FINCHforum

I have removed Sunshine and two of his babies. Last night Misty and I were looking at them and they looked "off". I have been dealing with Sunshine's watery poops for about a year now.

I am going to not let him breed until next season and work on this but am at a loss for what to do. I am now treating him and babies with Ronivet. If this doesn't do it anyone have suggestions for what next? His poops are and have been almost all water for a long time.

I left Sugar in the aviary with the other baby which looks great. She has feather loss around her face which happened every clutch. I as resting her also.

What color is the poop? Seed or pellet?

Hi Donna,

I can't offer any advise but I hope Sunshine and his babies get better soon. I hope you can figure out what is wrong I know how much you hate to cage them.

Keep us posted.

Renee

Thank you Renee.... yes you know me well. Caging them is difficult for me. I put them in this morning and had to walk away. The babies I don't mind, but Sunshine is seperated from Sugar and he hasn't been in a cage for almost two years so he is in a little shock. As I left the house this morning no one had moved. They were little stones.....

Cindy, his poop has no color. It is clear and watery. There is VERY little substrate to it.

Donna,

Have you ever wormed him?

You offer your birds live mealworms, correct?

Worms will cause extremely watery, loose stools.
Not saying that's what this is - but just wanted to put that out there!

Tiffany hit one of the suggestions I was going to make. Treat for worms. Babies may or may not get it while being fed, so thus far, it fits the case.

Additionally, offer a load of charcoal to the birds in the cage, see how much they eat on a daily or weekly basis and let us know. The amt of charcoal they eat can indicate some digestive issue.

Dont sweat the cage. If they have an issue and you can isolate and treat it, then you saved their life, surely a better fate then letting them fly free and not treating. If no problem is found... well, you are just a precautious mother.

nixity wrote:Donna,

Have you ever wormed him?

You offer your birds live mealworms, correct?

Worms will cause extremely watery, loose stools.
Not saying that's what this is - but just wanted to put that out there!

Tiffany I treat preventively with S76 every other month. I was told this would kill worms also. Do you think this is true? I have never used any other worm medication. what would you use?

Sorry to hear Sugar and fids are not doing well. I think caging and giving him a break from breeing is a good idea.
I know you feed a lot of fruits and greens, I would limit these to very small servings if any for a while. Is the bird thin? protruding breast bone? Hopefully you can remedy this problem, my prayers are with you.

I had to catch a blue fledgling out og the grow out cage. Yesterday he seemed to be sleeping alot. Then the puffiness. I caught him up and he was exhausted after the netting. I put him in a small cage with all kinds of food and a heat light. I put him on amoxitex because I had no idea what was wrong, all the others (18) in the flight are just as active as can be,...
This morning I went out to the bird room and he was eating and jumping around like nothing was wrong.
I think it was a case of stress, pecking order syndome... I have seen this before with chicks and one will get chased and picked on that they do not get thier fair share of food, sleep. etc.
I can't believe the difference by just giving him his 'own' cage.
Sometimes that can be a life saver. Also if it does turn out to be something contagious then you don't wipe out the whole flight.
As many new birds that you bring in, possibly someone brought a bug in. The birds that are under the most stress (breeding) sometimes are the ones that pick it up while the carrier exhibits no signs.
Hopefully it is not that serious.

Candace...... I noticed him sleeping alot and sometimes he is puffy. Not all the time, but sometimes. I am very concerned about his poops. His breastbone seems to protrude somewhat. Is this a sign of something?

I do not hardly ever have a sick bird so of course I am concerned.

I do not think he is eating excessively so I am sure it is not the "going light" I hear of so often. I have taken away all home made egg food, greens. I only have in there for them seeds, millet, charcoal, oyster shells, kelp and miracle meal. I also have a small bowl of herb salad. Do you think this is enough?

dfcauley wrote:

nixity wrote:Donna,

Have you ever wormed him?

You offer your birds live mealworms, correct?

Worms will cause extremely watery, loose stools.
Not saying that's what this is - but just wanted to put that out there!

Tiffany I treat preventively with S76 every other month. I was told this would kill worms also. Do you think this is true? I have never used any other worm medication. what would you use?

Hi Donna,

The active ingredient in S76 to my knowledge is ivermectin, and it is mostly only effective against round worms.

I know from having horses it specifically does not get rid of tapes. And it also won't tackle gizzard worms or hook worms.

I would recommend a wormer that targets the others (hook worms, whip worms, tape worms, gizzard worms, and round worms, etc.) like Morning Bird's Worm Away or the alternative product is Worm Out Gel - I can't remember off the top of my head who manufactures this, though.

Unfortunately the ivermectin on it's own is not enough.

Yes, the dry seed is fine and the dry miracle meal is great (has the probiotics)
The fact that he has been feeding chicks could cause him to be thin. Sometimes the demand of the parenting job leaves little nutrition for the parent. This is why it is so important to give them a rest.
I found this on the web about increase urine:

Urine (the clear watery part)

Green: Liver Disease
Yellow: Liver Disease
Red: Internal bleeding (low in the digestive track), Lead Poisoning, Kidney Disease
Increased Urine: Drinking a lot, Eating foods high in water or Disease (often bacterial)

Maybe he has a bacterial infection from some spoiled greens of eggs?
Do you have him on antibiotics? I have never had one with just water poops, sure wish I could be of more help. If I run across anything I will post the info for you.
I would also add some heat source. Heat always makes them feel better

Found this on a poopology site.


Changes in urine
The clear, watery urine part of a bird's dropping can change very rapidly according to diet, stress, excitement - or disease.

Increase. If a normal change in diet or emotion can't explain a dramatic or prolonged increase in urine, it could be an early symptom of a metabolic disease such as kidney disease. Poisoning, infections and drug reactions can also cause polyuria.

Thanks Tiffany and Candace. I will get some of the worm medication and treat him.

His poop has no color. He drinks alot of water I have noticed.

So..... do you think an antibiotic is called for? I have some, but have never given it to my birds. I do not want to over medicate him. I have him on Ronivet at the moment.

nixity wrote:Donna,

Have you ever wormed him?

You offer your birds live mealworms, correct?

Worms will cause extremely watery, loose stools.
Not saying that's what this is - but just wanted to put that out there!

I just thought of something......Sunshine NEVER eats worms. I put them in a bowl on the floor of the aviary. He never goes down to eat them.

If the watery dropping are from bacteria then antibiotics would help. If it is kidney disease then nothing will help. If it is from lots of watery food in the diet then it will correct itself without medication.
Worming mediction?
I guess you will just have to guess.......
Sometimes I wait and it's too late. Sometimes I medicate and it's not right..... It is hard to diagnose thier ailments and treat without knowing for sure what is wrong. You just do what you think is best and pray for the little fellows