FINCHforum

I have a Gouldian finch who is slowly getting worse.
Up until yesterday I have had her housed with 4 other females and the others are completely ok.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed her puffed up a bit and sleeping a bit more than normal. Not a lot, so I've been keeping my eye on her but she didn't seem to get worse or better. She ate/drank normally and didn't appear to be in distress like it was egg binding. Over the last 2 days the energy level has sunk in terms of energy to fly. She cannot make it from the floor to even a perch that's 1ft off the ground. She still eats/drinks well. Her feathers are in good condition. Based on this I'm thinking parasitic but I haven't seen any droppings to indicate that yet. I bought her from someone a few months ago and I believe her to be under a year old. She did not molt when my others molted this year (or it wasn't obvious she did like it was the others). So right now it's quarantine with heat. What do you suggest either for medicine or other things I should look for. I would prefer to get something to start treating today since the drastic change in energy level has me worried. She still hops around the quarantine cage but sleeps more and has no energy to fly.

Note: About 2-3 months ago I did a course of S76 (one day a week for 3 weeks) and now do one day every 4-6 weeks as prevention so I don't think it's airsac mites.

It would be impossible to diagnose your bird from those symptoms over the internet.
Supportive care and a vet visit would be best. Heat and high protein foods would be the minimum I would do. I also would stop the S76 treatments as they are not necessary repeatedly.
Wish I could help more but not being a vet or able to do a fecal swab I can't even guess.

wishing you all the best

Thanks will do on both accounts. I agree the symptoms don't point to anything obvious. :/

so she took a bath and when I noticed her stomach feathers wet I definitely saw something abnormal. i inspected her and seems she may have an egg binding issue. I have a vet appt tmrw but am reading stuff on the forum. any other advice or things that work more or less than others?

If you suspect egg binding, do you have any liquid calcium on hand? One or two drops of liquid calcium directly to the beak can be a lifesaver in egg binding situations. However, I've never known an egg bound hen to show any interest in taking a bath, or even eating/drinking. They normally feel so miserable that all they want to do is sit on the floor of the cage. They usually look so awful that it is very apparent they are in serious trouble.

I also agree with debbie276 that the monthly S76 treatments are not necessary. That is a protocol that people used to follow, but breeders are getting away from following that schedule. A treatment for ASM when first getting birds while they are in quarantine should be sufficient.

I don't have any on hand and am going to make the vet visit tmrw. it could just be a tumor but it looks very similar to pictures videos of birds with egg binding. it seems she's been feeling bad for almost 2 weeks but it seems from what I read egg binding is very sudden and acute.

Just as a follow up....took my female to the vet yesterday. They did an X-ray and then while sedated massaged and manipulated out a lot of fecal and then started to see chunks of eggshells but they were really small. So she acts so much better and still has a puffy lower abdomen but is on a general antibiotic. Should be ok now but still kinda sleepy.

WesKnapp So glad you took your girl to the vet... Seems maybe she was egg bound and then it broke insider her? Did the vet explain anything to you better? That sounds just awful for the poor girl... Ugh, little bits of egg shell... poor kid. I would say if she is a cronic layer, make sure she has cuttle bone, and egg shell or some form of calcium she can take voluntarily and if you see eggs around (like she is laying) add the liquid to her water (not for ever, just maybe once or twice a week) until you can get the nest out of there, or whatever is causing her to lay.... I got fake eggs, and don't get me wrong Finches are smart and the eggs I got are slightly off from her size that she lays, and the color is slightly off, so if i add one to her own eggs, she knows right away and pushes out the fake one, but if I put in a clutch full of the fakes, it takes her a while to realize... Just my 2 cents on what I did for my hen that was laying in seed cups, and off perches when I took the nest out! Good luck, hope your girl gets better and betrer every day!

Good news!
So glad the vet was able to help
All the best for a speedy recovery.

this was a newer female and supposedly 1yr old so I think this is the first time she was laying eggs. hopefully the only time with a problem :/

None of my hens have started laying eggs yet this year and just finished their molt. They haven't been paired up yet and no nest boxes.

everyone has a great balanced diet (because I'm paranoid).... the vet said that it looked like her body was trying to absorb the broken egg back into her system which is why she prescribed the antibiotic - to prevent complications. Just hoping this was a one time thing and a speedy recovery.