Uh oh!

[Harley2013]

All has been fairly well since adding D'Jango and King. First day a bit rough. Prior to the addition, everyone fine, healthy. All has been fairly quite. This morning I woke and found everyone fllying and doing the norm. My oldest Gouldin ( about 2 years old give or take a bit) still sleeping, head tucked, puffed a little, and it " seems" he is sitting loosely on the perch with one foot. One eye open, the other closed. Uh oh!!! Now what!!??? Should I watch him, OR take him out? I was thinking taking him out could stress him more with whatever is going on, and, what are tips on taking out if I need to? double flight, 8 finches.....? Tricky! I could place a smaller light on the side of the cage wherehe is sitting to stay warmer. I feel terrible. Maybe he was caught in the crossfire of something I didn't see with the new addition.

[wilkifam]

Sorry, not following, maybe I missed an earlier post. What is the situation and what is the new addition.

[Harley2013]

I have a double fight. Originally had 2 male lady gouldins, then later added, 2 male zebras, later male/female eurpoean. 3 months or so later, ( last Tuesday) two more lady gouldins ( male) everything has been fine, everyone has been healthy, eating , drinking, No one else seems injured or ill. This morning, I woke to find oldest gouldin puffed, head tucked, seems like he is maybe injured, although I can't see anything. Yesterday he was fine. Flying around, eating, drinking,. I did put a clamp light at one end of the double flight, and he did make his way there and is resting by the light. Should I leave him, remove him, watch him? If I remove, tips? Double flight, 8 finches, a lot of chaos! Don't want to stress him out even more.

[wilkifam]

If no one is bothering him, I guess I would leave him. Is he eating and drinking OK?

Do the Zebs and goulds get along oK in the same cage? I would be afraid to mix them.

[Harley2013]

Yes the zebras get along with them. I only have 2 zebras, and they pretty much are into each other. They don't bother anyone, it's been this way for awhile now. What is the life span of a gouldin? I bought him froma previous owner, and he " said" at that time that he was about a year and a half. That was about 6 months ago? I always look at feet. He does look like he has been around.

[Harley2013]

He does seem to be eating seed and romaine, have not seen him drink as of yet. Does appear to be trying to move about the cage. Still a little puffed. Maybe he's just under the weather today.

[lovezebs]

Harley2013
Hi Tammy.
You did mention two new males, right? Did you place them into the flight right away, or are they in quarantine? I ask, because if they went right in, is it possible that they brought some bug with them and your oldest boy picked it up?

Regrding age. At 2 yrs, your boy is in his prime, and no where near old.

Another possibility (if they were all thrown together), is that there has been a bit of a squabble as to who is the 'top' bird.

~Elana~

[Harley2013]

Well, no.....I did not quarenteen..... I have before in the past buying from the same person, have never had any problems, so this time, I figured, what the heck..... I know, I know! there was some squabbling the first day, but he was not involved. The younger Dingonwas the instigator of laying down house rules to the newbies. Taz, just did his own thing like " no biggie"
I am watching him and he presently is flying about, and eating from all dishes and singing..... So I dont " really" know if there is a problem or if he's just lazy today. It IS very cold here. I do have the heater on of course, but maybe he is just chilly today?

[Harley2013]

Taz is still puffed today, but eating. Have the little lamp on for additional heat. But I do notice he keeps one eye closed more than the other, not constantly, but at times. Also, both eyes look smaller than the other gouldins eyes. Almost sunken a little? Any ideas?

[Ginene]

Sorry to hear about your little one. Besides heat, I would add an electrolyte to the water. Keep a close eye on him...especially with zebras in the flight. Maybe put the divider in and separate the 4 Gould's from the others. Some birds will target a sick bird, which will only make him worse.

[MiaCarter]

The sunken eyes is concerning. That can indicate dehydration (your eyeballs are something like 90% fluid.)

It could just be stress from the new additions.

Agreed with the others that I would offer an electrolyte solution. That will help with rehydration.
I'd also offer his favorite veggies and fruits, as those have lots of fluid too.

As long as the others aren't bothering him, I'd leave him in there.
If what he has is contagious, that ship has sailed - he would have infected the others already.
So removing him would only cause more stress.

Do you know what his poops look like?
Any other symptoms, like discharge from the nostrils?

[monotwine]

Sorry your boy seems under the weather.
I'm not fond of throwing medicine at birds unnecessarily, but if you have not quarantined then you could have unintentionally brought in a myriad of things.
Stressed birds sometimes then express illness usually not a problem.
Fluffed, sunken eyes, lethargic - symptoms developing over a period of days. I'd suspect a bacterial infection. Look for his poop and see what they are like. If they are in any way runny or too white I'd put them on a short course of broad spectrum antibiotics.
Follow up with probiotics.

Later a basic quarantine of all the birds, since it seems you are not breeding. An anti-cocci, anti parasite (including protozoa) & deworm would be a good idea too.

Best luck. Its never easy to see our birds get ill. How we wish they could tell us if they had a sore tummy.