FINCHforum

I have a young Gouldian hen that has been having a crusty area above/around her right eye. A couple of weeks ago I spray-bathed her to get rid of the crustiness and it worked perfectly - she cleaned herself up and looked a perfect red head (although she looks orange - the beak is red tipped).

Then it started coming back about a week ago so today I spray-bathed her again. Just about 1/2 hour ago (about 5 hours after the spray-bath) there was blood covering the right side of her face and splattered on perches and the paper of her cage... not pretty.

I put in the divider and grabbed her quickly. I brought her to the kitchen and very gently spray-misted her head to try and remove some of the blood. Well it stopped bleeding (thank goodness) and I dabbed what I could. It appears to be coming from an area about 1/8" above her eye. She is just over 6 months old. Her siblings are in perfect health as are her parents. Any ideas on what this could possibly be?

She is now in a hospital cage with seed and antibiotics in the water and a heatlamp. She's perched but not moving much - maybe in shock or just too wet to fly/move around.

Here's some pics. Warning - there is blood in them.

oh my Liz.... do you think another bird did this?

No I don't Donna. The birds have been together for a few weeks now - they are all Gouldians and a Fire Finch.

My daughter Julie, just got home and read this too and suggested I put a bit of Polysporin across the open area above the eye. She said it may possibly have been the crustiness - if the hen tried to wipe it on a branch and it opened an old sore. It's never bled before... ever. As a matter of fact - this bird has been reserved to be sold and picked up on Sept 26th!

I hope it heals up okay......

I'm inclined to go along with Julie's idea Liz. It almost looks like she rubbed or scratched on something.

Thank you Donna, me tooooooo.

It appears quite deep but when I put the Polysporin on with a Q-tip, no blood wiped off - indicating it is dry now. Although she is still quite a mess, poor girl - she did not want to be caught up again and is quite feisty. Good girl! The heatlamp is doing her much good.

Thank you Janine - I hope so too. I don't need this!

She is flitting around her hosp cage today as if nothing happened. I'm going to keep her in there for at least the rest of this week and next with the antibiotics and then follow up with probiotics. Other than still having dried blood on her head - she seems good and even chirping. I'll try to spray her again at the end of this week to clean up the blood if it's still there then.

My mom had a clutch of finches that fledged, they all huddled together very closely. One finch kept taking his beak and tapping it hard into his brothers head, it caused a little sore (bleeding) to develop. We had to split the clutch once weaned. I don't know if this was done out of sibling dispute, picking on a "weaker" or quiet bird or an action due to birds being in close quarters with each other.

I have seen it with other zebras I have owned, a domianent bird just pokes like the dickens out of the head of a meaker bird.

I know you said you did not see any aggression, just sharing.

It's a point well taken and I will probably keep her separate from the others until she is sold - hopefully Sept 26 if she heals nicely. She acts like nothing has happened and is flying and looking nicely around her cage. Eating and drinking fine.

I'm thinking I should keep the antibiotics in with her for the full 10 days. What does everyone else think?

Liz, I would keep the wound clean and put ointment on her until she heals.

cindy wrote:Liz, I would keep the wound clean and put ointment on her until she heals.

Thank you, Cindy. There is still a lot of dried blood on the whole right side of her head. Are you saying I should spray/mist her again - honestly, I'm scared to do that for a few more days. I will re-apply the Polysporin when I get home tomorrow afternoon.

As you know Liz I have never medicated, but personnally I can't see any harm in antibiotics, if anything they should keep away any infection that might otherwise develop. Just like us.

Thanks Janine. I was thinking that antibiotics should only be used for known illnesses - she's not sick - I just want to ward off any possible infection. So I'm not 100% sure that I should keep putting the antibiotics in the water...?

L in Ontario wrote:

cindy wrote:Liz, I would keep the wound clean and put ointment on her until she heals.

Thank you, Cindy. There is still a lot of dried blood on the whole right side of her head. Are you saying I should spray/mist her again - honestly, I'm scared to do that for a few more days. I will re-apply the Polysporin when I get home tomorrow afternoon.

No don't spray her, make sure you don't disturb the clot/scab, but use just a little ointment maybe once a day or every other day. I would keep her separate as it heals. sorry if you mis understood me.

Hi Liz,

Oh that wound looks deep
I hate to treat with meds unless it's absolutely necessary. For a superficial wound which is what it looks like I think just cleaning and putting ointment would suffice, but JMO!

Best wishes and I hope that beautiful girl heals real quickly for you.

Renee