Medication for Madhead decease

[MariusStegmann]

Hi
What do you guy and girls use for Madhead disease? I don't know what you call it in English, we call it "Malkop" which translates to madhead. We use "Rooipoeier" - directly translates to Red powder. The symptoms are that the birds keeps on turning it head up and to the side, the birds doesn't fly well and is not co-ordinated.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

I think you mean "Twirling" or "Stargazing" maybe (?)

I have never come across it, other than in books.
There are a few write up's about it on line.
Here is one...

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling2.php

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs Jip, stargazing would be an apt description.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

From what I've read about it, in most cases there is not much that can be done for this.

Are some of your birdies displaying this behavior? I hope not

Here's another link with some interesting information, that might be helpfull.

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/stargazing.html

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs Apparently, one course of rooipoeier, cures stargazing. I have not bought it because I dislike force-feeding birds meds.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Not familiar with Rooipoeier.

Is it Tumeric (Curcumin), or a concoction which contains it?

I know that it helps with inflamation, but not sure about it helping birds suffering from Star gazing.

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs I have not bought Rooipoeier, but many folks told me that it cures stargazing. 3 Granules per day, for 3 consecutive days.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Are you going to try it?

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs Nope, I have intense aversion to forcing medication down a birds throat.

[monotwine]

MariusStegmann
I'd also be concerned about medicating with something that doesn't look very medicine like. What are the ingredients, dosage, side effects etc. Good med have these.
Marius in SA we get regular twirling which can be caused by ear infections or fungal infections. Best for a proper diagnosis to be sure which it is. Secondly we get very nasty virus which many parrot finches have and it's not curable. Causes the birds to be disoriented and stagger on the perch looking unbalanced. A blood test can determine the last disease.
I advise you get it looked into early. If it's the latter it's very catchy. 2 years ago i had to PTS most of my birds when they got it. Brought in by new birds or wild birds

[GouldianGuy]

Pretty simple ingredients.... 1/2 Potassium Sulfate and 1/2 Potassium Nitrate.

If Stargazing is a fatal disease/condition, I'd imagine one would try to save their bird.

I've seen worse things done to humans to save their life than feeding finches potassium

[monotwine]

GouldianGuy unfortunately here in SA I've come across so real dodgy "medicine" so I prefer to know exactly what I am medicating my birds with.
Those ingredients look like plant fertilizer. With no direction or what the medication is intended for I would run a mile from it.
Too many old wives tales amongst bird keepers here. Just give a little this or a little that, but they don't really know what they are giving their birds or why.

When in doubt, have an avian vet check your birds out. Its worth the learning curve. You don't want to lose birds if they can be treated and you also learn what you are really dealing with.

[GouldianGuy]

Very true I can agree with that... potassium can kill!