Twirling in Gouldian Finches

[TonyG]

Found a Gouldian hen dead in the aviary this morning , ... .this bird started showing signs of ‘twirling ‘ ( I think ) only 2 days ago...... flight was disorientated and when on the perch the head was tilted and angled . I’ve had this before with my Gouldian finches and coincidently the other one that died months ago was the hens brother . In this instance I’m surprised that the bird died so quickly ...... within two days of the problem being noticed and particularly since the behaviour was nowhere near as pronounced as the previous case .
The bird was in a mixed aviary with all my other Gouldian hens ( separated the breeding pairs last month ) and there are no aggressive species in the aviary nor is it overstocked . Stress should not have been a contributing factor .

Has anyone had any experience with this disease ?, ..... is it hereditary and is there any treatment/prevention ?
Appreciate your comments .

Tony

[Diane]

Sorry about the loss of your gouldian.
Ive heard of it and seen youtube videos of birds affected. Some say it can be treated, some say it cant. Ive found some links for you that might give a some information on the topic for you.

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling2.mgi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://finchfiles.com/FinchFiles/Health ... irling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Misso]

it is alot colder now then a few months ago, so that may have contributed to the quicker death?

[BENSONSAN]

I'm not doubting your husbandry skills and I could be totally wrong. But I've herd it could be vitamin deficiency. Or a lack of vitamin d and e. But I could be wrong. Maybe try some vitamin supps.

Good luck

[Myzomela]

There are lots of causes of twirling in finches and in fact investigation of 4 different gouldians that died after twirling all had different causes.
None of these were treatable unfortunately. Some genetic lines do seem more susceptible.
Reports on the internet of nystatin working are incorrect, as nystatin is not absorbed from the gut and so cannot croos the blood-brain barrier.
By all means try nutritional supplements and baycox may be worth trying but if you've had several cases in the same flock it may be worth having a post mortem and histopathology of the brain carried out through a vet with bird experience.

[TonyG]

Thanks all for your comments .
I think that it's best to segregate the pairing that bred these two birds .
The hen was purchased as a normal Black Head & was paired to a proven BH cock , but the first clutch produced some YH and all the young have subsequently perished . I didn't have any problems with other breeding pairs .

Thanks ,
T

[Tiaris]

Did you mean that both parents are black-headed & they produced Yellow-headed young?

[Diane]

Didnt think that was a possible result?