Think my new gouldians have air sac mites!!

[syks]

Only got my finches a couple of days ago and I'm a bit worried, I havnt heard a peep from the male yet and the female keeps making like a raspy coughing sound instead of a chirp...ive also noticed they have been wiping there beaks quite a lot on the perches

After a quick google I now believe they have air sac mites, I have ordered some anti pesticide treatment for small birds that combats mites including air sac mites and hopefully this will cure it...does the symptons I have described sound like these air sac mites to others? and have you ever had it in your birds before? can it be totally cured?

My society finches seem fine and I'm now glad I did separate the 2 species of finch when I got them, I just hope my birds don't die, the treatment will be here by the 29th of september

[Fraza]

I don’t really know about the sound of tweet but the birds can sometimes rub there beaks on the pe arches if not regularly also if u buy them cuttlefish bone they seem to do more

[lovezebs]

syks

Oh dear......

Here is some information which you might find very helpful. Click on the site below :

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5255

[syks]

syks

Oh dear......

Here is some information which you might find very helpful. Click on the site below :

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5255

Thanks for that, yep it is defo air sac mites as she started making a clicking sound as well as raspy cough this morning so I nipped to a local pet shop and got some spot on treatment that is for all mites including air sac mites.

Treated both birds but put a little more on the female as the male is showing no signs of the parasite at all apart from not singing, I also cleaned all the cage with pet safe disinfectant including food/water bowls, only problem is I couldn't do the nest box as when I took it off the cage to clean I noticed a single egg in there so I didn't want to disturb it incase it puts the female off.

Hopefully she will be fine now and lay more eggs, I'm going to re treat in a months time just to be safe

[lovezebs]

syks

If your hen is sick, I would definitely advise not to breed her.

Laying eggs, and raising young is hard on a hen and a stressful time, which takes a lot out of a female. If she is suffering with air sac mites, then any extra stress should be avoided as it may kill her. Plus, she'll end up passing any disease she has to her chicks if they hatch and she feeds them (which with their young immune system, may kill them).

Birds should be in optimum health when they are being bred.

Personally, I would remove the nest, place the egg with your Societies (if they're nesting) and give her as much rest as she needs to recover,

[syks]

syks

If your hen is sick, I would definitely advise not to breed her.

Laying eggs, and raising young is hard on a hen and a stressful time, which takes a lot out of a female. If she is suffering with air sac mites, then any extra stress should be avoided as it may kill her. Plus, she'll end up passing any disease she has to her chicks if they hatch and she feeds them (which with their young immune system, may kill them).

Birds should be in optimum health when they are being bred.

Personally, I would remove the nest, place the egg with your Societies (if they're nesting) and give her as much rest as she needs to recover,

I didn't really think about that, yes you are right, but wont she continue to lay eggs even if I take the nest box out now she has started? I really would hate to lose her, shouldn't she be clear of the infection in a week or so which would be way before the chicks hatch?

If only I knew she had the infection before, I would of never put the nest box in, my society finches are not nesting, would it be kinder to call this breeding session a loss and just dispose of the egg?

I'm not 100% sure what to do now you have mentioned the risks as I didn't think about it properly, why did this have to happen to me

[syks]

Ive decided to take your advice and take the nest box out, I will let her recover for at least a month or so before I put the nest box back in, thanks for brining it to my attention as didn't really think about the added stress could kill her

Luke

[lovezebs]

syks

Hi Luke,

You're most welcome.

I just hope your little girl pulls through and gets better soon.

[syks]

well my female gouldian seems to be much better now, the spot on seemed to help a bit and I defo could see improvement but it didn't cure it so a friend of mine kindly gave me some s76 to put in the water.

After 2 consecutive days of using it she barely coughs at all now and the male has started making noise also

[lovezebs]

syks

So glad to hear that they're on the mend .