FINCHforum

I've not been on here for months because I didn't want to depress others with my bad news.But....
I have just been to the aviary and seen a young bicheno on the floor..not unexpected this year,I haven't raised a single one.This one is going the same way as the rest,gaping and swallowing,obviously a respiratory problem.
The various treatments I've tried have had no effect...each and every chick has died within a week of leaving the nest.I've lost over twenty this year and along with a nest of four gouldians being abandoned and dying it's my worst year ever.With the gouldians,one left the nest and is being fed by a female...but she abandoned the others in the nest and they all died.(No idea which cock is the father but none have been seen near the nest or remaining chick) The remaining one is doing fine and growing well.
I shan't be keeping bichenos after this year...I've just given up,the continual deaths are heartbreaking.The adults are the healthiest looking birds you can imagine but they are obviously passing a virus or similar on to the chicks.If they were caged I would have stopped them breeding months ago,but in a large mixed aviary with hundreds of nesting opportunities I've been unable to prevent them.One reason why cage breeding is preferable to a mixed aviary.

Up until moving house and building the Waldorf Astoria of aviaries for my birds.I used to be dismayed if I lost a couple a year...but this year the Gods haven't been on mine or the birds side.
Just in case, the birdroom/cages and nestboxes are lathered in anti mite preparations to no avail.Although there is no sign of mite infestation.

I hope others are having more luck than me.

New birdroom interior with new boxes heavily treated against mite...hopefully to turn a corner with breeding.

I'm so sorry to hear about your bad year! It must have been very difficult for you. Here's hoping for better days to come - and they will.

I've just this minute caught up the chick...it has the dreaded clicking sound.I've just dropped a mite killer on it's neck as a last resort, although they're not recommended for chicks...I'm not hopeful, it looks too weak to be fed.
I've put it back in the nest where it's brother immediately flew past my ear...that one looks full of life...at the moment.

It certainly can't get worse Martie.

Paul, I want you to know you have my deepest sympathy regarding all your losses, it is truly heartbreaking. I know you have been struggling with this for a very long time. So sorry you will be getting out of owls I know you love them.

It does sound like something the parents are carrying. I imagine that you have already gone through treating for internal parasites, any type of bacteria. So sorry this has been a rough year, thoughts are with you.

PS...I just read your above message...perhaps it will work! I do hope you find what is wrong.

I'm sorry for your loss. Hopefully the chick will pull through. Crossing my fingers for you. I hope next year goes better for you.

My problem now is what to do with the adults...I'm not the type that passes on bad birds.Makes me wonder if the breeder I got them off knew...we aren't all honest are we.Bit of a quandry...

Are thinking air sac mites? Will you treat the whole flock if it works? Fingers crossed you fine the answer soon.

I am so sorry about all this.. Maybe the whole aviary needs scatt?? I hope things improve, I will pray for you! If the avaiaries can be divided, maybe put all the owls in one section with no nests?

sorry to hear about your bad year, it can be so very frustrating to do all you can and it not be enough! any possibility you could take one of the adult owls or gouldians for some cultures? sounds like you have treated for a range of conditions. I say its a good possibility maybe their is a bacterial issue, adults can carry without symptoms. I have also read it can be a reason for loss of chicks and weanlings. I hope things turn around for you! good luck!

So sorry to hear of your troubles. Best of luck in finding a solution.

hi paul, my heart goes out to you. i hope that things will get better.

Paul, how is the baby owl doing?

So sorry to hear this, Paul. We had wondered how you were doing. It can be so frustrating when you get a run of bad luck. Is it just the Bichenos and the one clutch of Gouldians? Have you had an unusually wet summer? How is the one little Owl doing?

You have such a beautiful setup, it's hard to understand why they wouldn't settle in and raise healthy babies. Keeping my fingers crossed that you figure it out.

So sorry you are having such a rough time this year. I agree, that must be heartbreaking ... I do hope you are able to figure out what's happening and that things improve for you & your finches.

The chick was dead this morning...that was the second out of that clutch.One more on the perch but I have no confidence it will make it..none of the others have.

This has been a strange year in the UK...a very cold spring and heavy rains and dull days all through summer,in fact we just haven't had a summer.No two days the same,extremely hot one day and rain the next.In fact it's 6pm our summertime now and I have the lights on as I type this...it's thundering down outside.Fruit and vegetable growing here is all over the place with disastrous results in some crops with this strange weather.

Apart from the bicheno problem I have had few chicks this year...down to the weather or not...I don't really know.

Products like Scatt and S76 are unobtainable here and extremely expensive to import. Ivermectin based drugs are available for the poultry and pigeon sector but all are 'spot on' products not available in water soluble form for cage birds.I have been in touch with a couple of veterinary companies pointing out this possible profitable niche in the British cage bird market...but there doesn't seem to be much interest.
A spot on treatment is available that is suitable for smaller birds...but of course the need is for a water soluble product where the catching up of hundreds of birds in a large aviary is just not plausible.