when to worm zebra finches

[Finchy]

I think that Moxidectin, especially in combo with Praziquantel, is an excellent product.

I did, however, almost have an incident with a Goudlian hen feeding older, fledged chicks. The problem was that she was ingesting so much water in the course of feeding these five big chicks that she was overdosing herself on the medication. Moxidectin and Ivermectin seem to cause a nervous system slowdown and Gouldians may be especially affected; this bird became suddenly so listless that she looked like she was falling uncontrollably asleep while desperately trying to stay awake. The other adult birds around her were not affected.

I withdrew the medication immediately and gave fresh water, and she had recovered by the next morning.

So it's not just about young chicks, but about the amount of medicated water that a feeding parent is ingesting.

[E Orix]

Can I ask why you want to worm birds when they are feeding chicks,it is bad enough when the birds aren't stressed,but when they are
feeding chicks they are under stress and I am sure it would be great for them.
Also are you sure they have worms,they may be in a cage or aviary without infestation.
Just because people say worm your birds well thats fine provided they have worms,NO medication is singular,it will kill bad bugs and how many
good needed bugs does it kill as well.
Each one has their own opinion and I have mine.
E Orix

[werty]

Im not sure if they have worms

But i have been breeding them for 5 years and i have never wormed them

[E Orix]

Will it be terminal!!!! if you don't worm the birds until their young have fledged and feeding themselves.
I don't think so.
Why do you want to worm them now if you haven't done it for 5 years, I wouldn't but I am an odd one out it seems.

[casehulsebosch]

How about having the birds dropping examined and see if there is a need to worm the birds at all?

Cheers, Case

[Myzomela]

I agree with both Orix & Case.

No point worming if you don't have to.

If you don't want to test then better to wait until the young have fledged before starting treatment if you have the choice.

[werty]

I have been breeding my finches fir five years with no medication..and everything was fine....all babies were healthy...now nice chick will survive after it leaves the nest....and they can't fly...all young weak...starting to lose adult birds 1 per month...

I have 60 birds in a large aivary ...

Took the latest sick bird to a bird vet....they examined the feaces ...and only found a yeast infection....vet told me to worm the birds and gave me medicine to clear up yeast infection.....

Have not had a single chick now for nearly a year..only bred them again a month ago....

I have them on a seed diet.....spinach once a day..egg biscuit food by avion. Once a day..buffalo grass..winter grass ..once a day.....and cutter fish...cuttle fish..

Vet said to try less seed ...but birds would rather starve to death than eat crumbles or more greens..

Spoke to a breeder...they told me to try ronivet s...

Have treated them now with that...one week...

Also treated them with coccivet 2 weeks later ...

Vet found only found a yeast infection in dead chicks also....but the treatment the vet gave me did not improve anything...

Will try ti breed them again now after the ronivet and coccivet.....

[Craig52]

Hi Werty, Are all the 60 birds zebra finches? If so have you introduced new blood to them? Have you removed the young when mature to stop inbreeding.
The symtoms you say sound genetic not parasitic. Forgot to mention,if you are losing one adult a month it could done to old age,with 60 birds that's a pretty good loss for that amount of birds. Craig

[Myzomela]

Hi Werty,

Yeast infections can be notoriously hard to eliminate.
It would be good to check that the medication did eliminate the yeast or whether it is still there.

If it's gone and the birds are still dying then your problem lies elsewhere. A post mortem of a freshly dead bird should give you the answers.

As for using ronivet and coccivet, if either of those 2 problems ( Cochlosoma and coccidiosis) were present you would expect the vet to have found them in the faecal exam. No doubt they haven't worked either.

Good luck and let us know how you go.

[werty]

Can't be inbreeding ......always sold of some chicks and bought new birds in to mix with my own birds..

They only found yeast in feaces ....and dead birds....nothing....

They can't explain it....and this from a bird and reptile vet
..

One adult bird a month for birds under the age of 3 to 5 doesn't sound right...too many deaths....and those deaths only began when the chicks all started to die

I started giving my birds apple cider vinegar 5ml per 500 ml of water twice a week...the adults stopped dieing ....but the chicks still die....

I went back.to the vet after nothing improved....th vet said all they can see is that is liver related...fatty liver....to stop feeding seeds and start feeding more greens.....but my birds would starve to death if i don't let them eat seed