Aussie Finch Forum

Hi, i have been on holidays for two weeks just got home Monday and noticed the last few days my canary has stopped singing. Not sure if he is sick but also noticed a zebra finch with his vent a bit wet and his tail raised up. Took the canary and finch out of the aviary and put them in seperate cages. I have wormout gel but it's so thick and does not dissolve very well. I also have some pstittavet (doxycycline hydrochloride) for bacterial diseases. The canary feels very light I am not sure what to treat him with. Any ideas.A friend just had 5 diamond finches and 2 bourke parrots die he opened one of the finches up and it was filled with worms. He wormed them but told me he put sugar in the worming med. I put the worm medicine in yesterday they don't seem to go near it.Also I heard something about red cordial for birds what does it do? Thanks

Red cordial kills some bacteria .
The wormout gel is best made up in a big bottle so you can shake the daylights out of it else it wont mix properly .

Recently had an issue with a newly purchased bird that went through quarnateen to the letter , come the third week wormed him and disaster , massive worm burden = dead bird .

Was later advised to do a worm treatment with a weaker med to lessen the load and then redo later with something stronger ,too late for me but might be handy for you .

Good luck with them .

Hi Lynn not to sure what's wrong as it could be a few things and I would he just taking a stab in the dark. As for red cordial I don't know anything about using it but I know people using red powerade which acts like an electrolyte supplement my thinks, I remember deb mentioned it once maybe she my help with that one. Best thing I can help with is heat, no stress which means leave them alone in a quiet place and electrolyte drink . Hopefully someone may be able to help more.

so true deb have had same issue , but vetafrm wormout gel is the best . as long as you use the correct dose

It's hard to say but I know that it's been pretty wet down south and if the birds were in an outside aviary I'd be thinking coccidiosis. They will be easy to see under the microscope but the treatment probably should start even before the identification. The birds that are systematic will benefit from a bit of heat while they are treated. If it is worms they can also be identified with a faecal smear but the development of any morbidity will be much more gradual than with coccidia. All your birds in the aviary need to be treated - not just those showing symptoms. If you don't have medication at home then go to a good pet or bird-shop tomorrow and you will find suitable medication and advice. If you have particular attachment to the birds or they are expensive I would recommend taking them to a veterinarian tomorrow. I'm not a big believer in the red cordial theory of disease inhibition.

Hi Lyn,sounds like your doing the right thing for the zeb but canaries stop singing at this time of the year and usually start again in early spring.It would be a good idea to worm every bird you have because if one's got them they all have.The raspberry cordial idea came from pig farmers who claim it to be a natural antibiotic,so it wouldnt hurt to add it to your worming solution to sweeten it up. cheers Craig

Red Cordial was given to soldiers during the world war in powder form , it was to be taken at the first signs of dysentry .
From then I guess it has been used for any number of bacterial problems in critters and humans . Ive seen an old breeder here who swears by it and I gotta say it hasnt hurt his birds in fact they are gawjus .
I used it up until breeding season as I found it attracted ants and my Lutinos and Whitefaces were stained red even though people were very interested in my new red Quarrion I chose to sell young without the red tinge.


Cocci isnt as forgiving as a worm infestation (my opinion ) as birds will literally drop of the perch with cocci .

Guess a poo test is the only real way to know . A vet visit might save you having to replace / treat your whole flock .

Thanks for the quick replies, My aviary is 10mtrs long and 3 mtrs is outside with a dirt floor with plants and trees, it has been VERY WET here so they could have picked something up from the ground. Will go up and get some more worming med tomorrow and worm the lot. Also will keep the finch and canary in their cages till I feel they are better. Will treat them too. Thanks again.

If its true what you say about Red Cordial. Then i am FREE from worms.

Yeah but its got to be raspberry cordial