Terrible week bird-wise

[Nerien]

So very sorry you lost these birds, Lisa.

My budgies sometimes have night frights, started by a pair of white birds we got together (used to be a trio, but one has passed) who had been in a really crappy petstore situation, we bought them to rescue them from it. We cover the budgie cage with a heavy cloth at night, to shut them up and make sure they sleep and therefore don't get all eager to breed. But sometimes the white birds start the night frights again, and even if I drop the cover and provide light, a little or a lot, it makes no difference. They keep crashing around for what seems like an eternity. If they notice me there, or if I move within sight of the cage, that can extend it, or re-trigger it. I just have to wait it out, cringing the whole time. So even if your hubby had done something or woken you, it might not have made a difference. I've just been lucky we haven't had anything worse than a bit of a bloody wing and once a scrape next to an eye.

[Rox]

Lisa, my heart goes out to you. Having recently gone through a similar situation with my Gouldians, I know just how you feel. Big hugs and hang in there!!

[jack91]

Sorry to hear that hope everything settles down soon and happiness returns

[Tammy]

sorry to hear about your birds.-tammy

[Lisa]

So things do seem to be much calmer and healthier in that aviary now, with the exception of Heaven, who is still fluffed. Fortunately, he's not ill enough to be easy to catch. I keep trying to get him (I'd like to move him to a hospital cage where he can get some peace & quiet along with heat) but he's too fast and as you can imagine, catching a bird in an aviary is no easy task. I still have 2 heat lamps set up at the ends of the aviary so he COULD sit if he wanted too. However, he keeps sitting in a middle spot close to the full spectrum lighting instead (it gives off a little heat).

The Doxycycline came as planned yesterday - I had mentioned in another thread I have doubts about using it. The outside of the package has a picture of a pigeon on it which certainly does not put me at ease of using it. At the time I ordered it, I was so worried he would go down the same day like Mee-Meep had that I wanted something stronger.

I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I do think I'm going to try to catch and isolate him to a hospital cage today. Maybe I should try a round of Ronivet and some Thrive in his food. Once he's isolated I can reassess his symptoms (hard to tell which poo is his in an aviary!).

[debbie276]

From what I understand with the Doxycycline, you do a trial treatment to see if a full treatment is needed. There must have been a reason why you went with an antibiotic to begin with, are you doubting yourself again? Seems it can't hurt to test and then reassess.
Unless you think it may be a protozoa infection, though I'm not sure one eyed cold is a symptom of that.
Bottom line it's your call, wishing you all the best. Please keep us posted.

[Zebrafincher]

Sorry to hear about your lovely birds. Its always hard to lose birds. My finches occasionally get stirred up. We had an earthquake at home several months ago, and I went in to see them....behaving WILD, frantic, flapping around!

Birds seem to be much more sensitive than we are. I didn't even know we'd had one. I'd been watching TV.

[Lisa]

From what I understand with the Doxycycline, you do a trial treatment to see if a full treatment is needed. There must have been a reason why you went with an antibiotic to begin with, are you doubting yourself again? Seems it can't hurt to test and then reassess.
Unless you think it may be a protozoa infection, though I'm not sure one eyed cold is a symptom of that.
Bottom line it's your call, wishing you all the best. Please keep us posted.

You're right and although he's starting to get many pin feathers in his head, I do think there's more to it than just a rough molt. I also have to remind myself of the 'one eye cold' that seemed to have passed but did occur. He's in a hospital cage right now (finally caught the sucker!) with heat on one side, which he is utilizing, and fresh seed with Thrive mixed in and his first dose of Doxcycline... in a Lenox crystal bowl! LOL The instructions say you MUST use glass, stainless steel or galvanized pottery. I didn't really have anything small enough for him to drink out of without him being afraid of falling in or having to jump into it to drink out of so he's using true crystal... and looking rather debonair. Excuse me, do you have any Grey Poupon? lol I am very leery about keeping him on it long-term no matter what the results but think it should be okay for a short term to see if there is any improvement.

[debbie276]

Best of luck

[Ginene]

Lisa
Good luck, Lisa!!! I am sending you hugs and prayers!!!

[dayhiker]

Lisa- i hope everything is better this week and onwards with you and your little loved ones.