FINCHforum

A few days ago, after no sleep, I tended to the birds. Changed the water, had all the food sorted out... then left them for a day forgetting to turn the water thing around.

When I got back two days later (me and my mother aren't getting along atm) both of them looked bad. After getting access to fresh water the male soon was fine again. The hen couldn't move... if it wasn't for her slight quivering I'd have thought she was dead. She didn't try to escape as I took her out... ughhh it was awful. I was sure she was going to die. But I made a little make shift hospital cage with a see through plastic box with a shirt over it, with Sid's heatmat under a section of it.

She still wouldn't move... so I used a paint brush to dab water around the sides of her beak. Then YES! She was taking it in! But I must have gotten over excited at the idea of finding a way to help, I must have over did it... She started breathing bad, with droplets of water appearing on the sides of her beak (which I wiped off) I was so worried I was doing more harm than good
I kept on just more slowly, and she started to open her eyes... then she found the strength to drink by herself.. then nibble at her food.

I left her in there for a few more hours until she appeared lots better. I stuck her back in the cage, and she could perch but she fell off as she tried to fly and failed. Eventually she regained her strength and is flying and perching normally now. She still doesn't seem to be looking the best though, at times she will sit all puffed up, looking dead sick. :/

Hopefully she'll keep getting better... she was never full of energy like the little greenback one, so maybe she's just taking extra long to recover...

I didn't have internet when it happened (I only have internet here atm) and I'd have did anything to have access to this site!
Tell me she sounds sweet, that it sounds like she's getting better please

Sorry Lindsay that I cannot tell you better news, but 2 days without water and I am surprised your birds are even alive.
Dehydration causes so many internal interruptions. Adding electrolytes to the water will help too. Ideally they should have been given fluid via drip, but that is cost prohibitive.
Here is a basic write up on it:
http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Pr ... 0birds.htm

She may have also gotten some water on her lungs when you tried to help her and is perhaps suffering a bit from a respiratory infection too. Although I would no go about giving medication in her weakened state without veterinary advise. If you hold her up to your ear is her breathing clear or does is sound like sucking and clicking?
Unfortunately birds cannot cough up stuff in their lungs.

At some point in time we have all had a bad day and forgotten something essential. Try get into a routine habit to ensure that things are in place. I run around in the morning servicing cages and aviaries and my last step which I never miss it checking WATER - FOOD - DOOR CLOSED. Those three things are the most important to my situation and I always physically glance at them to make sure they are all in place before I leave. Past experiences and failure to do these 3 simple things have left me distraught when birds have had to pay the price for my negligence.

I'm so sorry this happened to you Lindsay, I'm sure this same thing could happen to others too. I think I'll hang a sign up by the door of my birdroom that says WATER FOOD DOOR! I have forgotten to close a cage door before.

Thanks for the advise monotwine!

I hate to admit it but I've been there and done that too. Almost lost my new Saffrons (still in quarantine) due to lack of water for 2 days. Luckily they are fine now.

We do the best we can and yes a sign on the door to remind ourselves to double and triple check can only help.

I hope she recovers fully for you, Lindsay

hi
i think she may be ok with a lot of tlc what i cant understand is why was the drinker turned round,when i filled anything like that it was always put back straight away especially drinkers,i am not berating you as i can imagine you feel bad enough as it is.......being without water for that lenghth of time does sometimes affect internal organs but maybe you got to her in time and she will be ok....we all make these mistakes no one is infallable,one thing is for sure you will not do it again!

ken

I supply a water cup and a water tube to all my birds...put a water tube near the perch they like to sit at or by the water cup, that way if the water runs out in the cup (due to some who think it is a pool, or it gets dirty beacause others think it is a good place for nesting materials) at least they have a clean source to go to...the 7 oz ones last more than two days with some. In cages with more than two birds i use two water tubes/drinkers. Don't use the ones with the metal ball...I had them malfunction.

I think we've all been there - if not with water, then with Something we've forgotten or neglected inadvertently. No... that never made me feel better when other said it to me, either.

I have taken to using chick founts (waterers) similar to the one pictured above as well. It works Great in my bachelor flight. Placed in an area without perches above it, it stays reasonably clean for a couple of days if necessary. For myself, I have learned to simply keep the cages loaded up: extra feeders and waterers wherever possible.
We all love our birds, but life can sometimes just take over.

Electrolytes will surely help your hen - and if I'm not mistaken, in a pinch I've heard of others using pedialyte (or some other brand of children's electrolyte solutions) to perk them up.

Keep us posted!

I do hope she recovers! Yes we all have made mistakes and we strive to not make the same mistake twice. That was very smart of you to touch her beak with a brush with water in it. If your hen looks sick after a couple days you might want to move her into a hospital cage so you can keep a warm light on part of the cage. Just a thought. Heat seems to always help. Keep us posted.

So sorry to hear this. Just try to not beat yourself up about it. We have all made mistakes and our poor birds had to pay for it. We do the best we can, but sometimes get a little distracted.
I have been opening windows in my aviary so my birds can get alot of fresh air and sunshine coming in during the day when it is warm.
I made a BIG note on the door to remind me to close the windows each night because it is getting cooler at evening time. Last night it got down to 42 degrees here. Strange weather...... I have to make notes for everything!!!!

Hope your hen recovers and I am sure you will learn from this.

She is much better! In fact back to normal.

What was frustrating too was I was actually thinking, God, imagine I neglected to turn the feeder/waterer around... I really shouldn't even have to remind myself as as soon as I put them back in, I twist them around... and I always double check. But I will be more careful now.

I have something like that waterer! Only it must be for seeds as there seems to be nothing to stop the water pouring out... and I prefer having things I can change and clean without putting my hands in the cage. The only thing I have to open the door for is their wee egg food cup.

Awk my poor wee shy hen... they must have been helped by their wet eggfood and maybe even the bits of carrot and apple. I hope they aren't damaged inside. :/ I listened with my ear to the cage.. I can't hear anything. Do I have to grab her? :/ Sometimes they make a clicking noise with their beaks (I assume) and cheep when they're sleeping... very rarely though...

I'm raging I haven't been able to put them outside much during the nice weather, twice or three times I think. Hopefully things will calm down at home then I'll be able to spend much more time doing these things.

Oh, and I have to show you the amount of blue coming out on her now! And the wee cross of purple on her little chest
Lmao and the ONE bright yellow feather the male has on his belly. Next time I'm home I'll stick up pictures on a new thread.

That is such great news that she is doing better! Whew!

hi lindsay
looks like you got her just in time well done the drinker you are talking about ,where you cant stop the water pouring out may be just for seed as the hieght of the jar is slightly lower at the bottom on th water ones,but if its just that the birds use it as a bath and use all the water,a cure i had for that was to get some small but clean sand pebbles and spread them in the bottom of the drinker so that they can only drink the water and not sit in it...in the summer i had to keep a close eye on all my water pots even the drinkers (mine where the largest of those blue and white ones)because as soon as i filled them up the canaries especially would try and get a bath from the small spout that stuck into the cage...they wouldnt even give me chance to put the bird bath up before i was being spattered with water from them

ken

No they're sweet with their water thing, they can't get inside it and I've never seen them try to take baths from it haha

I just kind of use the feeder like a.. is it a finger cup? For grit. And a little seed mixed in too. It's not the best... I have to shake/tap it when the birds empty the bit that sticks into the cage. But they've figured out how to make more come out with their beaks. ^^ It's cute lol.

Haha Birds are such characters for such wee things!

Lindsay glad your little girl is doing better. If she is up and about I woulndn't be too concerned about hearing for clicking. But in future so you know, you would have to catch her and listen very closely by holding her beak to your ear to hear the noises.