Hello everyone

 

Sorry for jumping straight in with a question without properly introducing myself...............I will take some pics and post introductions soon :yes:

 

I have just this evening lost the father bird of 3 less than a week old babies. Mum is still sitting on them but Im concerned that she won't feed properly without dad.

 

This is my very first clutch (and the first for the birds too) and I'm not sure what to do........

 

The birds were inside birds that were introduced to the aviery at Christmas time to allow them to get used to being outside while it was still quite warm. 3 boys and 3 girls. They have been fine up until now and had paired up and were happy enough. The first to lay were the pair that had been caged togther before. They were quiet happy to get going and settled into their box about 4 weeks ago.

 

Two days after babies hatched (Wednesady last week), one of my young females died. Nothing strange.....She had maybe been a bit fluffed up the day prior but it was a little cold so I though nothing of it......

 

Then yesterday the father bird looked a bit unhappy - Fluffed up and I noticed he had a dirty bottom. I spoke to my vet and was advised to worm them and keep an eye on him.

 

This morning when I went to work he was in the box with his family and this afternoon when I got home, he was dead. Still in the box.

 

The female is beside herself and very upset. I have left her alone with her babies and hope that she will be okay.

 

I guess I have two questions:

 

1. Will the mother be able to feed the babies on her own?

 

2. What steps can I take to protect the other birds from whatever it was that killed their friends?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm very new to this and am happy to take on board anything that you might have to offer. I feel really guilty that I might have done something to cause this and I don't want to loose ay more of my birds :fingerscrossed:

You didn't say how many chicks? if she has 3 or 4 she will do fine, just make sure she has plenty of seed and good soft food. I would try to find out why two birds are dead in a few days though.

 

Welcome to the forum. :fingerscrossed:

Edited April 15, 200916 yr by Daz

I think the hen will be fine with only 3 chicks. As Daz said keep up her nutrition.

Thanks for the welcome Daz :fingerscrossed:

 

There are three babies. Two were born first and then the third about 2 days later.

 

Yes, I'm VERY concerned that I have had the two deaths so close together and quite young birds too.

Edited April 15, 200916 yr by Amy Smith

She should be fine with her babies if she only has a couple. One thing though if they are colony breeding with others in an aviary she has no protector or mate to get food to her and the babies. She will feed herself of course, but she wont stay out all that long as she will want to get back to her nestbox more quickly because of others in the aviary.

Did any water...rain etc....get into the aviary at all ? If so, you may be dealing with coccidiosis and need the birds pulled inside into cages with warm lamps and coccivet in their water.

Edited April 15, 200916 yr by KAZ

Yes, it has been raining here and things are a bit damp.

 

I have had coccidiosis before with my chickens but i thought it was only passed bird to bird through feed or drinking water???

 

The aviery floor is concrete and I clean twice a week.

 

I think I'll be back onto the vet first thing in the morning. Thanks Kaz.

Just to further add to Kaz's comment..... Put some seed into the corner of the nest box. This way the hen doesn't need to leave the chicks unprotected while she eats.

 

Good luck with the vet trip

Just to further add to Kaz's comment..... Put some seed into the corner of the nest box. This way the hen doesn't need to leave the chicks unprotected while she eats.

 

Good luck with the vet trip

I add seed to all my nestboxes from chicks aged two weeks onwards to help both chicks and hen....earlier in this case as Kazzy suggested would be good

Done! Thank you all sooooo much

 

I noticed a few little pin feathers and some down on the two older chicks this morning and they are very vocal so hopefully will be okay.

 

I'll let you know how I get on with the vet. I have kept the body of the father so maybe they can do a post mortem or something.........

Make sure you have the body in a sealed plastic bag and in a fridge or an esky. Do not freeze it only keep it cold.

Hi everyone

 

Just a quick update.

 

I spoke to the vet yesterday and he considered that due to the dirty bottom of the male bird and the sudden death, coccidiosis may well be a possibility. He said that even if it was not, dosing them wouldn't do them any harm. He was not keen on doing a post mortem........ not sure why??? So I guess I am still no closer to finding out exactly what it was but hopefully I can prevent more deaths now.

 

Anyway, I picked up some Sulfaquin from the vet surgery on the way home from work yesterday and have added that to their water as per the directions on the bottle.

 

I have added seed to the nesting box and will leave the hen alone now. She was getting very upset and the last time I opened the lid she really squawked and carried on. Poor girl!!!

 

I have also reorganised the aviary. Lifted everything up off the floor and will now feed and water from dishes hanging on the side. I will do the best I can to keep the birds up off the ground and away from any dampness. Also got some cuttlefish and a mineral block for them.

 

My partner was very cute yesterday and he has made me some canvas curtains to put up so that we can close them at night and keep the wind out.

 

I really do want to say thank you very much to everyone for your suggestions and help.

 

I will organise some pictures and properly introduce everyone on the weekend :lightbulb:

 

Cheers

Can I ask if the vet was an Avarian Vet? or just a general vet.

Just a normal vet.........We are rural so "specialists" are a bit hard to come by.

 

Are you worried it might be something else???

The concern might be over the type of meds suggested. Coccivet would be better I would think. The not wanting to do a post mortem....did you refrigerate the body of the bird immediately he died ?

 

Coccidiosis also means a through scrub and disnfect of the aviary and best the birds are kept somewhere with warmth till the meds kick in.

Edited April 17, 200916 yr by KAZ

Not straight away no.........

 

So do I go back to the vet and ask for some Coccivet (if he doesn't have any, where can I get it??)

 

I have already started the sulfaquin so will this impact on things??

 

I'm sorry to sound so stupid but I really don't want to loose any more birds and now I'm really confused!!!!

 

I can bring them inside in smaller cages, no problem.

Not straight away no.........

 

So do I go back to the vet and ask for some Coccivet (if he doesn't have any, where can I get it??)

 

I have already started the sulfaquin so will this impact on things??

 

I'm sorry to sound so stupid but I really don't want to loose any more birds and now I'm really confused!!!!

 

I can bring them inside in smaller cages, no problem.

 

You wont sound stupid just asking questions......its how we all learn stuff

 

Forgive me if I am wrong but sulpha meds are generic and for fixing diarrhea in budgies. Maybe suplha meds work in a pinch but Coccivet is the right thing for the diagnosis. Coccivet address coccidiosis real fast. Coccivet can be bought from any good bird store, or stockfeed place that sell bird things. I have used both meds for differing reason and having had losses from coccidiosis I found the coccivet made immediate results.

The vet most likely didnt do the autopsy due to the state oif the birds body and the no refrigeration thing.

Best the birds are inside with a heat source and their meds. Also enables you to scrub out the aviary, replace perches etc.

Edited April 17, 200916 yr by KAZ

Okay. I'll see if I can get some Coccivet and switch over to that. I'll bring them inside and give the aviary a good scrub. You are right about the sulphur drugs (well from my experience with horses anyway) they are generally used as a broad treatment rather than specific.

 

I have just been given the number of an avian vet in Wagga who is supposed to be very good and provides an over the phone consultation service. I'll give him a ring I think.

 

Thanks again for your support.

Very sad news at my place tonight :thankyou: I have lost the 3 babies. Not through illness but through my own stupid actions and I am so very angry and upset!!!

 

Everyone was looking so good and healthy again that I decided to pop them all back in the avairy for some sun this morning. My other hen got to the chicks and killed them while I was inside. Too late by the time I found them and realised what had happened...........

 

I almost didn't post because I am SO embarrassed and guilty about being so stupid!!! I didn't think it would happen!!

 

So, I have decided to remove the boxes from the avairy, get reading and learning and try again another time. PLEASE anyone who is considering doing this without reaserching first ( I thought it was as easy as getting a couple of birds and putting them in together and away you go!!) please learn from my mistake...........It's too heartbreaking and I now have a poor hen who has not only lost her husband but her babies too.

 

:star: I'm sorry little friends. You didn't get the chance you deserved!

Real sorry to hear that :thankyou:

i know how you feel amy smith

 

i was looking after two of bird_paradises two budgies who where partners and she asked if i could put them in the breeding cage so i did and they bred and had 3 babies that night we went out for dinner and i forgot to feed them and cover them up cause it was going to be cold that night so the next morning i woke up and all 3 babies where ded ad i felt ssooo soooo bad luckely

bird_paradise was not tooo uupset about it and tried to tell me that i was not my fault and that eny one could of made the same mistake but i still feel bad