Blue Gouldian losses at weaning stage

[chelseal]

I have a problem with my blue babies dying at weaning stage.The parents are split for blue and normally have two blue birds per clutch in an aviary situation. They raise the babies with no problems at all and all the young splits and blue young fledge within a day or two of each other. The problems start when the parents wean the young at three to four weeks after leaving the nest. For some reason the blue birds break down and die at this stage. So far this year I have lost 6 blue offspring. When the birds break down they have a wet vent and fluff up dull feathering and look unwell and within two days they die.

The latest young blue to die has been sent to an avian pathologist to establish if it is disease related. My avian vet doesnt believe it is disease related as all other young including the dead blues siblings have shown no signs of sickness as all. He believes that for some reason the young blue birds may of died from starvation during this period and he believes that the stronger splits may beg harder resulting in being fed first. I did observe a blue bird beg to his parents but they ignored it and fed the splits. Anyway hopefully Ill get the results back soon from pathologist. Sorry for the long post but has anyone had a similiar problem with their young blues and what action did you take. Any help would be appreciated.

[chrischris]

I have heard that blues require a higher Vitamin content so supplementation is a must for them. Perhaps this might help with the next clutch.

Chris

[L in Ontario]

I did observe a blue bird beg to his parents but they ignored it and fed the splits.

I've never seen or had that problem with my blues or splits. They all thrived the same for me. I provide all my finches with the same foods and supplements.

Anyway hopefully Ill get the results back soon from pathologist.

Anything from the pathologist yet?

[chelseal]

I am still waitng for results and will keep you guys informed. I have had other blues fledge in other aviaries without any problems so far. It still may be parent related as other siblings are doing fine.Thanks for your replies. Cheers Chelseal

[chelseal]

I finally received pathology results. The pathologist found flagellate protozoa infection was mostly likely the cause of death in this young bird. After speaking further with my vet he believes my blue gened birds are a lot more sensitive to this than the green gened birds which may be the reason none of the splits broke down. He still believes that the splits would still be carrying the flagellets and all birds have been treated. I also have had another blue bird fledge and since the treatment has been fine. (Touch wood)

[L in Ontario]

Glad to hear the remainder are doing well. Good luck!

[mickp]

hopefully you wont have any further trouble now.
what was the treatment for that? was it something that you can include with your birds diet on a regular basis to stop this from happening in the future

[chelseal]

To establish the blue gened gouldian in australia it has been fostered by bengalese finches. Unfortunatley it seems by doing this some foster birds have passed the flagelette protozoa (Cochlosoma) on to the young Gouldians and Gouldians are most susceptiple to this. Once infected these birds then become carriers and then pass it on to their young and their lays the problem. The birds are now treated with medication with active ingredient Ronidasole which lowers the infection but does not eliminate the infection in the carrier bird. The only way to break the cycle would be to foster the blue eggs under normal gouldians so the infected adults do not feed their young and pass on cochlosoma. I