Oh no! Sick goulds?

[Jossi]

I just went to check on my male goulds in the other room and found that two of my red heads act a bit strange... they have their eyes closed and they are shaking their wings a tiny bit... the wings are also a bit droopy. Their feathers are not fluffed up and they are eating... What could be wrong? Any thoughts on this? The other birds seam to be okey. I know it might be hard to say what is wrong, but if you have any suggestions please let me know.

They get the usual food: eggfood, seed mix, cuttlebone, fresh water, fruites and greens, hard boiled egg, spray millet, oyster shell grit, sprouted seeds and Vitamins (hearty bird). They also have bird lamps.

I havent got a clue to what could be wrong...

[L in Ontario]

Are the "bird lamps" giving off heat to the birds or are they simply lights to make it a little brighter for them? The first thing to do whenever you think you might have a sick finch is to supply heat via a heatlamp very close to one end of a perch so birds can get close to it and also move away if they don't need the heat.

[Jossi]

Well the lamps are fullspectrum lamps to replace the lack of sun shine indoors... I guess they give off some heat but not mutch. I have an ordinary light bulb in one corner of the cage at all times as a place for them to roost when they have taken a bath or need some extra heat and they all sit there from time to time when they feel like cudle up, but I havent seen the red heads near the lamp this afternoon. I guess I should separate them from the others and put them in the bathroom, I sure hope they get better

I have tried to think if something has changed in the environment surounding the cage but cant think of anything. Its not warmer than usualy and not cooler.

I treated them all for air sack mites a couple of weeks ago, but just as a precaution, I do it onece or twice every year... and I have been very cautious when introducing new bird, and held all new birds in quarantine.

well I hope its nothing to worry about. They dont do it all the time, but I have never seen them do it before today... so I guess somethings wrong.

[BigBear0007]

Jossi

Get some apple cider vinegar and put it in their water!
One drop of vinegar to an ounce of water.
They may have sour gut, gouldians are very sensitive.

Also put put it in their bath water.
Let them have a bath today.

Ever since I have been using the apple cider vinegar, I have not had a sick bird. Make sure it's the good stuff, not pasteurized.

[Jossi]

Thanks for the tip! Ill try it right away... its bed time here, so Ill give them a bath tomorrow. I hope this does the trick

[BigBear0007]

Thanks for the tip! Ill try it right away... its bed time here, so Ill give them a bath tomorrow. I hope this does the trick

Make sure they have it in their drinking water for the next three days.
then you can give it to them three times a week in their drinking water.
One day with and one day with out, that is what I do.

[Jossi]

Thank you! I will definetly try this... I have also heard its good for thier feathers... This morning I havent seen them do it, ill keep an close eye on them.

[flyinverted]

You should have some sort of medicine on hand for mites. I have used Scatt and S75. I MUCH prefer the Scatt and has turned the lethargic bird around in 2 days.

Ditto the previous posters comments on Apple Cider Vinegar.

[Jossi]

You should have some sort of medicine on hand for mites. I have used Scatt and S75. I MUCH prefer the Scatt and has turned the lethargic bird around in 2 days.

Ditto the previous posters comments on Apple Cider Vinegar.

Thanks!
I have both Scatt and S76 and if you read my previous posts You will se that I treated them all a couple of weeks ago as a precaution... I doubt it could be that... but Ill keep an eye on them.

[Diamond Sparrow]

I would keep them warm and supply them with this type of supplement.for a few days then treat them for worms and cocci
Spark Liquid Concentrate is a blend of body salts and readily absorbed energy in a liquid format. Ideal for supporting birds during transportation or during showing or in times of stress. Provides energy and electrolytes assist birds in recovery from illness or stress. With increase vigour and vitality in birds on show or displayed for sale. Can be administered directly in emergency situations to provide fast acting energy. Hydrates and supports birds during times of extreme temperature
Active Constituents: 20g/L Potassium ions, 30g/L Citrate ions, 23g/L Bicarbonate ions, 21g/L Sodium ions, 136g/L Glucose.

[Jossi]

Thanks!
All those things you mentioned are quite hard to get hold of here in sweden, but ill give it a try.

I havent seen them do it since I first noticed it... and they apear normal now... I wonder what it could have been. Im keeping up with the apple cider vineagar, and keep my fingers crossed, that whatever it was, now is gone.

[BigBear0007]

Thanks!
All those things you mentioned are quite hard to get hold of here in sweden, but ill give it a try.

I havent seen them do it since I first noticed it... and they apear normal now... I wonder what it could have been. Im keeping up with the apple cider vineagar, and keep my fingers crossed, that whatever it was, now is gone.

It worked, it was the apple cider vinegar!
Birds get sour gut very easily because they are ground feeders mostly.
It's like when we get indigestion.
But in the wild they eat dirt and that helps clean the gut.
Ever since I have been using it, I have not had sick birds.

[Jossi]

Thanks!
All those things you mentioned are quite hard to get hold of here in sweden, but ill give it a try.

I havent seen them do it since I first noticed it... and they apear normal now... I wonder what it could have been. Im keeping up with the apple cider vineagar, and keep my fingers crossed, that whatever it was, now is gone.

It worked, it was the apple cider vinegar!
Birds get sour gut very easily because they are ground feeders mostly.
It's like when we get indigestion.
But in the wild they eat dirt and that helps clean the gut.
Ever since I have been using it, I have not had sick birds.

Im glad I tried it!
They are back to normal and seam fine That makes sence, them beeing ground feeders and all I will definetley keep using it and hope to have happy, healthy birds, just like you do!

[BigBear0007]

I'm so happy for you Jossi!

It's the simple things that are best!
Our society is over medicated and we think are pets need to be also!
If we give them natural foods, plenty of variety and natural remedies, they will be fine.
Not say that we don't need medication, we do!
But we jump to it too quickly, and at times we can do more harm then good!

[Chichireeo]

Thank you Jerry. I am going out to buy some apple cider vinegar too!

I've been giving my bird natural spring water such as Fiji, or Hawaiian artesian water, then adding a little regular vinegar just to make it a bit more acidic for birds.

Never tried apple cider vinegar before. It's in the health food stores, right? I assume I can also offer it in bath water, and it'll be safe for feather health? My idiot bird drinks his bath water

What a great tip, thanks!