The bird is a male (so I think) with the hen on eggs atm. They are kept in a suspended flight outdoors. They were not hand raised. He is about 5 or 6 yrs old (so I was told).
On Sunday afternoon I noticed he was a bit down but just hoped it was the fluctuating weather. Fed them first thing Monday but headed straight to work. Came home at about 6pm and it was pouring rain. Ran out to check him and saw him vomit. Didn't want to act as it was getting on evening/dark and thought I might stress him out further. Tuesday morning, still raining, quick feed, he seemed just OK but had to run to work again. On Tuesday evening by the time I got home he was already settled in the box for the night.
This morning he looked very weak, just clinging to the wire, fluffed up and soaking in the sun. Eyes look droppy. Took him into the vet. Vet said he was thin, and had no food in his crop. Also said the vomitting could be from metal poisoning by possibly eating a metal dag from somewhere in the aviary. He also said that he would have been for at least a week, even though he may not have showed it as birds do, and that I should have brought him in on Monday. Hindsight is a great thing.
I left him with the vet, they will wait for droppings to test and may x ray. Also may dose him up on electrolytes to re-hydrate. I just have to wait to hear from them.
While I hate losing birds this has come at a really bad time as they are sitting on eggs whic will probably be infertile now if the male had an underlying illness. Laid two clutches of infertile eggs last year also so I was really hoping the new aviary this year may improve my results.
I will keep you informed.
* UPDATE*
Vet called this evening to tell me that an an x ray showed no foriegn objects in the stomach but revealed an enlarged liver. He said it was most likely a poisioning of some sort. Suggested that he may have ingested some plastic or something toxic, but nothing has changed in the flight since they have been in there. (I did change their feeders on Sunday but the bird already seemed ill by this stage).
Vet will give a dosage of antibiotics. I will pick him up tomorrow and continue to administer. If the liver doesn't settle down I may lose the bird.
Watch this space.
* UPDATE *
Picked the bird up yesterday afternoon. Looked a touch better. Will be having a course of antibiotics, twice a day direct to mouth. 5 weekly injections also have to go back to the vet each week.
I have now discovered why you don't hear or see many people taking birds to the vet. the bill so far....$247!!
I couldn't believe it. I was expecting $100, maybe $120. The most expensive part was the x ray, no wonder the vet looked at me awkwardly when he suggested he might take an x ray. $107.And each injection will be another $16.
The worst part > all that and once the medication is finished he may turn again. All that dosh, and I still don't know what caused it. All I know is something upset his liver but wihtout knowing exactly what caused it, how can I prevent it in the future??
Anyway, fingers crossed he pulls through.
