INJURED BIRD

VAGIN · June 4, 2009

I had a bird returned on Sun from a Sat race The bird seemed tired looking and I noticed a few tail feathers missing On mon he seemed to look fine eating /drinking and chasing a hen . Yesterday I noticed that he was very bloated looking. I handed him and gave him a good look to my dismay it felt like a sponge with trapped air all around his body There are no marks ie bruising on him just the missing tail feathers Has anyone any Ideas or had the same problem I against the use of antibiotics and onluse the basic worming medication I have the bird seperated from the rest of the birds I would not like too lose this bird as he has been a good servant to me the last few years

jimmy white · June 4, 2009

difficult to suss out over the internet, but a possibility, of air being trapped in between the skin and the crop, this causes a blown up look on the bird,, if it is this, you will be feel the trapped air, and can puncture this outer crop skin with a needle [only the outer skin] then the air can be dis=pelled , but best have an avian vet look at it first

VAGIN · June 4, 2009

Tanks Jimmy I have already tried that but too no avail Thankyou

jimmy white · June 4, 2009

Tanks Jimmy I have already tried that but too no avail Thankyou

ahh pity,, maybe get some local fanciers to look at the bird, hope it turns out ok for the bird [and you ]

best bring the post to the fore this evening, may get other fanciers veiws,, good luck

June 4, 2009

It does sound like trapped air from a ruptured air sac (injury) but affecting one of the deeper-body ones below, rather than above, the lungs (which I think may be more common, there are a couple of threads on here about that). I don't think you will be able to release this by puncture, although redcheqhen did post a picture of an unfeathered nestling which had been punctured on its back (I wouldn't know how to do that). But one vet did say on video that left alone it will right itself in about two weeks.