Gouldians getting sick

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:47 am

My gouldians seem to be getting sick every so often. Every few days, 1 of the birds will look all puffy and seem very lathargic (I assume they are sick), they also seem to get a runny stomach. They seem to recover about 2 days later and be back to normal.

At the moment I've got a hen thats been sick for about 2 days now and she doesn't seem to be getting better. I think its a bit worse than the others have had because she is wet under her tail. ? I tried to catch her this morning to take her inside where it is warmer but without a net it was impossible (going to get 1 today). We've had a spell of cold weather over the past few days, could this cause it.

Pls help.

Also, what do you think about a hot-box to house the birds in when they are sick. keeping them nice and warm.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:13 am

I don't know the temperature in your outside aviary but a small hospital cage with a heatlamp on one side would do them good although I don't know if you want to fluctuate the temperature a whole lot - just enough to get them warm if it's cold outside.

If they have diarrhea I use Ornycin Plus but there are a number of good medications available for this. You really need to find out why all your Gouldians keep getting sick to resolve it. Could it be the food? What is the outside temperature day and night?

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:50 am

Thanks for the inputs Liz,

Its been reasonably warm lately (averaging +-30C/86F during the day and about 20C/68F at night during summer) But we heading into autumn now and its starting to get a little chilly, it has been about 16C/61F during the day for the past 2 days.

I give them egg food daily which I usually make on a sunday and freeze for that week, it contains a whole egg, carrot and brocolli florets all grated. Every morning I mix this with an avian cereal that has a calcium/phos supplement. I remove what they haven't eaten when I get home from work in the evening. All water cups get washed in boiling hot water every 2nd day and egg food cups every day. seed bowls never get washed only topped up.

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:52 am

L in Ontario wrote:but a small hospital cage with a heatlamp on one side would do them good

Do you mean a hospital cage with a heat lamp on the side of it, or a hospital cage on the side of the aviary?

Post by **Sally** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:17 am

Do you have a heat lamp in the aviary? Some form of heat suspended over one perch in the aviary would give them the choice of sitting under the heat or away from it. Since you have just finished this aviary, where were the birds before? If they were inside, they may be having trouble acclimating to the outdoors, especially if the temps are dropping now.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:28 am

I to agree with the others you need to get some heat for the gouldians in your aviary just a light bulb with shade on one end if they want it they will get close to it theire choice.Do you give fruit that can make droppings runny.Good luck

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:33 am

If the birds have been in the aviary for a while and the nighttime temps are only going down to 16/61 then the temperature should not be a factor however, having a heatlamp (as Sally said) close to one perch so they can get warm if necessary - that would definitely help.

The small hopsital cage I was referring to is a small one if you need to bring one bird inside for medication for a couple of days. But you may not need that.

Bill also had a good thought re fruit possibly causing runny droppings as well.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:02 pm

I have treated my gouldians with either Ronex or Ronivet. You can read more about it on ladygouldian.com. I truly believe that it has saved two of my birds. It is NOT an antibiotic and is save to administer to all birds of any age.

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:03 am

Will organise them a heat lamp as it is starting to get rather chilly, just gonna be a bit of a mission get electricity out there.
They did come from inside but this was only for about 2 months, they were bred in an outdoor aviary.

I've caught the sick hen and brought her inside where its warmer, I'm giving her whats meant to be excellent medicine but I'm not sure if its an antibiotic. Its called doxymoxin ? I've also got terramycin which I haven't used yet.
Willie or any other SA people, what are you using?

I'm not giving them any fruit, only carrot and brocolli, and they only seem to have runny droppings when they get puffy.

HoangQuan · Post by **HoangQuan** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:56 am

when you said that the feathers under her tail were wet, I belived that the main problem was food. Now you have her on a smaller cage, be sure to keep her warm at night, and CUT OUT any fruits from her diet, neither carrot or brocolli. Apply only dried food and seed mix for about 5 days and watching her drops for sure, if not serious, the bird will get better safter few days eating dried food and clean boiled water.