FINCHforum

One of my lady Gouldian males is head tilting and twirling. I read up on LGF site that sulfatrim is used as treatment. This happened over night. He was fine yesterday and then this morning my husband woke me up saying one of the birds was acting funny in the bottom of his cage so I jumped up and looked and he as going in circles with his head tilted upside down. He is eating millet. I read that it is best not to move him away from the others due to stress. I am ordering some sulfatrim and some ER and crop syringe from LG site but that will take a few days to get here. Is there anything I can give him in the mean time, any herbal remedies? I have not seen him drink any water and I am not sure that he can since his little head won't stay up right. I am so worried and don't want to loose him so any advice is most helpful.

I would give him some pedialyte for hydration, to the beak, just a drop at a time, so he doesn't aspirate. If you have any antibiotic, you can give that to try and fight any inner ear infection or other possible bacteria that may be part of the problem. Unfortunately, twirling does not go away and gets worse. I've only heard of a few cases that the finch recovered. There's still lots we don't know about this twirling problem. Keep us updated. I hope he gets better.

Thank you Deborah. I forgot I had some Trimeth/Sulfa for when my Pionus had an infection back in 2011. It says it expires 2/2014 but I went ahead and gave him .01 cc and I will give him more this evening. I have some gator aid. would this be ok to give him? I am leaving for work soon but I can get some pedialyte on my way ome since I only work 5 hrs this evening. This is heart breaking. I am going to contact his breeder to see if he has any ideas.

Update on my little man. He has figured out how to drink and eat and giving him meds only stressed him more so I ordered more minerals and vitamins from Avitech that in the past with other birds I had so much luck with these supplements. He is holding his head up normal and singing during the day but at night his head turns and falls under, I am now wondering if he got night fright and this makes him afraid and he does that weird thing with his head? I am so happy he is singing though, this I feel positive about

Glad to hear he is doing better. I would not give Gatorade, but pediatlyte or order Thrive. What minerals/supplements have you found helpful in the past? I am curious about natural remedies, since they would choose what they need in the wild too.

I use Avitech Vitamins and Calcium and I got them some granulated sea Kelp and all 6 of my LG are eating it He seems to be getting better each day now. Very strange. I guess the Vitamins from Avitech helped him. I also got an electrolyte solution from Avitech.

Update. He has completely stopped twirling and holding his head upside down?? I guess the Avitech vitamins and mineral supplement worked or either the granulated sea kelp. Totally amazing. I am so happy