Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all, I was just wondering if any of you that have kept RFPF in the past have come across a gene pool that causes affected birds to loose their agility, start getting a bit wobbly and then basically becoming so neurologically spastic that they either die or you put them out of their misery. Balance and depth percepetion goes out completely. The birds seem healthy initially, breed etc but a few years down the line go this way. Also it does not seem contagious.

I've only ever had hens go this way too, strangely enough (both in normal and seagreen from different breeders). I am just wondering what it is. Genetic or disease.
I've chatted to some breeders here too and they cannot explain it.
Symptoms are similar to APV (avian polyomavirus) but test results are negative.

Any ideas?

I haven't heard of it here, I've never had an issue with any I've owned over the year's, unless it's out there and people are booking it down to something else , or just not saying

Well thanks for taking the time to answer all the same.

Hmmm never heard of it either.

Possably a Vit E or B1(Thiamin) deficiency, would tend towards B1 alothough not common in seed eaters, affected birds stargaze, loss of coordination, seizures & death.

PS sorry to keep it short, painkillers & seditives still effecting me

Short sweet and to the point. Thanks VR1Ton I will look the conditions you mentioned up.

PS. Hope you feel better soon.

I would look at getting a post mortem exam done on one of the affected birds. It may be worthwhile getting one that is early on in the disease, as if there is an organism involved it may be more obvious early rather than right at the end of the disease.
Make sure you use a pathologist who is experienced at looking at cage birds- not just poultry. Most general vet pathologists are unaware of many cage bird diseases and may miss the signs. Your local avian vet should be able to advise you.

There are several possible causes, some of which like mycobacterisos can take a long time to show disease, and so don't appear infectious except that the same species seem to be affected.

Hope you get an answer

Myzomela

Thanks Myzomela.