FINCHforum

I have a problem with my female red-eared waxbill. About a month or so ago, she went into some sort of illness or sickness. She was lethargic, could hardly fly to the branches, didn't seem to eat, or preen her mate or do her regular activities. Her vent was clean, poops were normal, not sneezing or anything, but if I came near the cage, she wouldn't do her regular quick fly-and-hide routine, with the tail wagging, and instead would barely flutter across the floor of the aviary. Within 2 days, she was completely back to normal and has been for the last month.

Today, again I notice she's back again on the floor, very lethargic, fluttering around, and sitting puffed up, and very tired looking, poops are fine, not eating, not preening her mate, just sitting there.

Is it possible for finches to have epilepsy? Could she just be recovering from a seizure?
Also are waxbills prone to air sac mites too? I have the medicine to treat all the birds for ASM but I'm waiting till the breeding goulds fledge their young, before I do everyone. (and I might be slightly afraid of doing it myself! )

What kind of meds do you have for treating ASM?

I think any finch can suffer from seizures (I have a blue Gouldian male that does when I change the cage papers). But you have to make sure she is not eggbound. Make sure to not confuse the two. The first step for any finch that appears off (ill) is to put a heatlamp on the cage.

Any animal can have epilepsy, and most of the time, there is no identifiable cause. it's known as idiopathic epilepsy. Seizures are a possible cause for her behavior, but remember that those behaviors are pretty generic symptoms for any sick bird. As L suggested, I'd get a heat lamp on the cage and make sure she has easy access to food.

L in Ontario wrote:What kind of meds do you have for treating ASM?

I think any finch can suffer from seizures (I have a blue Gouldian male that does when I change the cage papers). But you have to make sure she is not eggbound. Make sure to not confuse the two. The first step for any finch that appears off (ill) is to put a heatlamp on the cage.

Liz,
I bought some S.C.A.T.T from a lady at the bird show a couple weeks ago. I haven't applied any to the birds necks yet, as I'm afraid I will overdose them by accident. I want to do all my birds at once, so there aren't any recurrences. I need someone to help me I think. Do vets still do house calls? lol

I have her in a hospital cage with a lamp on her. Her eyes are closed, and she's just sitting there all puffed up. I've got vitamins in her water, millet for her to eat (easy access) and a soft towel for her to sit on. Won't even open here eyes when I come close to her. Hopefully she pulls through the night...

Here's my set up.

Give the bird electolite mix in the water for 2 days,then worm the bird and treat it for Cocci,Keep it around 82F

She is doing much better today, is on a perch, twitching her tail, brighter eyed, and gets nervous again when I come near. Last night she wouldn't even open her eyes, so she's showing lots of improvement. Her droppings are normal, and she has been eating both the millet and finch mix. Tomorrow I will see how she is, and maybe put her back with her mate.

Little girl is still a little bit off. I picked her up and felt near her vent, and theres definitely an egg in there. I fear that she is egg-bound. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do to make it easier for her to pass the egg? Its been 3 days now, and she's not any worse, but not 100% better.

My little Strawberry hen did the similar thing with me, but never laid an egg.....I found her on the bottom, breathing deeply and very weak and lethargic.....I moved her into the hospital cage, only to find her, in a very short time, laying on the bottom of the cage....I thought she was dead or dieing....She seemed overheated from laying on the bottom of my hospital cage......I picked her up and held her, she did not move or even flinch to get away.....Thinking that she was going to die, I made a little nest of tissue for the corner of her flight, and placed a heat lamp on her to make her comfortable....I expected a dead bird in the morning....No...She rallied from that for a full recovery, and went on to lay a clutch of 3 and she parent raised all the babies....She has done this more than once on me, where I am sure that she is egg bound, but never has laid an egg...I guess what I am saying, is that, hens can show all the signs of being egg bound, but never lay an egg........I am not sure what happened to her but your hen sounds like she could be going through something similar....I gave my hen Calcium in her water and heat....Hope your hen will make a full recovery and isn't egg bound....Good luck!...Keep us posted on her progress.....

Update on my little red eared waxbill, she passed away this afternoon. I took her little body, and examined it. Her vent was soiled with feces, even after I had rubbed a little olive oil on it several times the last couple days, she still did not respond. I took her little body, and pressed on her abdomen, and could feel a large lump, there seemed to be a lot of fat on it. I pressed a little more, and sure enough a very soft shelled egg came out. She was egg bound after all. These little birds break hearts...

Oh Brady I'm so terribly sorry to hear about your pretty hen. They sure do tug on our heartstrings.

So sorry Brady

Oh Brady - I'm so sorry to hear that Doesn't matter how or how often we lose a bird...
it just Hurts.