Hi all
In the last couple of days I've lost 3 of 5 young Gouldians in one nest. They all hatched round the 19th June so they are about 2 weeks old. One died for unknown reasons and I assumed it was the runt as it was smaller and unfed. Then when checking nests I saw one flailing about causing a distruption in the nest, but the little tyke had a huge yellow growth in the ear (actually looked like a seed had gotten wedged and he was off balance, but on closer inspection it was a growth) It died overnight and a quick little autopsy revealed that it was nasty hard cheesy growth. Then yesterday I lost another and it had a small yellow hard round cheesy growth on the crop wall.
What can it be? Could it be a type of canker? I've not had any issues until this, their last and unexpected clutch. More importantly is it catchy?
I'll try see if the pic I took came out clear enough and post it tonight.
Cheesy growths on hatchlings
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Myzomela
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- Location: Melbourne Vic
Hi Monotwine,
Sorry to hear about your loss. It's awful, especially in birds so young.
The cheesy lumps are likely to be small abscesses- they look like small deposits of hard cheese in birds.
It could be caused by Trichomonas- or canker- as occurs in budgies and pigeons, or candida or a bacterial infection. You would need to do a smear of the lump and or the surrounding tissue to determine which of these is the cause. The treatment for each is quite different but it is likely to have come either from the parents, the food (especially soft food) or water.
Make sure your hygiene is at its best, the water is clean and that your food has not spoilt.
You could try running a suitable disinfectant through the water such as chlorhexidine or even Virkon if you dare until you can get an answer, or try Organic Apple Cider Vinegar at 10 mls/L. These may not help if the cause is Trichomonas. Try to get a diagnosis if you can.
Good luck
Sorry to hear about your loss. It's awful, especially in birds so young.
The cheesy lumps are likely to be small abscesses- they look like small deposits of hard cheese in birds.
It could be caused by Trichomonas- or canker- as occurs in budgies and pigeons, or candida or a bacterial infection. You would need to do a smear of the lump and or the surrounding tissue to determine which of these is the cause. The treatment for each is quite different but it is likely to have come either from the parents, the food (especially soft food) or water.
Make sure your hygiene is at its best, the water is clean and that your food has not spoilt.
You could try running a suitable disinfectant through the water such as chlorhexidine or even Virkon if you dare until you can get an answer, or try Organic Apple Cider Vinegar at 10 mls/L. These may not help if the cause is Trichomonas. Try to get a diagnosis if you can.
Good luck
Research; evaluate;observe;act
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monotwine
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- Joined: 15 Jun 2010, 20:36
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Location: South Africa
Thank you for your advice and help Myzomela.
I'll doubly check on hygiene, but short of keeping everything sterile again (which in itself is not great) I'm hard pressed to keep it cleaner. I can place F10 in the water if that will help.
How quickly would something like this develop? I've only started feeding soft food again for the last say 2 and 1/2 weeks after the whole Aflatoxicosis episode.
Obviously all my birds immune systems are not 100% yet, though the Gouldians were in good health.
I'll doubly check on hygiene, but short of keeping everything sterile again (which in itself is not great) I'm hard pressed to keep it cleaner. I can place F10 in the water if that will help.
How quickly would something like this develop? I've only started feeding soft food again for the last say 2 and 1/2 weeks after the whole Aflatoxicosis episode.
Obviously all my birds immune systems are not 100% yet, though the Gouldians were in good health.
Monique
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monotwine
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- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Location: South Africa
Thanks jusdeb. Yeah its been my worst season yet with the birds. Very disheartening, but a huge learning curve. I'm just thankful that I have a great avian vet that is also a finch breeder for help. My bank balance does not appreciate it! Gosh I've spent a fortune on tests in the last 2 months.
Monique
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Myzomela
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- Location: Melbourne Vic
I hate to say it but you would probably need to take them to your vet friend to get an answer.
They may still be suffering from the after-effects of the aflotoxicosis which can cause immunosuppresion.
F10 in the water would be ok too, but best to follow your vet's advice.
Good luck!
They may still be suffering from the after-effects of the aflotoxicosis which can cause immunosuppresion.
F10 in the water would be ok too, but best to follow your vet's advice.
Good luck!
Research; evaluate;observe;act
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monotwine
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- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Location: South Africa
Yeah thanks. I know there is no way around it. Will be calling my vet today.
If anyone is curious, this it the growth that was on the first one. He was unfed as it could not beg properly.
If anyone is curious, this it the growth that was on the first one. He was unfed as it could not beg properly.
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Monique
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jusdeb
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Its quite a size isn't it for such a short life span . Hope your vet can answer your questions and its a one of thing .
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
David Brent