FINCHforum

I have had a few sick birds. Some I have been able to save and nurse back to health. But recently I lost some Gouldians from something I could not diagnose. They were molting and had the classic sick finch look. They were eating and drinking but got worse very quickly and died a sudden death. They were in a hospital cage with heat, and all food, vitamins in water etc. They are routinely wormed and treated for coccidiosis.

The vet was not an option, (with a vet friend saying that most normal vets have no idea about birds and avian vets are hard to find). Additionally I had no idea how old these birds were and what type of breeding they had.

FINALLY i get to my question. Who has had a sick finch, down to the stage at which they are huddled continually in front of the heat lamp and have been successful in bringing them back to full health with antobiotics?

I have a number of medications, which I use on the advice of my vet friend when he drops around, and want to know whether its worth buying some broad spectrum antibiotics to add to the medication shelf?

And also generally your comments and success with sick finches?

I know how you feel as the nearest avian vet to me is in Melbourne 365 kms away.You soon learn what not to do when treating them yourself. but when you are 5 hours from a avian vet there's no option but to treat them yourself.it took a while before i started to save any birds in the hospital cage.And the mortality rate is still to high. The only time I take a bird to the local vet is when i need antibiotics.As they make you take them in before giving any out.The diagnosis is the same as I have diagnosed myself.So I get enough antibiotics to keep in the fridge for a rainy day.
I have saved some with antibiotics, some I have lost I have not got to early enough or lost unfortunately from my own mistakes.Others I believe just get to stressed taken out of there own environment.The highest moralities are during winter.