Bloody Diarrhea in Gouldian-- Update 4/1 w/ Video

[Domenic]

Thanks Liz. In a way I can see the bright side of this. I've made some fantastic and kind hearted finch friends, my birds will now be healthier because of all the treatments I'm going to have in case anything goes wrong, I've learned SO MUCH about diseases and bird health, and I will never make the same mistake of not quarantining a bird—no matter where it comes from. Judah has taught me so much.

Misty, I do have fostering societies but they have never raised yet. They sit very well but the eggs I put under them have been infertile, so they haven't had a chance to raise chicks. I'm not sure yet if they are harboring any diseases either. What are the chances that they are I wonder?

[MLaRue]

Well we can try? You will never know if they are clean if we don't try...

If you want I can send you Gouldian eggs or other eggs - I know I have Fire Finches laying right now too in a terrible spot and the eggs are not being sat on because they keep rolling out of the nest they built...

[CandoAviary]

Dominic,
I am very sorry for your loss. This is the very worse part about finch keeping. But you have also experienced some of the very best aspect of finch keeping.... finch friends.

[Domenic]

Thanks Candace. You are right.

Misty, I will never turn down fire or gouldian eggs. Cindy told me she sent you a pm regarding the shafttail eggs today. Do you think fires or gouldians and shafttails could be raised alongside eachother?

[MLaRue]

I certainly think the Gouldians and Shafttails could be raised together but not the Fires - they beg different and are darker in color so the Socs will either pick one or the other (IMO). I've never had to foster the Fires so it is hard to say if the Socs will feed them and do it correctly. I've fostered the Shafttails and Gouldians so I'm confident the Socs could handle them - even together.

When do you leave for Alaska? We could let Cindy send you the Shafttails and then I could send you Gouldian or Fire Eggs (IF) I have the Fire eggs at that time. I'm pretty certain I can help you with the Gouldian eggs at anytime. This would give you a chance to get several and unrelated too.

[Domenic]

I really can't say for sure when I'm moving. Things are always changing around here. If you want a round-about, I'd say possibly the middle of next month. But like I said, things are constantly changing so I can't say for sure. It's been "next month" for about a year now...

That sounds like a good idea. It looks like Cindy is going to have the shafttail eggs very soon. We just have to wait and see.

[MLaRue]

No problem Domenic - just let me know when you are ready.

[Stephanie]

Hi all

I know this is a very old thread, but it was the most useful discussion of bloody stool that I found when Googling . So I thought I would add to it with my recent experience, in case it's useful to others in future on a similar quest for info...

Yesterday I found a Gouldian sleeping on the floor of my outdoor aviary. All of the others seemed OK. It's Winter here, so I knew from the state of him (I could pick him up easily) he would die within 12-24 hours.

As a desperate measure (I had to go to work) I plopped him into an indoor cage with another bird that was being medicated with Doxycyline (2g/L) + ACV (5ml/L), with some extra nutritional supplements. He didn't eat or move. I could see that he had blood in his stool/urates. There were maroon coloured areas about 3cm across surrounding his poops, soaked into the white kitchen paper lining the cage.

I've never seen that before. He looked bad!

The following morning (now - about 20 hours since I found him) he's hopping about and acting like there's barely anything amiss. No more blood at the moment, and he's eating well. He still looks rough and has a way to go, but goodness, what a difference.

Don't know exactly what it means, but thought I'd share.

Can finches get urinary system/kidney infections, like humans? Don't see why not. I wonder...