FINCHforum

I could tell the moment I got him home that my blue male was sick. The stress of the move must have brought it out in him because he looked healthy when I bought him. He's eating and drinking good but despite my best efforts he just seems to be proggressively getting worse. I took him and put him in a hospital cage with a heat lamp and treated him with Ronex 12%, Iverlux and Worm away so far but he is still really puffy and his vent is very wet. His feathers have taken on a really dark tinge. Looks like hes just taken a bath but he hasn't. Any ideas on what might be going on?

Sorry to hear this, what color is his poop? His his keel (breast) bone sticking out? Any other symptoms besides a wet vent and puffy?

His poop is normal colored but its runny. He's lethargic but not overly so. He has no other symptoms that I can see and his breathing is good, doesn't sound rattley or wheezy. He's eating and drinking fine. I'm at a loss as to what it could be

Could it just be that he's still really stressed from the move? Its been 3 weeks since I got him.

All the rest of my birds have settled in fine though....

He may just be having a hard time adjusting to the new environment. I'd keep him in a hospital cage with heat and high protein foods. Try not to give vegetables that may cause his poop to be runny, seed and hard boiled eggs would be best. His vent should not be wet but seeing how you've already given quite a few medications, "Ronex 12%, Iverlux and Worm away" all in 3 weeks time, I think you should just watch him and see if things change.
keep us posted, good luck

Well he passed away this afternoon I really wish I knew what was wrong so I could have helped him. Never realized how hard this would be

It is REALLY hard when you don't know what is happening.
I have that problem.
I had a CFL go bad, then over the next weeks lost 3 gouldians. Some are still looking "not right." I am treating, but w/o knowing what is "not right" I am using the shotgun approach.

Dayna, I am very sorry to hear that you lost him. That is something that will never get easier...

Dayna, so sorry you lost you blue. Wet vent, runny droppings can idicate coccidia. The cage and accessories in with him should be bleached as a precaution before using it for another bird. If the bird had runny stool even though eating and drinking I would be cocerned with dehydration....may I ask you was his breastbone sharp to the touch or did he still look like he had weight and meaty breast. If this was coccidia Ronex would not have helped he would have needed specific medication, I believe Baycox to be one choice.

So sorry for your loss.

So sorry you lost him, Dayna, it never is easy. And unfortunately with finches, more often than not, you have no idea exactly what was wrong with them. Even when you take them to an avian vet, they often don't have answers for you.

So sorry Dayna

I went in to feed my birds this morning only to find another gouldian on the floor puffed up and lethargic. This guy can't even hardly balance on the ground let alone on a perch. I took him out, put him in the hospital cage on a towel and put millet, food and water right beside him but it is not looking good for him either. I caught him no problem. He didnt even struggle and didn't want to get off my hand either. Neither his nor my other bird that just passed breast bones were hard or bony. I'm really really worried for the rest of my birds. I don't have an avian vet anywhere near me. The closest is an 11 hour drive.

Dayna, what meds do you have on hand? Perhaps you may have something on hand that may help.

My knowledge on meds is pretty limited from being so new to this. Most everything I have learned has been from the forum. I have Ronex, Tetratex, Iverlux, Probiotics, Cocci-Care, Worm Away and Avian Insect Liquidator.

He got up for a bit and ate some millet and now hes perching on the millet so a very very very slight improvement.