FINCHforum

I thought by now I'd be somberly posting about no matter how well you try to provide for your birds, they sometimes take sick and die anyway. About two weeks ago we had a really cold spell here in the sunshine state. My house temp got down to about 62 degrees. I know that doesn't sound cold at all, but my birds are accustomed to 76 all the time.
Mt five year old canary hen looked really bad. It started off as just being puffed up a little with no other symptoms, so at first I wasn't overly concerned. I added a heat lamp, offered some extra protein and some fatty seeds. Then came the labored breathing, perching on two feet, diarrhea and finally inability to perch at all. She spent most of the day asleep in one of the seed cups - definitely not a promising sign.
I immediately whipped up my concoction that I have recommended to several people here who have pm'd me about sick canaries. Two packets of Ornacyn Plus, 10 ml calciboost and 200 mcg human sublingual B12 dissolved in 500 ml of water. I offered this as the only water source for 10 days and also squirted it in her mouth twice daily. I withheld all other fruits and veggies and placed millet sprays and other little "plates" of food on the cage floor.
I am not a vet and not saying that this will cure everything, (because it will not) but it has cured six of my birds that appeared to be knocking on death's doorstep. (twice as many as trips to the vet did) Again, I am just being honest, being real and had every intention to post about the death of a bird. Fortunately, this will have to wait. She seems to be 100% back to normal now. Bob

great news bob! I'm glad that she is doing well

Moments like this scare me. I only once had a sick bird- some white liquid stuff dropped out of one of my canary hens' ear once, I spent all night holding her in my hand on my chest and went to the vet next day- but she turned out fine. My other birds just dropped dead- with no other warnings...
I am glad you managed to save her!

Bob, so glad your canary is doing better. I am minutes away from you.....know the cold snap was a bit bitter. The heat was running and the heat lamps for some were set up. The weather has been a bit odd, down right damp and chilly and back up to the 80's a few days later. My birds definately felt it, the damp cold more than anything.

BOB!! That is wonderful!! Where do you get the Ornacyn Plus and the Calciboost? What vessel do you use for your measurements?
Thank You!

Glad you had a happy ending to this story. As you stated, you are not a vet (nor are the rest of us), but many of us do not have access to an avian vet or we can't afford it, so it is always good to have some alternatives to try. My feeling is that our birds hide illness so well that by the time they look sick, they are in a bad way. I feel that I am going to lose them anyway, so as long as I am not hurting them, why not try to save them.

BOB!! That is wonderful!! Where do you get the Ornacyn Plus and the Calciboost? What vessel do you use for your measurements?

Lyzzyjayne, Ornacyn Plus was supposed to come off of the market several years ago, because our government doesn't think that we should be able to give our small pets antibiotics without a trip to the vet. The only place that still carries it that I know of is Petsmart. Or you can order it online if you search around a bit. Calciboost, I have to order online and it always comes with a graduated pipette or you can use a tiny eyedropper or syringe. Cc's and mls are the same if you didn't already know that. Bob

Thanx Bob!! I didn't know about the cc's and ml's being the same thing. I will check my local Petsmart for Ornacyn or I found it here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=16517 I see that 500 ml is 2 cups how much is 200 mcg?

I see that 500 ml is 2 cups how much is 200 mcg?

Oh, sorry. That, you just have to read the dosage on the vitamin bottle. The ones I have are 50 mcg per pill, (pretty low dose) so I use four of them. Make sure you get the "sublingual" ones because they dissolve pretty quickly with a little time and a lot of shaking. Any time you bring a sick bird to the vet, the first thing they usually do is to give it a B12 shot. That's what made me give it a try. My doctor has me on B12 and said that the sublingual B12 is very similar to a shot. Bob

Ahhhh Bob, you don't know how much I appreciate your help. I am a bit paranoid about my animal husbandry and fortunately or unfortunately....however you look at it, I have an avian vet right around the corner from me. I know they mean well, but they seem very against giving treatments in water,instead they insisted I catch my new and already freaked out Gouldians TWICE a DAY for 2 weeks and dose them by mouth with an antibiotic. I got my first bird, a Parrotlet in June and got my Finches this Fall and needless to say have dropped about $1500 in "Wellness Checks", cultures, blood tests, etc. Don't get me wrong I feel VERY fortunate to have an avian vet in my neck of the woods, much less right around the corner, but I have done animal rescues of all kinds for many years and firmly believe in Holistic and Homespun methods of treatments as well. I have the Morning Bird Calcium Plus on hand and it has the same ingredients as the Calciboost. I will set about getting the other componenets of your potion tomorrow. Thanx Again!

I will set about getting the other componenets of your potion tomorrow. Thanx Again!

Your canary isn't still sick, is he? Looks great in the last picture you post. Are you just getting it to keep on hand? Bob

Ornacyn Plus was supposed to come off of the market several years ago, because our government doesn't think that we should be able to give our small pets antibiotics without a trip to the vet.

Actually it was supposed to come off the shelves because humans were taking it themselves. To this day I can't tell you how many people I know that still use fish and animal meds rather then go to a doctor, making up their own dosage.

debbie276 wrote:

Ornacyn Plus was supposed to come off of the market several years ago, because our government doesn't think that we should be able to give our small pets antibiotics without a trip to the vet.

Actually it was supposed to come off the shelves because humans were taking it themselves. To this day I can't tell you how many people I know that still use fish and animal meds rather then go to a doctor, making up their own dosage.

Wooowwww...

Bob- I am mainly getting it just to keep on hand. I am thinking my little guy may have a respiratory infection from the mites tho. He's not quite as spry as he should be and when he tries to sing only crackles come out. I was thinking of doing a round with just one packet of the Ornacyn, especially since the Ornacyn says it's good for respiratory infections? What do you think?

debbie276 wrote:

Ornacyn Plus was supposed to come off of the market several years ago, because our government doesn't think that we should be able to give our small pets antibiotics without a trip to the vet.

Actually it was supposed to come off the shelves because humans were taking it themselves. To this day I can't tell you how many people I know that still use fish and animal meds rather then go to a doctor, making up their own dosage.

That reminds me of a story from a friend who used to run a boarding stable for horses. He was awakened in the middle of the night by a man who wanted to know if he had any bute on hand (bute is an anti-inflammatory/pain-relieving paste frequently prescribed for horses). When my friend asked what was wrong with the guy's horse, he replied that he didn't need it for his horse, he needed it for his wife, who had sprained her ankle! My friend didn't give him the bute.

I'm glad she is doing alot better. - Tammy