HELP! ABNORMAL DROPPINGS!

[DanteD716]

Okay, so I was cleaning the cages, and found this in a zebra cage?! What is it! It looks like (might sound gross!) melted chocolate with almonds in it! The two birds in that cage seem healthy as horses, and non have stained vent or mess. What is it?! There is also watery brown stuff around the droppings. I tried getting a good photo.

[DanteD716]

Are these droppings??? Puke?! Somebody help! I am very worried.

[6finchfriends]

I hope your birds are okay Dante! This is what I found out about it.

Lumpy or Undigested food: Incomplete digestion, PDD, Giardia, hypermotile intestine

[DanteD716]

Thanks Trish! I am so worried. What is PDD?

[L in Ontario]

You certainly did get a very good picture of "it", but I've never seen anything like "it" before. For the time being I would keep an eye on the birds in that cage. Watch for any signs of illness and put a heatlamp on asap if you notice anything unusual in their behaviour.

"It" is very unusual to me too. I hope your birds are okay.

[kathmcm]

Maybe one of them vomited? Anything unusual about their diet recently? Would it make sense to separate the two finches so you can tell which one has the problem, if it happens again?

[6finchfriends]

I believe Ronex is used to treat protozoan infections. I'd have to look it up again. Someone with more experience will jump on here soon I'm sure. I hope I helped you a little.

Sign of Protozoan infection: diarrhea, yellowish/green droppings, undigested seed in droppings, dirty feathers around the vent, molting problems and sleeping during the day, head tucked over their wing feathers. It is best to treat your birds before the breeding season.

Protozoan infections are very serious and common cause of hatchling, young and adult bird deaths. These single cell parasites are present in most birds kept in captivity and become active during stressful periods such as during the breeding season. Because Protazoa are persistent organisms, and in many cases infections can only be controlled and not eradicated with the use of drugs regular treatments need to be part of any aviary management program. New introductions and birds in quarantine should be routinely treated at recommended rates.

I doubt it's PPD Dante. It says it's mostly in free ranging birds but this is what it is.

What's PDD? PDD strikes only birds (not humans) - it is a relatively newly discovered avian disease whose symptoms may include (according to the 'net) inability to digest food, throwing up, seizures, depression, weakness, destroyed organs, and everything in between (there may be multiple types of PDD - one that primarily attacks the digestive system, another that targets the neurological system, etc.). The transmission vectors are not clear. There is no cure, no vaccine, no reliable simple test for its presence! As of Summer 2002 there is finally a possible drug treatment (which is still NOT a cure).

[DanteD716]

You certainly did get a very good picture of "it", but I've never seen anything like "it" before. For the time being I would keep an eye on the birds in that cage. Watch for any signs of illness and put a heatlamp on asap if you notice anything unusual in their behaviour.

"It" is very unusual to me too. I hope your birds are okay.

Liz, I used the "special" camera that is used for weddings, etc. I am really stuck. Super confused??

and no, no unusual behavior. I will put a heat lamp just incase

[DanteD716]

Maybe one of them vomited? Anything unusual about their diet recently? Would it make sense to separate the two finches so you can tell which one has the problem, if it happens again?

I would seperate them but they are on eggs, I do not want to disturb. But I might have to.

[DanteD716]

I believe Ronex is used to treat protozoan infections. I'd have to look it up again. Someone with more experience will jump on here soon I'm sure. I hope I helped you a little.

Sign of Protozoan infection: diarrhea, yellowish/green droppings, undigested seed in droppings, dirty feathers around the vent, molting problems and sleeping during the day, head tucked over their wing feathers. It is best to treat your birds before the breeding season.

Protozoan infections are very serious and common cause of hatchling, young and adult bird deaths. These single cell parasites are present in most birds kept in captivity and become active during stressful periods such as during the breeding season. Because Protazoa are persistent organisms, and in many cases infections can only be controlled and not eradicated with the use of drugs regular treatments need to be part of any aviary management program. New introductions and birds in quarantine should be routinely treated at recommended rates.

I doubt it's PPD Dante. It says it's mostly in free ranging birds but this is what it is.

What's PDD? PDD strikes only birds (not humans) - it is a relatively newly discovered avian disease whose symptoms may include (according to the 'net) inability to digest food, throwing up, seizures, depression, weakness, destroyed organs, and everything in between (there may be multiple types of PDD - one that primarily attacks the digestive system, another that targets the neurological system, etc.). The transmission vectors are not clear. There is no cure, no vaccine, no reliable simple test for its presence! As of Summer 2002 there is finally a possible drug treatment (which is still NOT a cure).

Neither sound like my birds. They seem healthy, normal. No stained vent. Etc.

[cindy]

Dante, reline the cage try with white paper towels, heat lamp is a must....make sure they have water. Checking a few things for you.

[DanteD716]

Cindy, sure thing. I will get to it. I put a heat lamp in the upper corner, right over her nest, and their favorite perch is the top of their nest, the snuggle up in between the top of the nest and cage ceiling. I will go line the cage floor now.

[6finchfriends]

I hope they are okay!!! The heat should help a lot.

[DanteD716]

Thank you Trish! Doesn't it look a little too large for a finch??

[cindy]

http://www.mfgouldianfinches.com/Poopol ... gyPg1.html

They are nesting....was there a normal amount of droppings on the rest of the paper?

Can you see food in the dropping pile? Have you treated with any treatments when you got them?