So here's the thing, one of my birds has had scaly feet, started treatment with olive oil, it is working her feet look heaps better, but when I went to feed them this morning she has lost alot of feathers. Around her beak, around her legs, up her stomach, and on her back. She is sick, this I know as she is now fluffed up with tail bobbing and she is lethargic. All in one night. Her poos still look normal. Have not seen her eat anything, she was late yesterday. She is still perching on the highest perch, and still has ability to fly. No chirping (never has been a talker though) oh and her wings are hanging down real low.

Avain vet unfortuntely is out of question, closest one is nearly an hour away and I have no car, hubby took it to work and he won't be home until 6pm.

Have I done something to cause this by treating her feet? She was in a cage with 2 other birds who are in perfect health. Been keeping a closer eye on them but they are fine.

I have her inside with a lamp, and some water and seed. Pesky cats have finally gone.

 

Advice please.

 

Anne Marie

I doubt the olive oil had anything to do with it. Scalyface can attack a bird that has a low immune system. She obviously has other things going on too.

I have checked her over and she has only the scaly mites on her feet. Her beak is clean as is under her wings. This has happened so fast. Would change in the weather be a possibility. It was fairly cold last week but now we are getting quite warm (for winter anyway) and it has been drizzling non stop for about 3 days now.

The soonest I would be able to take her to the vets would be friday maybe monday, rellies coming so I could get them to drive me (even if I had a car I can't drive, medical problems) depends on what day they get here. I just worry that she won't make it.

Should I give her anything special like some vitamins or something as I know treating her with medications won't be of any use, and do you think it would be safe to keep handling her to do her feet, she isn't a tame bird and is a bit stressful to have to hold her?

Quick update.

 

I went and check my sick girl and the good news is she has eaten something, she is not looking so fluffed up and her tail isn't bobbing anymore. I'm considering leaving her inside for the rest of winter and won't be reintroducing her to the avairy or outside until she is 100%.

 

I still have to deal with the feather loss and her scaly feet but I figure eating and not looking so stressed means that the lamp is helping her and I may be able to have her long enough to take her to the vet after all.

 

Won't get my hopes up too high though. She still has to make it through the night.

 

Anne Marie

Fingers crossed for you!

Hi Annie,

She hasn't just gone into a moult has she? If she's down with the scaly face and a moult as well she could be out of sorts.

Hopfully that's all it is and she picks up.