FINCHforum

I've had this awful problem for months now and talked to a lot of people about it. It started three months ago when I found one of my zebras dead. Since he was rather old and had no other symptoms I didn't worry much. Next day I noticed another male, rather sleepy and his reflexes weren't that good either. I started him on antibiotics but he passed away. Next month another sudden death, followed by a sick bird, which I managed to save with antibiotics. This month another sudden death and all the birds in the flock look under the weather. Every time a bird gets sick I separate it from the others and start all of my birds on antibiotics as a precaution. There is no Avian vet where I live and the only advice I get is from regular vets who don't really know what's wrong. Any advice?

I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with your finches. It definitely sounds like you have an illness going through your flock. If you don't have access to an avian vet - then I would contact this company for testing:

http://www.avianbiotech.com/

I have never used them myself, but have heard good things form others who have. They can help you diagnosis the problem so you can properly treat for it.

I've used Avian Biotech for sexing, but not for disease id. Have to say that they were great, and they can email you the results. I'd follow Tammy's advice and find out what the problem really is - giving them antibiotics on a regular basis without knowing what the problem is won't help, and some say will make the antiobiotics less effective when you really need them. Good luck!!

Are they all zebra finches?

This time last year I also lost a lot of Gouldians, about 10 in a period of 2 months, and could not find the problem until one night I just happened to see 2 mice inside my cages.

So I moved my birds into my garage to cut off the contact with those horrble creatures and eversince have never had any loss (as I recall), provided I also give my birds Coccivet, Rosivet-S, SCATT and Worm Out Gel every 3 months.

That's my experience, hope you can find it helpful.

Albert

Thanks guys for all the help. I;ll follow your advice though now they seem healthier than ever. Will they send instructions on how to take the samples cause i'ne no idea what I'm supposed to do once I get them. This forum is a real life saver, literally.