Hand raising baby finch.

[Redwing]

Sounds like Deb and Di have given you some good advice Lyn, and would be a shame to lose him now after all this time. Generally you'll know if they have a yeast infection as the crop emptying time suddenly increases and if warmth and Nilstat don't help you then get total crop stasis. Sounds as though something else might be going on here as you would have noticed this and he really doesn't sound well at all. Has his respiration rate increased as another common problem with hand reared orphans is aspiration pneumonia where formula is inhaled. If he survives the night and still not interested in eating he'll need some fluids and spark if nothing else till you can work out what's wrong. Good Luck and hope he wakes up back to normal in the morning.

[Buzzard-1]

Has anyone suggested a dose of probiotic as it can't get it from mum.(Unless Lyn wants to chew up some seed and regurge for the little begger )

[Redwing]

Good thinking Buzzard, totally forgot about that. I always put a tiny pinch in with every feed, particularly if you're rearing really immature chicks.

[flap]

So would something like Inner Health be ok or is there an avian version? One of our chicks is still pretty weak and we are not sure if there is something actually wrong with him.

[Buzzard-1]

Just read hand raising formula packet and see if it doesn't already contain it. It is a special avian probiotic.

[Redwing]

Flab have always used a powdered avian specific one which was given to me and don't know the brand, but think I remember seeing some out at Birdworld the other day. Don't know if there's a better one available with live cultures but can find out if you like.

[jusdeb]

Neo care ( vetafarm ) has probiotics in it but according to my vet it would want to be very fresh as probiotics have a very short shelf life ....my babies get the Akult sippy one you get from Coles / Woolies but if they have been on antibiotica or need a really good one then the vets has one in powder form you make up daily .
Probiotics are the one thing that are NOT going to hurt giving to the bird , anything else given without proper diagnosis may just make things worse unless you fluke it (does happen).
The vet probiotic is going to cost about $20 for a sachet , I bought the first one from my vet then ordered of the internet $14 for 5 which I keep in the fridge .
If you lived closer Id happily give you a sachet .

[jusdeb]

Just checked the name of it ....PROTEXIN

[flap]

Thanks.will look into it. so far we have managed to get apple puree so that is a start! can easily get a bit of yakult, we can probably use it too!

[jusdeb]

yakult ...thats it Sorry I didnt mention it before , because I take birds at 3 weeks they have already been gutloaded by the parents with good bacterias
this means that giving them a probiotic is not really essential however I usually do it as I near always have the Yakult ( home brand ) in the fridge.