Problems I Have Faced

[Daz 0]

I have had a lot of problems over the last few weeks with the birds. I haven't posted about them as I wanted to get to the end before saying anything. A few close friends on the forum know what I have been going through and have given me great support, and I dearly like to thank them.

 

I have lost 14 birds in the last three weeks. 8 birds died in 3 days. a couple were my best and most expensive birds.

 

It has cost me approximately $660au in vet bills and in lab reports. But we have discovered the problems.

 

It all started in 2006 when a got serious in breeding budgerigars. I learnt that they needed vitamin A and D in there diets and that Cod Liver Oil is the best way to give it to them. I would make up a batch every day. enough to feed them for the next day. It was always fresh and enough for only one day so that it wouldn't go off. Well I did this everyday.

 

After the bacteria infection three weeks ago, all the birds went on antibiotics for 5 days. then on to clean water for two days then on to Probotic for two days. I worm my birds every 3 months and as it was time I wormed them. Sunday Night and Monday night.

 

Tuesday morning I found a dead bird in the flight. I check it and not finding any problems, put the death down to accidental. That night I found 3 birds looking sick. The next morning they were still sick so I put them on the antibiotics thinking it was an effect from the bacteria the week before. That night two died and one of my best cocks was sick.

 

By morning more were sick and other s had died. I rush two dead birds and the cock to the vet for inspection. She performed the autopsy and found again internal bleeding. The tests showed that the birds had not diseases. So samples were set to the lab for analysis. By Thursday afternoon there were no new sick birds and only two sick birds surviving.

 

Saturday afternoon the last sick bird died. It was my best cock. He had won Champion Young bird of show and many best of trophies.

 

All birds were quarantined. Placed on Antibiotics.

 

Yesterday afternoon the results came back. Toxic Poisoning. Liver failure and internal bleeding.

 

The pathologist and vet put the pieces together. The birds that died had grown fat from the intake of the Cod liver oil. This condition puts a big strain on the liver to start with. The antibiotics causes the liver to decrease it's production of coagulates to help the blood cot. The administering of the Worming so close to the problems with the bacteria infection caused in the weaker fatter birds to have liver failure and then bleed internally to death.

 

I currently am working with the vet to bring the birds back into full shape. I have stopped the Cod Liver oil and only feed pure clean seed. The birds have come out of quarantine and are doing very well. The birds will be healthier, fitter and better for the breeding season.

 

We are just over 2 weeks from the start of the National Preselections. I have taken my birds out of contention. I want them to fully recover. There is always next year. The birds' health must come first.

 

Cod Liver Oil is very good but not in the dose I was giving it in this climate I live in. If it was a colder climate the birds would burn off most of the fat by trying to keep warm. This is not the case here.

 

I thought I would share this with you to show that even the best care can still be wrong.

 

By the way. The birds were cleared of every know disease of Budgerigars, even mega.

[melbournebudgies 0]

What a horrible stressful time for you Daz. Very sad to hear about your losses. This is definately the worst way to learn a lesson like this, I am so pleases that you have shared this info with us so that it may prevent other unnecessary deaths.

 

Good luck getting the rest of your birds back into shape.

[**Liv** 0]

I am so sorry for your losses

Thank you for sharing this valuable information with us.

All the best with getting your birds back into shape and winning trophies again :hap:

[Boris' Slave 0]

I am just so glad it wasn't deliberate poisoning like I had suggested.

I bet you'll be showing champions again in no time!

[**KAZ** 0]

A terrible time for you Daz, and a huge pat on the back for the way you handled it all these past few weeks. The perseverance in finding the answers by the autopsies and not being afraid to seek help as you did.

Its a lot of birds to lose as a percentage of your flock, so here's hoping all your birds breed like champions for the following nationals, once they get over all this.

:angel1: Kaz

[Derek 0]

I really feel for you mate. Some beautiful birds have gone forever.

 

I am sure though as others have said, you will again next year be back in contention for the championships.

 

Cheers

 

 

Derek

[Norm 0]

Sorry the hear your news Daz, you must be devastated, thanks for sharing.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

I am sorry for your losses Daz. Hopefully the birds that survived will help you to once more grow your flock with even better and healthier birds in the future.

[Elly 0]

this is very interesting Daz, the only way to learn is by experience (some are harder then most) but I have to thank you for sharing this information with us because I would have never known. Sorry for the losses and I do know your birds will be in tip top shape in no time.

 

I was thinking this would be good to also state in the forum "Don't Do with Budgies"

Edited May 1, 2008 by Elly

[FGM 0]

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses Daz.It's great that you posted about it so others can learn.

I'm also happy that you found the problem and it can be fixed.

It's sad that you have to miss the nationals but I'm sure next year you will blow them away!!!!

[Daz 0]

Thanks Guys.

 

One bird that was lost, a Howard and Holmes Hen, was bought though an auction end of last year for $260. It was paid for by a good friend of mine and handed to me to breed with. He came over on Sunday, the bird died on Thursday, I rang and told him straight away. The pairing I did, as suggested by him resulted in 10 chicks. Most as good if not better than the hen.

 

In this hobby it is at times two steps forward, one step back. I believe that you must be positive and not to over look things. If the birds don't look right. Get it checked out.

 

As elly put it "the only way to learn is by experience (some are harder then most) "

 

One of the open breeders in the club remarked that he had a similar experience some time back and won't use cod liver oil. It would be good to know what some of these good breeders have forgotten.

[Norm 0]

Feeding Cod Liver oil like you did Daz, used to be what you did when I was young, but maybe that’s because most of the books were from British breeders. Those oil soluble vitamins can become toxic in excess, as they are stored in the fats. Were you also feeding some vitamin supplements as well?

[Daz 0]

Yes Norm they were on Soluvet from vetafarm for four days every four weeks. That will continue, as will the Calcivet. I will be reducing the Probotics back and using it for the Show Team after the shows.

[*libby* 0]

Sorry to hear all this Daz

Does this cancel your trip over for the nationals also?

[Daz 0]

No Libby I am still gong. I am a steward for the nationals. I can't let something like this set me back.

[Ikon 0]

Thanks again for sharing this with us.

Its always the case when you lose birds they end up being your best. I am sure you get back to your winning ways when your birds recover.

[Sunnie 0]

Sorry to hear of your losses I can only imagine how you must have felt. Thank you for sharing and good luck with moving forward. You have a wonderful attitude *hugs* :sad:

[JimmyBanks 0]

wow. sounds like you've been having a real hard time daz. glad to see you've found out what was causing your birds the problems. like the others said, I'm sure you'll have champions in no time... Best of luck with the future.

[melbournebudgies 0]

Daz, I had been considering adding an 'Omega oil' supplement to my birds seed but I've now held off, do you know if this is similiar to the cod liver oil as far as potential issues?

[Denise 0]

Very sorry for your losses Daz, it must of been devastating for you, but great that you have shared with us all so others don't make the same mistakes.

[Daz 0]

The main issue is the edible oil. Cod liver oil is very good. In my case I over did it for my situation.

 

If the birds used up more energy or I gave them less oil, it would have been a different outcome.

 

Now I still want them to have the correct level of vitamin A and D but will need to look at different ways, or review what I am doing to see what I am giving them. Something like this makes you stand back and take stock of what you are doing and why you are doing it.

[maesie 0]

Thanks for sharing this experience with us Daz. I am so sorry for all your losses and the horrible way you had to learn from them. Your positive attitute is to commended. Biggest hugs from me... Maesie xoxo

[Sailorwolf 0]

I'm sorry to hear about this Daz. That is not a nice situation to go through and you should be commended for looking at the positive side of it and learning from it.

[Ravengypsy 0]

Daz, thank you for sharing this as many others have already said... it helps to learn from not only from your own mistakes but from others as well. And by sharing you've enabled others not to follow the same mistakes.. my appreciation to you for doing that.

 

It also brings up a good point if you have similiar situations of birds suddenly going sick or dying to make sure to have them checked out and the autopsy to find any diseases and/or find out what can be changed in your management program that can avoid the issue in the future and possibly save your remaining flock. Well done to you for your proactive response to the situation and finding the root cause. As you've said before, even the good breeders have something to learn every now and then... nothing is set in stone and often times we need to take a step back and re-evaluate why we do the things we do or the way we do them. In your case it wasn't necessarily what you were giving them but the effects of the dosage in relation to the bird's environment/activity.

[Neat 0]

Dazza, I am sorry mate to hear this, The worst things is you thought you were doing the right thing,

Again sorry for your losses mate.