Hello - this is my first post - I have read through the health posts but wasn't able to find anything similar -

 

I have recently had 2 birds die within a week of each other with similar symptoms. In both cases the birds went from fairly normal appearance and behaviour to death within several hours so I did not even have the opportunity to take them to an avian vet.

 

In both cases the bird initially appeared listless and weak gradually moving themselves onto the floor of the cage fluffed up and trembling in the corner. In both cases he birds then seemed to be taken over by a type of paralysis unable to stand or grip with their feet but still having some movement in their heads however weak.

 

In the second case I observed the bird later lost control of it's head and it rolled and flopped around but it was still able to drink some honey-water dilution I fed it with an eyedropper. Within the hour the bird was dead although in both cases (to the best of my knowledge) the birds appeared physically perfect.

 

The other birds (7) sharing the same environment were and continue to be completely normal and happy.

 

I had thought possibly poisoning but I am not sure from what?

 

Any suggestions?

In a case like this, it may be best to wrap the dead bird immediately in plastic and fridge it and get it to an avian vet for autopsy. You dont want to lose any more birds this way and you DO need answers.

 

Once you run through a checklist of things like:

Worming ?

Calcium levels?

New birds introduced without quarantine ?

Coccidiosis?

Psittacosis?

Megabacteria?

Poison in or near aviary/cage ?

Mouse invasion causing salmonella poisoning in their food supply ?

 

Its best to get answers from a vet after you have tried and thought of everything if not sooner.

Edited April 2, 200718 yr by Kaz

it is hard to say. Pretty was up and singing by afternoon he was listless and by evening he had passed on in my hands. I was able to get him to a vet who said he had a respiratory infection but he never showed signs of heavy breathing. He rolled over on the side one time but that was because he was weak and that was moment before he died.

 

Budgies can mask their illness so well.

 

I am sorry to hear about your loss , Pretty just died a little over 2 weeks ago. His cage mate Merlin was taken to the avian vet the next day for an exam. He is well at this time.

 

Oh and welcome to the forums though I wish it was on a better note, hope you stick around

Thank you for this excellent advice - unfortunately I disposed of both the bodies immediately as I had not suspected an infectious disease due the apparent speed of the deaths.

All the other birds are curerently looking very healthy and happy so I will be keeping a close eye on them.

Check all the rest of the birds for

1. Body weight (can you feel or see their keelbone ? )

2. Poopy bottoms...if poopy and clagged up, wash the bottoms of those birds, remove some of the feathers around the vent, and seek treatment for the condition.

 

Check their seed supply and make sure it has had no mice activity through it. If so throw it out and start afresh. Also weevils and moths can strip the inside of a grain of seed and the seed still looks whole..so check for that. Make sure their water is fresh daily and not placed too near their seed and seed in the water can turn their water sour in half a day. **Sorry, if this sounds like things you do anyway...but just trying to help.

 

Psittacosis can knock a bird off its perch fairly fast with little or no symptoms and the only treatment is through a vet for that. If it is that the need is URGENT to treat all within the flock.

 

Run a course or worming treatment through the birds if they arent poopy at the moment.

 

Take this opportunity to clean and disnfect your avairy, especially clean up all droppings in there...perches etc.

 

Anything else we can work out with more info

 

Welcome to our forum

Edited April 2, 200718 yr by Kaz

:ausb: well that certainly gives me some things to try - I was not even aware of some of those conditions you have mentioned - I have a pressure steam cleaner which will be perfect for cleaning and killing any of the nasties that may be present I hope - I have moved the food and water containers around so food can't easily fall into the water. I normally change and clean water containers daily and food containers I clean with the the rest of the area once a week or more often as needed - I have cleaned food containers and thrown out all the food they had and replaced it with fresh food.

:budgiedance: