Puffed up female finch, for the most part acting normal

[Societies&Zebras]

I have 2 female Zebra finches housed together at the moment. But, i might have a problem. I noticed the one was puffy, and lethargic just a bit, but she was still vocal, and normal for the most part. So, i changed the bedding to Paper towel to see what their droppings looked like. I observed the droppings for a few days and they didn't look watery. There was however some yellow in the stool. IT could be the multivitamins i give them. The multivitamins are called Wild Harvest Multi-Drops For all birds. High potency supplement growth. I give it to them every day when i change the water, and every other day and drop a drop in the seed. The vitamin drops are colored yellow. It could be just that but, that doesn't explain the puffiness. The other female in the cage with her is perfectly normal. She isn't puffy like the one, very active just skittish. Should i separate the healthy one into the smaller cage that i cleaned? Or the one that's sorta puffed? I don't want to make them sad. I love them so much i just don't want them to be sick and feel bad. So, can anyone be of assistance in helping me?

[MiaCarter]

Societies&Zebras - I would give her a heat lamp to see if she perks up.

I'd also give her unflavored pedialyte or make up a homemade rehydration solution. (There's a recipe here if you need it: http://wp.me/p4JWrl-F)

I wouldn't pull her, as she's already been symptomatic around the other bird. So if what she has is contagious, then it's likely the other one already has it. Pulling them would just cause more stress for everyone, so I wouldn't in this case.

I'd also offer some probiotics if it appears to be gastrointestinal.
But I don't think it's the vitamins. I have that same product. I bought it when I ran out of my usual and I didn't see any change in the droppings. At the right concentration, the yellow color is very subtle.
I don't recommend that multivitamin for use on a regular basis, though, as it only has a few nutrients and they're not at recommended concentrations. Better than nothing, but not by much.

I like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Lafeber-410548302 ... d+vitamins

I've also used Nekton vitamins. They're not bad at all.

Anyways, if she gets worse or fails to improve, I'd reassess.

Perhaps do a round of Amoxitex (broad spectrum antibiotic)? It would be a shot in the dark, but if she's declining and you don't have the resources to go to the vet, it's better than nothing.

Have they ever been treated for protozoa or worms? That's a very common issue in pet shop birds.

[Societies&Zebras]

Where can i buy some Amoxitex? I mean, its worth a try. I really want her to get better. Ill try putting a heat lamp in the cage. Thank you.

[MiaCarter]

Societies&Zebras -- Absolutely. It's always good to have Amoxitex on-hand too.

I recommend Laraine at LadyGouldian.com.
https://ladygouldian.com/AMOXITEX-/wate ... antibiotic

[Societies&Zebras]

I don't have enough money to buy it, nor will my parents buy it. So, is there any other type of medicine that's cheap you can refer me to that might help? Or do you know a different store that i can go to for Amoxitex?

[Societies&Zebras]

Oh, and i plan on bleaching the cage they are in just to clean it up a bit. And i plan on giving them egg food as well. Maybe that will help along with the heat lamp. She isn't puffed up as much anymore. The heat lamp helped a lot is that good? And also will the heat lamp alone cure her? Like if i give her fresh water daily, and fresh seed and Egg food with shell crushed?

[delray]

I don't think it's safe to bleach a cage unless the birds aren't going to be in it.

[Sally]

Even without a male present, hens can suffer from egg binding. I would use the heat lamp (be sure to have it pointed only at one end of the cage, so she can move away from the heat if necessary). I personally do not give antibiotics (or any other medicine) unless I know what is wrong with the bird. Misuse of antibiotics can be just as bad as no use at all. In cases of egg binding, a drop or two of liquid calcium to one side of the beak can work wonders, in addition to the heat lamp. You probably don't have liquid calcium on hand either. In a pinch, you can use human liquid calcium (calcium glutonate) which you get at a drugstore.

As delray has said, unless you remove the birds from the cage, you probably don't need to use bleach on it.

[Societies&Zebras]

I did. And do you think if i separated the other female from the one would it maybe not get the same thing the other one has? I mean they weren't together very long so it won't really hurt them if i separate them and the one isn't puffed up and acting normal. So would it be okay? I just don't want the other one to get what the one female has.

[Societies&Zebras]

I have the heat lamp over her, but she still exhibits the puffed up problem. I have been monitoring her poop and it looks like normal bird poop to me, but it has a neon green color around the poop, its like neon green, a lightish green color. Has anyone ever come across this before? Sally delray MiaCarter

[Sally]

Here is a link to an article on poop and what it can reflect:

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_poopology.php

Here is an article on treatment of fatty liver disease, though I am not saying that is what is wrong with your bird, just one of the possibilities:

http://beautyofbirds.com/liverdisease.html#diet

I am not a vet, nor have I seen this problem in my birds. Keep in mind that colored pellets in some seed mixes can change the color of poop, as can certain vegetables and fruits. You could separate this bird from the other, only to be able to be sure that you are only seeing her poop.