Acclimatisation after hospital cage

[flap]

Hi all, we have had two gouldians in hospital cage for 12 days due to air sac mites. We got treatment yesterday, they don't seem to be fluffed up like before and there are no obvious clicking sounds or breathing with open beak. So we are wanting to get the into the aviary as soon as we can. How long will it take to acclimatise them. They have been indoors with the heat lamp, which we turned down yesterday and off this morning. I have now opened the window in the room so they get fresh air. The next step will be to put cage outside, but not sure at what point it is ok to do so and how long to wait before releasing them into the aviary. Thank you for any advice.

[jusdeb]

Sheesh Flab with the weather the way it has been thats a hard one ...maybe put them outside during the day until it warms up some more.

[Diane]

Yeah, I agree with Deb on this one, I would be taking it carefully, maybe even putting the cage in a bathroom overnight, its cooler but still protected and keeping the cage outdoors if its warm enough during the day.

[flap]

Hubby putting hospital cage outside right now for an hour or two, then will bring them in later in the afternoon and have them sleep with no heatlights and see how it goes. Then put them out most of tomorrow during the day as long as not fluffed up in the morning. and maybe put them in aviary on Monday.

[gomer]

Try to time it with some good weather.As you have already started turn the heat down to ambient temp over a day or two.what has already been stated is what i do,At this time of year here.Sumer is a little different.

[flap]

Thanks for the replies. The birds have been outside for a couple of hours, they looked fine when first out, then started to get short of breath again. They are back inside, will keep an eye on them for a while then decide whether to put the heat back on. Maybe it takes a little more time for the moxidectin to take effect.

[finchbreeder]

Temperature in the twenties today Flab? And forcast for more of the same over the next 3-4 days? If so less likely to be a risk I would think.
LML

[flap]

Yes it wasn't cold apart from earlier this morning as it was quite windy. but when the birds were out it was mild. They are obviously still not well, so may need to keep them in the hospital cage for a couple of more days. They don't seem fluffed up, but heaving a little to breathe....

[Redwing]

Flab my O/B hen is still breathing faster than normal but she's much more active and I just don't know what else to do. Sounds like I've got an aviary full of problems at the moment. Sooo frustrating when you're trying to do all the right things.