Male Society Finch on bottom of cage

[Vera]

I am confused/concerned about the behviour of my male society finch. For the last week he has been spending most of his time on the bottom of the cage. I think he is eating and drinking, and there are times he is flying around and perching with the other birds, but then he goes back to the bottom of the cage. I it wasnt for those times he appears perfectly fine Iwould think this is quite concerning. Has anyone seen this behaviour before and any sugestions about what to do? He happens to be my favorite of my societies so I am concerned
PS I wondered if he might be molting because I did find alot of brown feathers behind the cage?

[lovezebs]

Vera

A bird on the bottom of the cage is never a good thing.

Are you sure he is molting, not being plucked or attacked by another bird?

I would pull him into a hospital cage, with a warm lamp over one corner to give him some extra warmth, and keep a close eye on him.

When you pull him, put him to your ear, and have a careful listen to his beathing. All you should hear, is his heart beating a hundred miles an hour. If you hear anything like a "tsik tsik tsik" sound, you might be dealing with air sac mites.

[Vera]

Vera

A bird on the bottom of the cage is never a good thing.

Are you sure he is molting, not being plucked or attacked by another bird?

I would pull him into a hospital cage, with a warm lamp over one corner to give him some extra warmth, and keep a close eye on him.

When you pull him, put him to your ear, and have a careful listen to his beathing. All you should hear, is his heart beating a hundred miles an hour. If you hear anything like a "tsik tsik tsik" sound, you might be dealing with air sac mites.

Thanks Elana. I will do that when I get home. I am pretty sure he's not being attacked by the others. Its odd because sometimes he seems totally fine and other times not at all. If it is air sac mites what is the treatment. I have read its not good

[lovezebs]

Vera

Air sac mites are not good at all, they can kill your birds.

Now I am not saying that this is the problem, just recommending that you listen to his little chest while you have him in your hand.

I use SCAT for Air sac mites and also for any other suspected mite problems. It can (I believe ) be ordered on line.

Here's some information below...

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/featur ... cmites.php

See how your boy does with the heat and being on his own for a while. Keep an eye on his eating and drinking, and check to see if his poop is normal.

Good luck.

[Vera]

Vera

Air sac mites are not good at all, they can kill your birds.

Now I am not saying that this is the problem, just recommending that you listen to his little chest while you have him in your hand.

I use SCAT for Air sac mites and also for any other suspected mite problems. It can (I believe ) be ordered on line.

Here's some information below...

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/featur ... cmites.php

See how your boy does with the heat and being on his own for a while. Keep an eye on his eating and drinking, and check to see if his poop is normal.

Good luck.

Thank you. He's such a plucky little bird and a beautiful singer .....

[Vera]

So he seems to be doing well now - he's still in the big cage I didnt move him because by the time i got home he was backup with the other birds on the perches and behaving normally - poop seems normal, eating and drinking. That was weird. I wonder if he had some kind of virus and just got over it ....

[Icearstorm]

Vera
It wouldn't be too unusual; my male gouldian was ill a few months ago and sat around fluffed up and sleeping for about three days; he completely recovered overnight. I still have no idea what it was.

[sparrowsong98]

Vera Icearstorm My hen, every time that thing lays an egg, it looks like it is gonna die. I actually thought it was the first time and took it back to the petsmart, then they called and said she was fine and we could get her back. She actually is doing that right now. Silly thing lays on the perch, no tin her nest, so I have never once actually seen a whole egg though.

[Vera]

That's good to know that he is not alone in this. I was ready for him to pass at any time and now he is happy and flying around.

A side note, his "partner" was so sweet she was sitting beside him on the bottom of the cage and every so often would nudge him.

[lovezebs]

Vera

Glad to hear that things are looking up.

[Vera]

Vera

Glad to hear that things are looking up.

They are better although he was on the bottom of the cage for a bit when I came home from work but is up on a perch now. He wasnt on the bottom very long today though so hopefully he is going to continue his recovery

[Vera]

Well unfortunately he is starting to sit on the bottom again. Its so sweet because his Society friend (actually his daughter) is very concerned and is close to him most of the time.
We will be moving him to a different cage for now.
If it is air sac mites how would he have initially been affected, these birds have been together for over a year with no signs of any health issues.
Now I am also concerned for the other birds who share the cage

[Vera]

Has anyone used a product called diatomaceous earth? Thats the only thing we can find right away that might help

[lovezebs]

Vera

I have heard of folks using it to keep ants out, but not fo airsac mites.

[Vera]

We will have to order something we arent able to find anything else aorund here that would treat air sac mites if thats what it is.
What is the risk to the other birds now that are in the same cage?
My Gouldians and their babies are in a different room thankfully but there are three other societies in the same cage and the Gouldian parents were in there until I moved them about two months ago