Please help, my finch died

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:24 pm

I am a newbie about finches, used to keep pigeons, but know nothing about finches.

Last months I purchased 10 young gouldian finches from 3 different breeders. At first all birds are very active, eating, flying around, taking bath etc....

2 weeks ago, I noticed a yellow hen showing problem, Puffed-up, sleeping a lot, I know something was wrong, she also had watery poop. I also noticed she wipe her beak on the perch constantly, and occasionally she opened its mouth, head backward then closed it.... very odd

I googled , and suspect she has air sac mite? also I moved them indoor, as she may be get cold during the night.

she was still eating, and looked better when it was a sunny day, but within one week, she died....

If she really has the mite, I thought they can not kill her so quick? at least she does not sneeze or...

A few days later, I notice another hen, a pure silver one start to have watery poop as well, also puffed up, sleep a lot, but this time I keep them indoor, so should not be caused by temperature problem, also she does not wipe her beak or do the open mouth thing etc....

she still eating, even try to mate with different cock birds occasionally.

what should I do to help her recover? many thanks

lem2bert · Post by **lem2bert** » Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:34 pm

gouldian_finch

I am not an expert on finches, I have canaries, but I would imagine treatment may be the same. If she is puffed up she may need heat to help her retain energy. If you can put a light over her cage for some heat. I am sure that someone will be able to help you further. Not the best welcome, but I wish you good luck with your bird.

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:40 pm

thank you. Yes, I moved them indoor, which is 25C with heating on now.

the silver one start to puff up 2 days after I moved them indoor.

monotwine · Post by **monotwine** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 2:12 am

As always it's difficult to diagnose over the Internet. However you can rule out a few common ailments.

Were the birds originally kept outdoors or inside? If inside and you put them out now they may have been exposed to some very common diseases or simply got sick from change in conditions.
Did you quarantine them all? This usually sorts out any ailments brought about by stress of new environment.
If you didn't you can still.
Runny poop is usually a sign of gut infection and must be treated with an antibiotic followed by probiotic. Or parasites ranging from worms to coccidiosis.
The bacterial gut infection will kill birds faster than parasites. If these were my birds I would treat for gut infection ASAP and then follow up with a basic preventative quarantine schedule as you introduced birds together from various breeders.

Finch info, link top left, should have great guidelines for preventative quarantine treatments too.

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:31 am

thx, I do have some Metronidazole, but it is powder, I tried to put it into water, but can not all dissolved somehow. more importantly, what is the dosage I should use? many thanks

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:53 am

mites will not give finches runny poo.... either cocci, internal parasites. Beak wiping is sometimes a sign of yeast or trichomonas. Did she look like she was trying to clear her throat?

what color was the runny poo?

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 10:55 am

trichomonas? you mean like canker? I know pigeon commonly get canker, you open their mouth, there is yellow block in the mouth, and at beginning they normally will vomit food... it can be easily treated.

but finches are so small, I could not find anything once I open their mouth, not sure how the throat of normal finch should look like.

I have not seen this silver hen do the throat clearing. But I remember the yellow hen died sometime stretch its neck, slightly backward, open its mouth then close.....

the poo look like 90% clear water, the rest is brownish, normal shape poop

Post by **Sally** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:13 am

As others have said, it is very difficult to diagnose from the internet, as many things can cause the symptoms you describe. Do you have access to an avian vet? That would be the best course of action, since you have so many new birds.

Welcome to the forum, though not under the best of circumstances. As monotwine has said, there are many good articles on finch care at www.finchinfo.com. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to direct you to where to get meds, etc.

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 6:17 am

she finally laid an egg

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 4:34 pm

two eggs now

monotwine · Post by **monotwine** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:21 pm

Lol and then there is that. An egg would cause a hen to look under the weather too.
Just keep a close eye on them all. You still don't know why the other died.

gouldian_finch · Post by **gouldian_finch** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:48 pm

I know, she laid 4 eggs now, first time mum, both the hen and cock are busy in the nest box last a few days , but tonight I found both of them outside on the perch, totally ignored the eggs

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