a year or so ago i bought a hen strawberry who unfortunately had her wing broken by the the somewhat geriatric breeder when he attempted to catch her. i had hoped it was just a sprain and kept her for some six weeks in a hospital cage but sadly it never really healed and she was forever unable to fly.
nontheless, she did manage to have a relatively happy life. she could flutter around somewhat and seemed to have no real problems getting up into the high branches each night to perch with the male strawbs and she ate well and otherwise appeared perfect health.
sadly she now seems to have developed the condition known as "stargazing" or "twirling" - judging from a read around the net the condition isnt really curable. does anyone have any tips on what i might be able to do - even if it be some humane method of putting her out of her misery?
twirling or star gazing
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toothlessjaws
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Jayburd
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honestly I have no idea - it doesn't seem to be very well documented...
I have seen many a green singer with this condition, with the sellers swearing 'it's a trait of singers'.
I think it is a mite
I don't know sorry... I did hear something about a cure a few years ago, but nothing since.
I have seen many a green singer with this condition, with the sellers swearing 'it's a trait of singers'.
I think it is a mite
I don't know sorry... I did hear something about a cure a few years ago, but nothing since.Julian
Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.
Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
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Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.
Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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Diane
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I read an article where it has been suggested that it could be the result of an infection. Whether this can be "cured" or just kept at bay remains to be seen.
I will see if I can find the article again and post a link.
Heres a link to the articles
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling2.mgi
I will see if I can find the article again and post a link.
Heres a link to the articles
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling2.mgi
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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spanna
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so what exactly are the symptoms? is the bird throwing its head back (stargazing, or head jerking as i knew it), or is it losing its balance and not being able to perch properly? at a glance the symptoms and treatment of the two seem very different so need more details please...
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toothlessjaws
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hey spanna,
the bird is showing classic stargazing symptoms. it is twisting its head as if it thinks up is down and down is up. it cant perch.
the bird is showing classic stargazing symptoms. it is twisting its head as if it thinks up is down and down is up. it cant perch.
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spanna
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ahhh, okay. have a read through the articles BB213 linked to, there's some info on treatment at least in the first link, didnt check the second. i think it said it can be caused by a burst inner ear... which can (but not always successfully) be treated with "SMZ Liquid or Trimethoprim Sulfa"... it's in the link anyway. hope this helps, but props to BB213 for finding the articles 
bluebutterfly213 wrote:I read an article where it has been suggested that it could be the result of an infection. Whether this can be "cured" or just kept at bay remains to be seen.
I will see if I can find the article again and post a link.
Heres a link to the articles
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling2.mgi
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ray_223
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I don't think it is the issue - but I have seen some finches (I can't remember exactly what type - it was a few years ago now!) doing it at a bird sale. They were in a show box and I was told that it was because they were under stress and also because the perch was close to the top of the box - they felt very constricted.
I'd be interested if others have seen/heard about this??
I'd be interested if others have seen/heard about this??
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spanna
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thats what we call head jerking most of the time. the bird simply bends its neck back and over. it looks very unnatural, but yes, it is usually just caused by birds being put in a cage that is much, much smaller than what they are used to. can be caused by other things though.
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toothlessjaws
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thanks for the help guys, but i humanely euthanised the bird (which took quite some thought regarding method). poor thing - it certainly was beyond help. just a slow painful death of starvation/dehydration.
