is this normal?

[wilkifam]

I have a single Gouldian Chick who is 11 days old who is being raised by 3 society finches. He seems very healthy, is growing like a bad weed. Eyes open and getting feathers, but ever since he was very small, he has had a lot of air in his crop. The crop is usually about half full looking with a bunch of air. Pictures attached.

[Zebrafincher]

This might be Air sac Hyperinflation. Not sure. Saw something on my Vet's web page for a parrot fledgling. This is the link:

http://www.birdclinic.net/patients.htm

See the picture down the bottonm

[debbie276]

It does look like a bit more air then should be. Sometimes when the chicks feed they gulp in too much air, it usually happens when they are hand fed with something other then a tube directly to the crop. Could it be that the society's are backing off on their feedings and not giving as much?
Most times it will correct by itself and is not a problem.
best of luck

[bugaboo5]

I don't think you should be concerned. I've had this happen before, especially when hand-feeding. Were you able to test your societies or at least purchased them from a source that could attest to the fact that they were clean? Clean, as in free from C&C (Campylobacter and Cochlosoma)?

The lone baby looks as if it is being fed quite well. Is it blue back by any chance? Good luck!

Edit: I do want to mention that I have had this happen recently when I fostered a lone gouldian with a pair of societies as well. It usually happened when I fed fresh egg food. I imagined perhaps that the gases from the egg was causing some sort of air buildup? I don't know, but I can happily report that the baby in question is happily molting now and is a fabulous bird!

[nixity]

Does the air go away over night? If it does, I wouldn't worry too much about it - it's probably due to the baby "swallowing" air as Debbie mentions. Societies feed a little differently than Gouldians and I've found fostered birds tend to get more air in their crop like that than parent-reared birds. Ditto with handfeds, which I think is a combination of being hand fed and also the hand feeding formula being a bit "yeasty" and causing gas build up.

If it doesn't completely go away over night, you might try adding something to the drinking water to help combat candida which might be causing the extra "gas" in the crop.

You could use something like Organic Apple Cider Vinegar or something like SweetWater from Vetafarm to lower the pH or, alternatively, something like Sparkle or KD Water Cleaner to make sure to kill off any bacteria or fungus present in the drinking water.

[lyzzyjayne]

Oh dear. He looks so uncomfortable. Please keep us informed.

[finchlyn]

That looks strange. It does look like air in a balloon. How do you know if it is just air or if the baby is sick ? Why is a society finch raising this gouldian chick? I am trying to learn more about gouldian finches and breeding please.

[wilkifam]

Yes, the air goes away overnight, and yes I am feeding fresh egg food, changed every 2 hours. He seems fine, just was wondering what you all thought.

Lori

[wilkifam]

The goulds laid one egg, and never sat on it, so I put it under the societies, who will raise and feed anything. Folks often use them to foster other types of finches.

Why is a society finch raising this gouldian chick?

[wilkifam]

I have KD, but usually only use it once a week. Is it safe to use in drinking water daily?

alternatively, something like Sparkle or KD Water Cleaner to make sure to kill off any bacteria or fungus present in the drinking water

[wilkifam]

Parents are both Normal RH/PB, I think he is a normal too.

The lone baby looks as if it is being fed quite well. Is it blue back by any chance? Good luck!

[nixity]

I have KD, but usually only use it once a week. Is it safe to use in drinking water daily?

No need to use it daily, I think once a week is sufficient, and since the air is "deflating" over night, I don't think you need to worry about anything. It's probably just "swallowing" air when it begs.