FINCHforum

On reading various articles about causes of breeding problems in finches some suggest chlamydia/ornithosis could be to blame and to treat with Doxycycline, do many breeders treat for this disease even without any sick bird symptoms ?

This is my first year with gouldians, 4 pr's in total and the're the only birds i've paired up at moment. 3 of these pairs are breeding/laying eggs so far but i'm getting alot of clear eggs, the 3 cocks from these breeding pairs are 2012,2013 and 2014, only the younger cock has filled any eggs (2/6 in first clutch and 1/4 in present clutch ) all the other eggs are clear without any signs of developing embryos. The hens are 2013 or 2014 which would rule out any birds being too old.

All birds are active with none showing any sick bird symptoms, the young parrot finches moulting over last few weeks/months are going through normal moults reaching full adult plummage at between 12-17 weeks old which rules out slow moults, the 2 gouldian chicks on perch are only 8 weeks old so it will be a while before i know how they moult. Do normal moults rule out chlamydia or could it still be present ?

Their diet is versele-laga foreign finch seed, softfood (cede+soaked seed+cous cous+vitamins), fresh greens/vedge/fruit about twice a week and water has vitamins added 3-4 times a week (they don't eat much of the softfood or fresh food so i add vitamins to water), cages are 32"x12"x12" and nest box 6¼" cubed on outside of cage, all pairs sit tight on eggs.

Medication wise all the've been treated with before breeding season was ronidazole and moxidectin.

Anyone have any thoughts/advice as to if a course of doxycycline would be beneficial or about possible reasons for poor breeding results ? Can doxycyline cause infertility as a side effect which would make matters worse ?

Personally I don't treat my birds with meds unless there are symptoms but there are many that medicate birds routinely. Your only symptom seems to be clear eggs which to me is not enough to assume ornithosis.

http://www.mfgouldianfinches.com/Issues ... tions.html
This is a serious disease that affects many bird species, including Gouldian finches. It is caused by Chlamydia (a rickettsia-like organism), an intracellular disease, that without special precautions can be spread to humans through contact with infected feces and bodily fluids. It spreads easily throughout the flock, especially when cages and accessories are not kept clean or when over crowded (poor animal husbandry practices). When birds pick at food and bedding on the bottom of the cage they sometimes pick up bits of feces, ingesting it and becoming ill with the disease. Keeping cages clean and with a minimal number of birds per cage can keep the chances of getting and spreading this disease low, but once it is in the aviary it cannot be cured. Once your bird or birds are diagnosed with ornithosis, they will be considered carriers for the remainder of their lives and should not be paired or bred. Some Veterinarians may even recommend euthanasia of any Mutation Gouldians are more susceptible to ornithosis due to weaker genes, but all colors may contract the disease. Symptoms can vary, often making it hard to diagnose without the aid of an Avian Veterinarian. Droppings may be watery and are usually greenish. Birds may sit fluffed,
sneeze a lot or scratch at their faces. They may also have a runny nose. They may sit fluffed up and motionless with their head tucked and even a leg tucked up. Eye infections are not uncommon with this disease. Birds may sit with eyes at "half mast" as if they are sleepy. Poor breeding results combined with other symptoms may be an indicator. If you are finding your birds won't come into breeding condition, you are finding clear eggs in the nest, or they fall out of condition soon after courting begins, have your birds tested by an Avian Vet. If the disease has progressed long enough, the bird may begin having trouble standing. This usually only happens when the bird is near death.

Psittacosis (Chlamydia) is usually treated with a tetracycline type antibiotic. Doxycycline or Chlortetracycline are usually prescribed.

It is also my understanding that treating a well bird can have a negative reaction within days because of a thrush infection caused by the medicine especially in canaries and finches. Symptoms of that would be fluffed up looking tired along with possible dark green watery droppings, vomit and may become inactive.

good luck

I don't treat for this preventatively. It is not as common in finches as we think, usually its a simple bacteria infection before ornithosis, and unless birds display symptoms I'd not be treating them with a fairly hectic antibiotic - just because.

For beneficial prevention treatment of common ailments the usual is more : parasites, worms, coccidiosis and protozoa. Treat well before new breeding season to prevent any possible infertility issues.

If your major problem is clear eggs, that could be numerous things from overweight birds to physical inability, incompatibility etc. It is strange that a good portion of your birds produce clear eggs.

Are you sure the pairs are true pairs. Can you shift them around or let the hens choose their own cock birds. Not sure of your particular set up.
Currently I have a bunch of young hens laying eggs all over the place, but they have not accepted any of the cock birds so the eggs are all clear.

debbie276 , i'm reluctant to treat them without reason and value opinions from other forum members like yourself and others, on further thinking about it and the fact it's so contageous i've decided to pair up 2 pairs of parrot finches earlier than planned as a test. if chlamydia is to blame i'd imagine problem would be flock wide as they shared unisex flights in past and the parrot finches would exhibit similar fertility issues.

Hopefully the parrot finches will produce full clutches

Monotwine , it could very well be pair compatibility with the gouldians which is a problem i havn't experienced with the parrot finches (clear eggs with these have been due to obesity or age which i've hopefully ruled out with all my birds now ). the gouldians are definate pairs but i havn't let them choose own mates in order to get the colours i want and ensure totaly unrelated pairings. i'll wait for the outcome of the RFPF pairs before switching gouldian partners around as suggested.

Smurf


birds indoors?

dutch wrote: Smurf


birds indoors?

Yes they are indoors