Respiratory infection?

[Howldaloom]

My birds all seem healthy enough. Active eating well and raising chicks.

However someone told me to try holding my birds to my ear and if I hear clicking noises I should suspect an respiratory infection.

How close to the ear? How much clicking? Because I went round my birdroom and pressed some birds to my ear and I can hear some clicking noises. But I do not hear anything from say about 2 inches away from my ear.

Am I just hearing them clicking beaks as they are showing no other symptoms. They all seem ok other then that. I cannot hear them clicking when everything is quiet either.

Im paranoid my birds are sick now -_-

They also get fed ALOT of sprouting plain canary/millet seed and every other week some sprouting oily seeds which they may taste. They get egg food every week too. Millet sprays, oyster shell goes without saying...

They also get probiotics once a month

[gomer]

The person who told you this may have been refering to airsac mite.Treatment with moxidectin or moxidectin plus should clear out any airsac mite. I have heard what I thought was airsac mite in a group of canarys once from about 1 metre away.

[Howldaloom]

See I have to press the whole bird against my ear to even hear anything.

[Tiaris]

A whole flock treatment with Moxydectin or M+ will help clean out intestinal parasites anyway so would be a good idea if you haven't already tried. What species are they?

[Howldaloom]

Bengalese finches and im in the uk.

[finchbreeder]

If I hear any "clicky" breathing I treat with Ivomectin. Otherwise I don't worry. I have Bengelese, Canarys and Gouldians. Amongst others. And am a purist when it comes to breeding.
If the parents can't/won't raise it then it's not tough enough for me. A tough love attitude that means my birds live long and tough lives. With lots of greens to cover their needs and my soft spot.
LML

[Howldaloom]

If you couldn't hear anything with ear pressed against cage in the dark when sleeping would you treat the birds? I checked on them last night and I couldn't hear anything.

My birds have raised large clutches this time round too. Clutches of 5-7 chicks per nest. 0.0

[Craig52]

Hi,are your birds in cabinets/small cages or in a large flight aviary? If cabinets/small cages your birds could be obese from what you say you are feeding them and with no exercise they become exhausted very quick and pant causing clicking sounds,just a thought. Craig

[Howldaloom]

They are in breeding cages and i wouldnt say they were fat. One or two spring to mind that are but not the ones that are clicking.

When they are at rest i dont hear anything but i do when i catch them up and listen to them. Maby chasing them around has tired them out then? Wrong way to tell if clicking?

Either way i have got some scatt in from usa. Should arrive soon. Plus will treat them with ronizole (extremely safe to use. Even with chicks in nest) and acox (going light treatment). They are all due to go down to nest anyways.