Gouldian Puffy With No Voice

[FinchFan09]

I purchased a female Gouldian this weekend at the bird mart and when she got home she was pretty puffed up and exhuasted. Right away I put her under a heat lamp with thrive, millet spray, egg food, and veggies.

She has improved some. She's eating well and drinking fine. She is definitely not as puffy and has more energy, but she doesn't seem right. She still seems to get "sleepy" and will puff but the oddest thing I've noticed is her voice is very very tiny and soft. You can barely hear it. What could this be I noticed she is very interested in the charcoal and oyster shell as well as the cuttle bone. She doesn't cough but her breathing is slightly labored in that she seems to rock or sway slightly when she breaths. The other male I bought with her doesn't do this and he seems very normal. Another interesting thing is that they cuddle together in their quarantine cage. I've never seen Gouldians do this before and as far as I know, this isn't a bonded pair. Any thoughts?? I'm concerned about this little girl and the no voice thing has me stumped. Thanks!!

[Justin-2-finches]

Hmmmm... i feel for this little girl. I have had birds do this kind of thing before but it is not a good sign and unfortunately has always proved fatal, not sure what it could be but what ever it must have had it when you bought it. I would keep it very warm and give it plenty of food and water and vitamins etc,
unless any one else is any wiser

[finchmix22]

Have you noticed unusual droppings? The other thought is if she is going to lay an egg. I had a few hens act that way just prior to laying an egg and I thought they were sick. Still, the heat, calcium sources and all is helpful.

[FinchFan09]

I would have to say the droppings are more watery then a normal bird. But the color is still ok. My thought too was that perhaps she was egg bound because of how much charcoal, oyster, and cuttle bone she was going after. But the very faint voice though? I don't get that. Unless it's because she's weak? I placed a damp wash cloth along the side of the quarantine cage to add some humidity. She's a beautiful white head, white breast, yellow back. I should post a pic later if I can.

[finchmix22]

You might add Calcium Plus to her water or give her a drop directly. The only other thing I think of is some decreased ability to breathe to sing? Have you checked for airsac mites or crackling sounds?

[finchmix22]

I re-read your original post and I had a Society that died after a two year healthy life. We and the avian vet were not sure at first what the cause of her death was, but later we thought she had a parasite or intestinal virus. She had been on Amoxitex for five days and I was ordering more Probiotic, but did not receive it until after she died. The vet and I wondered if she had a parasite or something and was sensitive after the antibiotics. She would lean up against other finches and used the food dish, towards the end, to support herself because she was weak. Just more info to think about. I pray she recovers and this is not serious.

[FinchFan09]

I treated her with Scatt this morning so we shall see what happens. Her condition has been unusual. One moment she looks fine, tight feathers, moving about with energy, eating well. Then this morning, she is sitting on the bottom of the cage, eyes closed and weak looking. I haven't changed any of conditions, she is still under heat, still getting Thrive. Anyone with experience using Scatt know how soon the birds should improve?

[CandoAviary]

Don't know if you got the PM but I thought Air sac mites. The stress of bird marts is enough to bring underlying things like this to the service. I usually use iverlux but scatt should be fine, though stronger medication. You should see improvement soon like tommorrow,
One problem to watch for, if it is a heavy mite infestation then killing all the mites at once they can clog up the respitory system... lung, sinus infections. If this seems to be the case you may want to start an antibiotic for this like amoxitex or Baytril. But only if she continue to get worse.
The advantage of using iverlux by morning bird or bird health is that it contains slippery elm that help soothes the throat and membrames of the birds respirtory system. Hopefully she will be perkier tommorrow

Notes... she will cuddle for the warnth. If she perks up with the air sac treatment treat the male also. Even if he isn't showing symptoms he has been exsposed.

[FinchFan09]

This is a picture of Peep. She's been sitting on the bottom of the cage this afternoon.



It seems like she hasn't gotten any better. I also took a picture of her droppings and I think this idicates a problem:

[CandoAviary]

Poor thing... I just saw this picture after the latest PM. It is hard to really say anything about the droppings. You had stated she was eating charcoal... this could be from too much charcoal injestion. (charcoal will also intefer with medication absorbtion) I would remove the charcaol and grit and only offer a bland diet of finch seed mix or spray millet. No greens, sprouts or eggfoods.

She may just be extremely over stressed with the show and her new surroundings...possible change of diet and water... also this may just be a case of over eating the charcoal, oyster shell and cuttle bone.... she may just be backed up... warmth and seed with rest will help. Is she got poop on her butt? If so it make b=need cleaning with water. If it gets packed she will not be able to poop and this will make the bird very sick indeed.

Also is there a chance she is just in labor with egg?