One of those pet shop pickups

[POLAR GOULDIANS]

Hi Gomer, That is the problem with pet shops is'nt it. You might buy the best looking, healthiest bird in the shop, but by association you get the diseases of the worst bird in the shop.
As Deb said, a lot of breeders sell very good stock to pet shops, but these same shops buy some absolute rubbish from others and then keep them in the same cages.
It is a risk we take though. One of my favourite birds, a YH-WB-SFYB Gouldian came from a pet shop, and continues to impress after 2 years.
Hope your other purchases fare much better.

[garymc]

A few years ago I was asked by a well known Victorian avicutlurist from Benalla (out of birds now) to source some BR double bars from breeders in WA.

Managed to round up about a dozen birds from a number of different places and all looked really well. Got them home and they went downhill, probably losing more than half of them. Poor vet services hear meant I just copped it.

He again asked if I could get him a few more. Similar scenario but this time I decided to treat them using Baycox and Turbosol at the first sign of illness, plus gave them a nest to roost in to help alleviate some of the stress. Never lost a bird.

The next time he asked I immediately supplied the birds with a roosting nest (cane basket, empty milk carton anything really) from day one and no medication. No sign of illness ever developed.

I have since adopted this supplying of roosting nests to all birds (ones that roost in nests - particularly in my case double bars, both black and white-rumped, white earred masked and lesser red-brows) that I purchase or separate out from the parents and can confidently say that it has resulted in a significant decrease in the losses encountered.

A lot of the species that roost in nests at night do so communally outside of the breeding season. This small creature comfort seems to significantly reduce the stress associated with being moved as well a reducing the propensity for night frights.

Just a few thoughts anyways

[gomer]

Makes perfect sense,I will be putting in a roosting nest tomorrow.Also i have only just started putting nest roosting birds in these small holding aviaries,Which have no roosting nests in them.I had only been keeping gouldians in them.

[MadHatter]

Great tip Gary!

[murf]

That reminds me of the photograph shown on this forum where-by there were 6-7 DB hundled together. A great shot, but maybe there was something in this. "A picture paints a thousand words." In other words, "I'm cold." Amazing!

[jusdeb]

They were my birds Murf and above where they were roosting was all enclosed with roosting perches and an assortment of nests , many choices of roosting places but they preferred to huddle up together like that half way down the cage .
The cage they were in was wheeled into the garage at night with other such cages and none of the other finches huddles like this so I doubt it was such a cold issue but more a comfort issue.
Before they paired off they would always huddle together , such is the nature of the DBar I think , very social little bird.

Heres apic for those who haven't seen it ....

[murf]

Thanks Jusdeb. I was sure I'd seen it somewhere on this forum. Looking at the photo prompts me to ask whether other aviculturalists have experienced other breeds doing something similar. Can imagine red-brows, but not crimsons.

[VR1Ton]

You better put it up one more time Deb, I think someone in Bangadesh may have missed it

[jusdeb]

Is all good VR1 they do cheap bill boards over there ...one on every corner .
Has anyone not seen the photo of my poochies yet ? Perhaps its time to post some of the gkids too. (insert smiley)

[Redwing]

Young Painteds seem to do it on the floor of the aviary.