Ill owl.

[Lloyd]

Hello,

One of my male owls has been acting oddly lately. It's my original male that has successfully parented two clutches this summer. He's done a good job (along with the female) but just over a week ago I noticed he was perched but looking very lethargic. He was puffed up somewhat and sleepy. He would have periods of activity and alertness and then he would sit sleepy for quite a while (noticed him on the cage bottom, but only once). Also noticed him eating a fair bit (more than usual) and also eating a lot of crushed shell which was unusual. Finally, he would fly to the top of the cage and hand upside down (also unusual). So, I put him in a separate cage with heat for about a week...he seemed to be doing ok..quieter than normal but no longer puffed. His droppings appear normal. Yesterday I returned him to the aviary and he is back to exhibiting odd behaviour. Any suggestions much appreciated.

[CandoAviary]

Sorry for your owl is not feeling well. I just lost a red throat with the same symptoms. Going light symptoms. I heated and treated with sulfcox, a dual action med. She perked up but I did not remove the bird for several days. No other birds showed any symptoms....not even the fledging chicks she was feeding. I put her back and same symptoms. I removed her, even though she was eating well she was so thin. (she had been wormed while in quarinetine 4 months earlier) I lost her. Everyone else is fine.
Sometimes it is so frustrating to figure these things out. I don't have a bird vet here either.
Hope some one can offer some solutions.

[Sally]

How is your Owl doing, Lloyd? Sorry that you haven't gotten much help with your problem. I think most of us on here just don't have much knowledge when it comes to illnesses and treating them. Not that we don't have sick birds, or lose some of them, but usually, we just don't know what happened or why. So frustrating.

[Lloyd]

Thanks for the replies. Well, my owl seems to be doing a little better (less time looking tired and puffed up). Still exhibiting a desire to hang (from the lights in the aviary). I don't think he's "going light" as he doesn't appear to be loosing weight. I haven't done anything specifically for him...just keeping an eye on him. I'm hoping he continues to improve. Crossing my fingers. If he starts looking for the worse again, I'll have to remove him and see about some treatment.

[L in Ontario]

I don't think he's "going light" as he doesn't appear to be loosing weight.

I don't want to alarm you Lloyd, but you won't see any bird Going Light. Their feathes conceal everything so well! You can only tell by weighing him or by feeling his breastbone is sticking out/extruding too much. That means the area on both sides of the breastbone have shrunken back some leaving the breastbone more prominent to the touch.

Here's hoping he is on the mend.

[Lloyd]

Yes, I suppose it is hard to tell the weight under feathers. But from the looks of him he looks plenty plump enough...even when he's not puffed up. I do have a small scale but I don't think I want to bother him by catching him and then trying to get his actual weight repeatedly. I'm just going to keep watch and wait and see how he is doing. Thanks for the info.