Aussie Finch Forum

A pair of gouldians was given to me a couple of weeks ago. The hen was obviously very ill - couldn't fly, fluffed up, floundering around on the bottom of the cage, wheezing etc. I treated both birds for air sac mite with Ivermectin, put her in a heated cage and watched the poor thing die over the next few days. The owner told me it was just a fat bird and had "always been like that". The male, however, seemed very healthy. The other day I noticed that he was closing one eye sometimes and actually it was swollen as though he had bumped it. Put him in a heated cage and observed. He seems fine other than the swollen eye. He does wipe the eye on the perch but there is no discharge. Eating well, droppings are normal, active. Any ideas anyone?

maureen_g wrote:A pair of gouldians was given to me a couple of weeks ago. The hen was obviously very ill - couldn't fly, fluffed up, floundering around on the bottom of the cage, wheezing etc. I treated both birds for air sac mite with Ivermectin, put her in a heated cage and watched the poor thing die over the next few days. The owner told me it was just a fat bird and had "always been like that". The male, however, seemed very healthy. The other day I noticed that he was closing one eye sometimes and actually it was swollen as though he had bumped it. Put him in a heated cage and observed. He seems fine other than the swollen eye. He does wipe the eye on the perch but there is no discharge. Eating well, droppings are normal, active. Any ideas anyone?

The best idea i have is why you would bring home sick birds,i know there is the thrill of getting some thing for nothing but you don't know the conditions of where they come from and the problems that person has had with previous birds.
I hope you kept them seperate from your own birds other wise your own birds might start falling off the perch and not only that,that you disinfect where they have been on your premises.
As far as the swollen eye,i'm not sure what you can do but if the infection reaches the brain it's by by,it's probably what happened to the hen by the symptoms.
Sorry to be so harsh. Craig

Thanks Craig. I certainly didn't get a thrill from getting the birds. I felt so sorry for the sick hen and had to do what I could for her. The birds were very separate from all my others. The little male still in quarantine. I put heat on his cage in the night and turn it off during the day.

Hmmm..... So it seems nobody has any idea why a bird might have a swollen eye (which looks as though he has bumped it - which he couldn't have)?

closing one eye sometimes and actually it was swollen

It is probably infected, either a primary infection or secondary to some trauma.
How serious it is depends on if it is confined to the lid, conjunctiva or whether the eyeball itself is involved.
You would probably need to have a very close look at it to tell the difference. Does the eyeball itself look normal or has it become cloudy, is there any discharge, is the eye protruding more than usual, can the bird see out of that eye, etc.
Salt water bathing would be safe and will not do any harm. Antibiotics would be the next step.
If the eyeball is involved it is very unlikely that the sight in that eye will be saved irrespective of treatment.

Brett

Thank you Brett! He can see out of the eye. There is no discharge, cloudiness etc. Someone mentioned that it could be psittacosis but is this possible with just this symptom? I have started him on triple C. Do you think I should give him topical antibiotics like chloromycetin eye drops? I am a nurse which is probably why I try to save everything lol. He still has the lump but otherwise everything seems normal.

Mosquito bite maybe?? Can you try and post a pic? That might help...

Thanks kb! I live across the road from coastal swamp nature reserve and always have mozzies!! I will try and get a pic tomorrow (have to borrow my daughter's smart phone). I hope it is that simple.

g day ,
i would give the bird a 3 day coarse of doxycicline,followed by 5 days probiotics.
see ya
spider

Where do I get doxycycline for birds?