Sick african silverbill - any suggestions?

[Lisa]

Tonight, out of the blue, I discovered my female african silverbill laying on the floor with her wings separated from her body and going through the floor. First I thought she was stuck, but she lifted out easily - I think she was just collapsed there.

She's panting very fast and cannot stand up. She can crawl a little bit on the floor, she lets me pick her up and hold her in my hand with no struggling at all.

I have her in a hospital cage with a heat lamp and a dishtowel in the bottom, and another towel draped over the cage to keep the warmth in. I put some loose seed on the bottom and some water in a soda cap (she can't stand at all right now and anything else I think would be too deep for her).

She's not puffed up at all but is doing all of her breathing through her mouth. Her stomach does not appear swollen to me so I don't think she's eggbound. When I try to stand her up, she topples to the side or onto her back. With a little bit of manuevering, she gets herself right side up but I really don't think she is going to make it.

Any suggestions on what it might be or what I could do for her? I don't think it is air sac mites, there's no clicking or anything. Her mate is perfectly healthy. I don't know her age but have had her for probably about 2 years. She does have some plucking to the back of her neck.

[L in Ontario]

I would suggest 1 drop of liquid calciun in her beak immediately - this could be life or death. when a hen is on the floor with her wings spread - that is classic eggbound. Heatlamp is good but give her the liquid calcium ASAP!

[lovemyfinch]

I agree with Liz.
gl with her

[Lisa]

Well, I had given her some small drops of water with the banding tool, and she seemed to perk up and become more alert after that. She was trying to eat some seed that was scattered around her. She also was much more active, slithering around the towel pretty good whereas previously she had only been laying in one spot and had trouble even staying right side up. I was feeling hopeful that maybe she would pull through with continued care.

So, I headed off to the pharmacy to find some liquid calcium. They had none at all, we talked to the pharmacist and he advised they never carry anything of the sort. So I bought a product called Emergen-C - it's an electrolyte mix with 500 mg of calcium, and vitamin d in it. I figured I could prepare the drink, dilute it and offer her a tiny amount. However, when I got back from the store a few minutes ago, she had already passed away

Amazing how quick these things can happen. I was home for lunch today at 1pm and everything was fine. I discovered her right at 7:30pm like this and here it is, just turned 10pm and she's already passed. I have had eggbound hens before but this one really didn't look to be acting the same as others I've had in the past. I don't know what else could have taken hold so quickly and killed her so the only thing I can think of is she must have been in very advanced stages of being eggbound (like several hours had already elapsed with her not being able to pass the egg before I discovered her).

So sad.... and not a good start to the holiday

[Lisa]

Here's a picture of Stretchy (the hen that just passed away) with her mate, Bendy. He's on the left, she's on top of the nest.

[L in Ontario]

I'm sorry Lisa. It's difficult to revive an eggbound hen without any liquid calcium. I hope you can find or order some to have on hand for other finch hens.

[FancyFinch]

So sorry Lisa.

[monotwine]

So sorry for the loss of you hen. It did sound like classic egg binding scenario. However keep a close eye on your flock to make sure it was nothing else.

Sympathies. Its never easy when you try everything and they pass away so quickly.

[debbie276]

So sorry for your loss

[Sally]

Sorry for your loss, often they hide illness till they are beyond saving. This does sound like eggbinding. Any time I find a hen in distress, that is the first thing I suspect. I will do the liquid calcium in the beak and isolation in a hospital cage with heat as my immediate first aid. Then I can start trying to diagnose.

[kenny66]

Defintely sounds like egg binding. Cacium liquid direct to the beak usually does the trick. Sorry you lost your hen

[DanteD716]

Lisa, I am so so sorry... I know how much you enjoyed them and were looking forward to chicks. I hope you can find a new hen, and I am sure she has a wondefuly life with you.