am so sorry about the lost ones, so glad that these improved and are back to normal.

[kheather]

Great news!!!! Good job on getting them better!