3 Dead Fledglings
- GouldieFledge
- Perfect Partner
- Posts: 355
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- Location: Northern NJ
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
MiaCarter
This is a completely outsider view, but it's not possible that it's carbon monoxide poisoning, right? Or some other odorless, toxic gas? Figure I'd throw that out there in case safety could be a real concern here.
I'm certainly no finch expert, but I'd imagine it'd hit vulnerable babies shortly before the adults.
This is a completely outsider view, but it's not possible that it's carbon monoxide poisoning, right? Or some other odorless, toxic gas? Figure I'd throw that out there in case safety could be a real concern here.
I'm certainly no finch expert, but I'd imagine it'd hit vulnerable babies shortly before the adults.
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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- Location: west central Florida
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
I think is something internal... if a gas your adults and other birds would be suffering some effects as well.
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- MiaCarter
- Molting
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Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
cindy -- I did raise 2 of the 3 parents.
Bit of an odd story, but this clutch had 2 mums. The hen took up in a nest outside her home cage. And once the hen laid an egg, she wouldn't let the male near the nest, but she ultimately let a young hen in there with her. So the two hens nested together and raised them.
It was really odd and I did watch them very closely as neither had parented before and one was under a year. But both were wonderful - very attentive.
Dad was ultimately moved back to his home cage. (She would chase and peck him ruthlessly.) So he contributed nothing more than his genetics.
That was the only real unique thing about this clutch. They looked great.
It did pop into my mind that the males usually do more of the feeding, especially after weaning. And obviously, this was two hens. But they did great - or so it seemed.
Thanks for the info on the spindly legs. I didn't know that, so I'm glad to learn something new! I'm actually surprised this symptom exists because I didn't think they had much of anything by way of "meat" on their legs!
Yeah, really regretting the decision to freeze them. I should have arranged for a necropsy for at least 1 of them. Abby the cockatiel will go for anything left out in the bird room and outside of the bird room, there are the cats, so I've gotten into the habit of putting them straight into the freezer. (We bury them in batches or include them when we cremate - any time we lose one of the dogs or cats.)
I was upset and I wasn't thinking straight. I should have put them in the fridge and scheduled a necropsy.
But the parents are still alive. It stands to reason that whatever is to blame should also be present in the parents, right?? I was thinking of starting with some fecal smears to see if that reveals anything.
The good news is everyone else seems okay.
Adults all look good. I don't have any other babies.
I too had initially considered carbon monoxide and toxins. Even bugs (a few weeks ago, I had left a tupperware of Abby's honey nut cheerios open slightly on the shelf beside the cage where I had the babies and some ants got in. So I even looked for signs of ants, thinking perhaps they'd been bitten and had a reaction. But I didn't find any ants, nor did I find any welts or red bumps or signs of anaphylaxis.
@Cindy - what would you say are the diseases with the highest probability here?
Bit of an odd story, but this clutch had 2 mums. The hen took up in a nest outside her home cage. And once the hen laid an egg, she wouldn't let the male near the nest, but she ultimately let a young hen in there with her. So the two hens nested together and raised them.
It was really odd and I did watch them very closely as neither had parented before and one was under a year. But both were wonderful - very attentive.
Dad was ultimately moved back to his home cage. (She would chase and peck him ruthlessly.) So he contributed nothing more than his genetics.
That was the only real unique thing about this clutch. They looked great.
It did pop into my mind that the males usually do more of the feeding, especially after weaning. And obviously, this was two hens. But they did great - or so it seemed.
Thanks for the info on the spindly legs. I didn't know that, so I'm glad to learn something new! I'm actually surprised this symptom exists because I didn't think they had much of anything by way of "meat" on their legs!
Yeah, really regretting the decision to freeze them. I should have arranged for a necropsy for at least 1 of them. Abby the cockatiel will go for anything left out in the bird room and outside of the bird room, there are the cats, so I've gotten into the habit of putting them straight into the freezer. (We bury them in batches or include them when we cremate - any time we lose one of the dogs or cats.)
I was upset and I wasn't thinking straight. I should have put them in the fridge and scheduled a necropsy.
But the parents are still alive. It stands to reason that whatever is to blame should also be present in the parents, right?? I was thinking of starting with some fecal smears to see if that reveals anything.
The good news is everyone else seems okay.
Adults all look good. I don't have any other babies.
I too had initially considered carbon monoxide and toxins. Even bugs (a few weeks ago, I had left a tupperware of Abby's honey nut cheerios open slightly on the shelf beside the cage where I had the babies and some ants got in. So I even looked for signs of ants, thinking perhaps they'd been bitten and had a reaction. But I didn't find any ants, nor did I find any welts or red bumps or signs of anaphylaxis.
@Cindy - what would you say are the diseases with the highest probability here?
Humum to....
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
- cindy
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 18754
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
- Location: west central Florida
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
it is really hard to say, without looking at the bodies or testing really hard to say... if you do go to breed them again I would remove the extra hen and allow the pair to rear their own. Dads do most of the feeding once weaned. Watching very carefully who is feeding and how often.
I have had two pairs out of all the zebras I own do this...not feed enough or neglect the young once fledged not feeding consistently, babies are nibbling or in the food dish but you can see them weaken and dehydrate, I had to step in. After the second try at breeding them and this happened again I removed the nest. no more breeding for the pair, may break them up and re-pair them with reliable mates.
I have had two pairs out of all the zebras I own do this...not feed enough or neglect the young once fledged not feeding consistently, babies are nibbling or in the food dish but you can see them weaken and dehydrate, I had to step in. After the second try at breeding them and this happened again I removed the nest. no more breeding for the pair, may break them up and re-pair them with reliable mates.
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
~ My Facebook groups ~
*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments
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- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
~Elana~
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- MiaCarter
- Molting
- Posts: 3528
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:36 pm
- Location: SW Florida
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
lovezebs - Doing ok. 
All of the adults seem stable, so that's good news!...though it makes it all the more perplexing.
I've started everyone on a round of Ronex. It's about that time of year anyways. I try to do them at least annually just in case anything gets past me with quarantining and adding in new birds. They all have contact so just one infected newcomer could infect all the rest and I know those protozoal bugs are super resilient.
I've got to run a poop sample down to the vet this week for analysis, so we'll start there I think. So perplexing.
When it rains it pours! My 15 year old pug is "off." He had an episode of nystagmus last night; not sure what's going on with him. Seems like vestibular disease. So need to investigate that. So scary knowing it could be coming up on "that time" with him.

All of the adults seem stable, so that's good news!...though it makes it all the more perplexing.
I've started everyone on a round of Ronex. It's about that time of year anyways. I try to do them at least annually just in case anything gets past me with quarantining and adding in new birds. They all have contact so just one infected newcomer could infect all the rest and I know those protozoal bugs are super resilient.
I've got to run a poop sample down to the vet this week for analysis, so we'll start there I think. So perplexing.
When it rains it pours! My 15 year old pug is "off." He had an episode of nystagmus last night; not sure what's going on with him. Seems like vestibular disease. So need to investigate that. So scary knowing it could be coming up on "that time" with him.

Humum to....
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
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Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
MiaCarter
I know that for people, they can treat with meds, surgery, some physio, but not sure how they treat it in pups.
My big boy, just turned eleven..... He's developing fatty (?) lumps here and there, and I worry about him, so I know where you're coming from. I love that doggy ♡ can't even think about losing him.
He still thinks he's a puppy though
.
I hope your little fella hangs in there, and that it's nothing too serious. Too many losses all at once...... too much pain.....
Oh honey, I wish it was a better and happier and a more perfect world.....
Please take care of yourself too, while you're taking care of everyone else.
I know that for people, they can treat with meds, surgery, some physio, but not sure how they treat it in pups.
My big boy, just turned eleven..... He's developing fatty (?) lumps here and there, and I worry about him, so I know where you're coming from. I love that doggy ♡ can't even think about losing him.
He still thinks he's a puppy though

I hope your little fella hangs in there, and that it's nothing too serious. Too many losses all at once...... too much pain.....
Oh honey, I wish it was a better and happier and a more perfect world.....
Please take care of yourself too, while you're taking care of everyone else.
~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
- MiaCarter
- Molting
- Posts: 3528
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:36 pm
- Location: SW Florida
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
lovezebs - Yeah, not much they can do. They can do prednisone and anti-nausea meds, but that's really it. I've got him on Baytril in case it's an inner ear infection, so that should cover that (and he has had ear infections before.) Lots of cases of peripheral vestibular disease go away without treatment (the central form can be more long lasting and resistant to treatment, but he doesn't seem to have that presentation at the moment.)
He's old and doesn't walk anymore (hasn't for about 6 months), but he's so darn happy. I know he doesn't have a lot of time left, but I pray he's not leaving us just yet.
Knock on wood, but he seems ok. He hasn't had another episode of nystagmus in 28 hours (but who's counting). Seems his appetite is a bit less than normal, but that could just be the meds.
My creatures bring me such joy, but goodness, when a bunch leave me all at once, it can make life pretty miserable! I work at home so I'm with them all the time, so I think they're a bigger part of my life than many others. I love this, but boy does it make it tough when everything goes wrong!
How's your boy with his tumors? Hopefully nothing serious and just benign lipomas? A fine needle aspiration can usually offer lots of insight. I've seen lots of lipomas over the years (have a few "award winners" in jars too....LOL). Piggy has one on his belly, but it's not bothering anyone. Hopefully they're not too bothersome for your guy! With fatty tumors, usually you can leave them as long as they're not impeding movement or growing super large.
He's old and doesn't walk anymore (hasn't for about 6 months), but he's so darn happy. I know he doesn't have a lot of time left, but I pray he's not leaving us just yet.
Knock on wood, but he seems ok. He hasn't had another episode of nystagmus in 28 hours (but who's counting). Seems his appetite is a bit less than normal, but that could just be the meds.
My creatures bring me such joy, but goodness, when a bunch leave me all at once, it can make life pretty miserable! I work at home so I'm with them all the time, so I think they're a bigger part of my life than many others. I love this, but boy does it make it tough when everything goes wrong!
How's your boy with his tumors? Hopefully nothing serious and just benign lipomas? A fine needle aspiration can usually offer lots of insight. I've seen lots of lipomas over the years (have a few "award winners" in jars too....LOL). Piggy has one on his belly, but it's not bothering anyone. Hopefully they're not too bothersome for your guy! With fatty tumors, usually you can leave them as long as they're not impeding movement or growing super large.
Humum to....
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
13 Zebra Finches....and 2 squeeps!
3 Society Finches
6 Gouldians
1 Weaver
1 Pintail Whydah
2 Cockatiels
2 Parakeets
....along with 1 MinPin, 1 Pug, 1 JRT, 1 Yorkie, 2 Chihuahuas and 15 cats.

www.PetFinchFacts.com
- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 18214
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: 3 Dead Fledglings
MiaCarter
They don't seem to bother my Danny boy too much. Our old Vet, said to massage them, and that some might get re-absorbed into the body. I don't know if it works or not, but my boy sure enjoys getting massaged
.
I'm the same as you when it comes to my pets, they are not part of the family, they are family
.
They don't seem to bother my Danny boy too much. Our old Vet, said to massage them, and that some might get re-absorbed into the body. I don't know if it works or not, but my boy sure enjoys getting massaged

I'm the same as you when it comes to my pets, they are not part of the family, they are family

~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~