Aussie Finch Forum

Hi All,

Got home tonight found hen gouldian sitting by feeding tray. It seems that she was trying to get the seeds eaten out of her crop. I caught her and found that the seeds are being vomited back out with bubbles. Her crop was full of seed but it seems she is moving her crop around. Help please this is the first time this is happening. I log in from my personal computer @ home
Thanks
Riyaad

Hi Riyaad,

Sorry to hear about your Gouldian.
Could she have eaten some spoilt food? What do you feed her & how do you prepare it? Have you noticed her pecking at anything in particular inside her cage? Anything with lead, zinc, copper?
She may also have a crop infection with either parasites, yeast or bacteria.

Hi Myzomela,

I do not know. It might be that it has some crop infection. Any idea on treatment.

I would be giving her some heat (or isolation in hospital cage) first up as finches go down hill very quick without it...as for frothing or bubbling..sounds like poison, or infection as you say..

It's hard to suggest a particular treatment without knowing the cause; there are several potential causes and you can't treat for them all at the same time; the wrong treatment may make it wosre.

However, providing heat as Vettepilot suggested is a great first aid idea.
If the seed has been all vomited from the crop I would try to give the bird some drops of an electrolyte solution. I'm not sure which exact products you have in South Africa but a local aviculturist or bird shop should be able to help.
Keeping the bird warm and hydrated are the 2 most important things to do.
If the bird does not improve within 24 hrs of this then you either need to see a bird vet or take pot luck and try a treatment. You could try some nystatin orally 1-2 drops 4 x a day. In Australia this is available for treating thrush in babies' mouths at most chemists/pharmacies without the need for a doctor's prescription.
Antibacterial drugs are less easily available but you could try baytril or clavulox; the exact dose will depend on the formulation you have. These medications can be given via a tiny syringe or eye dropper direct to the beak.

Sometimes birds just eat something rotten, react violently to it by regurgitating and if you give them warmth & fluids they recover on their own.

Good luck with her.

I have tried everything to save her after receiving some great advice from forum members. Unforetunately she died yesterday after it seemed that she was getting better.

Sorry to hear that.
LML