Coccidiosis??

[alexmom]

I had what I believe is coccidiosis run through my birds. One by one, they started puffing up, becoming inactive and finally dying. Their vents were always clean and they all ate and drank right up until an hour or so before they died. At first, I started moving them to a hospital cage with a heat lamp, then it was happening so often, I set up 2 heat lamps on different perches in the aviary and one on the floor. I lost most of them before I got it figured out. I had tried S76 and Ronex first, but they kept dying. Then the final 3, a green singer, a society and an orange cheek waxbill started recovering on the Cocci Care. My orange weavers are in separate cages and stayed healthy.

After a couple of weeks of good health, I bought a pair of Spice and a society. I put them through quarantine. The society got puffy and inactive 2 days after I got them but recovered during the cocci care stage of quarantine. I also gave them NV powder. I put them in the aviary after 4 weeks and one of the spice got puffy so I started everyone on cocci care again. That was 3 days ago and everybody appears to be healthy again. The aviary has been cleaned thoroughly several times with vinegar water since this began and I cleaned it thoroughly the day before I put the new birds in.

They are all fed seed, millet and greens. There is a small dish of f-vite available at all times and they get eggfood about 3 days a week. I also use bottled water for drinking and bathing.

Is this really coccidiosis? The house is not very humid right now, only about 25%. And how often can I treat them for it without the medicine doing harm or quits working?

[birdclaws]

The cocci care is a preventative, not a treatment.
If it is cocci, most people here will recommend you treat them with baycox 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks over the course of 6 weeks. In that time, it's important to keep the cage clean, as droppings can re-infect if consumed.

I would like to ask a question also, while this thread is on the topic of cocci, it may help you also. I was going through my medications and I own Triptoprime Sulfa and 4 in 1 powder (which I bought for other reasons), which both state they are for the treatment of cocci in addition to other things. Has anyone been successful with these medication to treat cocci? It's my understanding that the infection can live for 6 weeks, which is why baycox treatment is spread over the course of 6 weeks, but the dosage for the tri-sulfa and 4 in 1 are for 5-7 consecutive days.

[Rayray]

i might not reading it good but i see nothing about a good cleaning and disinfecting the cage or aviary !! for a cocci test go to a vet to make sure cos giving the wrong meds isnt good at all

[alexmom]

The aviary has been cleaned several times with vinegar and water. I don't like to use chemicals on the bird things and I read that vinegar is good to use.

@birdclaws Thanks for that info. I misunderstood about the cocci care. I thought it was for treating. For whatever reason, the birds recover while they're on it. I'm also interested in hearing about the 4 in 1 powder. I ordered a lot of stuff to keep on hand and I have the 4 in 1 powder, but I don't have baycox.

[Rayray]

so you hate using chemicals but giving your birds all kinda stuff without even knowing whats wrong with them ... doesn't make any sence if you ask me

[alexmom]

I'm sorry. I was just asking for help. I will look elsewhere.

[Rayray]

thats what i did , giving you the best help , any advise about meds would not be smart cos i ( we ) cant see whats wrong with your birds , like i said i this case where birds die one after the other go see a vet , he or she went years to school for that .
dont see my comment as a personal attack or so , we're here to help eachother

[finchmix22]

Ray,
I think many people do not have access to avian vets and need our help, despite their confusion and because they get confused about what to do with sick finches. Just because we can't see her finches, we can offer advice from our history and try to be helpful and not critical. At the same time, I understand your comments were trying to be helpful, but I think she has been scared away from the forum as she felt criticized instead of supported. Sometimes, we have to temper our comments so they can be heard in order to be helpful. JMHO.

[dfcauley]

I agree. I personally have never taken a finch to the vet and I probably never will. (I don't think) Normally at the point they need to go it is too late to even help them and it is very expensive to take them to an avian vet and that is IF you can even find one.

That's why we have the forum. Nice folks like all of you to help.

[cindy]

May I make the suggestion that you contact Ladygouldin.com Lariane. She will be able to help you and has the products you will need, 4 and 1 and baycox, TS powder.

Avian vets are wonderful but here in the states there are not many...I have about 5 in my area, some have none. Or they are to far away. Cost can be expensive. If you re able to use an avian vet I recommend you do so. If you can not call Laraine, she may be able to help you.

Also if this is coccidia the cage and it's contents should be washed completely in a bleach and water solution and rinsed well....white vinegar is great for inbetween cleanings but you need to rid the cage of what is causing them to become ill. It is done when you start treatment....place the birds in a holding cage as you clean the cage and treat the birds. (Bleach and water is recommended by my avian vet to scrub and clean cages down but the cage must be rinsed and completely dry, using bleach is never to be done with the birds close by or in the cage.)

First things first place a call to Laraine...she is great at helping and can get meds out to you right away.

here is her site
http://ladygouldian.com/category/catalo ... an-finches

and her number
770-939-4531

[Rayray]

as said its not a personal attack but my concerns how easy we give all kinda chemical meds / stuff to our birds without even knowing whats wrong with them , i agree am not going for one bird to a vet but if my birds die one after the other well .... a simple poop inspection at a vet will cost you prolly 50-100 usd and will get you a result .... or you pick just some meds costing you money and birds will die anyway , even healty ones .. ....


can remember a topic about giving medical advise ... something like we're breeders and birdlovers not vets ....

[cindy]

Ray, sometimes the illness is cut and dry and an easy fix, others are more challenging. We are here to help and guide someone, that is the best we can do. If someone does not have a vet available the next best thing we can do is refer them to Laraine and give our support. We aren't vets but often our help is better than not having any support/advice at all.

Now back to the issue at hand...alexmom...please call Laraine or JoAnne (since you have dealt with her before) right away, and do keep us posted.

[Rayray]

as said we all here to help and ... ask for help sometimes !!
i only have my concerns about how easy we just give birds meds ..... and yes i hope she calls for help

[cindy]

I agree Ray...I hope she calls as well.

Trying to figure out what is actually wrong is often difficult through the forum and can take time. It is be best since she is loosing birds if she talks with one of the two ladies, they can ask specific questions and she can get an answer/meds sooner.

[Rayray]

hope she understands it was not an attack , and maybe its way easier here to check on sick birds , every vet here can do the poop test on diff things and costs 15usd each sample , i do this once a year with the birds that fly around in the aviary and can get contaminated by outside birds

i know those fanatic racing pigeons breeders here that do bring every week a few samples to the vet .... even some canary breeders