Puffed UP and Lonely?

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finch71
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Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:37 pm

Puffed UP and Lonely?

Post by finch71 » Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:47 pm

Hi, I was at these boards back in October. I had bought two Cordon Blue's from a breeder at an exotic fair. One of the birds got sick right away and died later that week. It was air mites and I treated the rest of my birds just in case. The other Cordon Blue seemed to be fine, but he did call out to his friend for a few days.

I was able to call the breeder and he promised me a new Cordon Blue at the next exotic fair in Mid January of next year, 2013. He seemed to think the other finch would be fine until then.

The other Cordon Blue has been okay, but he sleeps by himself at night and away from the other birds. They don't pick on him, but they don't really interact with him that much. I've noticed the past two weeks he's been even more to himself. Sometimes just sitting on the nest and looking out the windows. Now the last few days he's been puffed up off and on. I have given the birds vita powder for electrolytes in their food and even added iodine in the water. Neither has helped him.

About 2 weeks ago I hung a little mirror on one side of the cage. He sometimes plays with it and at night, sleeps next to it. I thought maybe he'd like seeing another bird like himself.

I don't see any outward sickness as of right now, besides being puffed up. I always have a lamp up in one corner of the aviary near a perch, but when he's puffed up he sleeps on the other side and away from the lamp. Poop looks normal. No labored breathing that I can see.

What I really think is going on is that being alone for so long without his friend is taking a toll on him. It has been a month and a half that he's been alone. I also considered that he's molting because I noticed a few loosened feathers sticking out of him yesterday.

Could he pass away from loneliness? I don't know what to do... :(

finch71
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Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:37 pm

Re: Puffed UP and Lonely?

Post by finch71 » Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:48 am

Thanks for the info. :)

Yes, the mate died from air mites.

And the entire flock, including the new bird has been treated since then. That was about 6 weeks ago.

I'm thinking if it's not loneliness, it's something else. So far I have not seen any of the ailments you listed. But maybe it just hasn't shown up yet. I hope it's just molting. I have noticed a few loose feathers sticking out of him and some at the bottom of the cage. Hard to tell who they came from though.

The pattern seems to be that he wakes up in the morning and shortly after that puffs up and sleeps some more. Then about late morning he perks back up. Eats, drinks, and flies around a little bit. He even took a bath today and seemed to really enjoy it.

He does sit by the lamp off and on through the day. And periodically flies over towards the window side of the cage and looks out.

I do have a broad spectrum antibiotic on hand. Should I treat him with it?

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