Squeaker stopped eating

Peckedhen · October 7, 2005

I seem to be going from one problem to another!! I think that this shows how important it is to get your birds from a reputable dealer. :B

Last Friday I got two squeakers and 4 adults. unfortunately they have been randomly selected and are not pairs nor are they the parents of the babies. All went well until today when one of the squeakers is not eating at all. I can feel seed in the crop and it has remained there all day. It's droppings are just liquid with white and just now very dark green. I've given it a syringe of water and olive oil, any other suggestions please?

The squeaker is about 24 days old - stiill has yellow fluff poking through feathers.

jimmy white · October 7, 2005

hi pecked hen , im sorry to hear about your young one, i think maybe you got them a bit too young, they should really be seperated from the adults ,about 3 to 4 weeks, but even at that, they can still survive, sometimes its worth gently dipping their beaks in the water dish, to let them know where the water is, but at least you have gave it through syringe, if its water thats the problem ittl soon pick up, if not you may have a problem on your hands, it migh be worth seperating it from the others, and try syringing some live yogurt down its crop, and take it from there,

October 7, 2005

Try socking some pellets in some boiled water,in a dish leave for awhile,it will turn mussy like weeabix,syringe it down the pigeons throat & Its no diffrent from what the youngster is used to mussed plulp, from its parents.also leave a small dish of corn so it can try to pick up itself,dip the head on the drinker so it gets used to, if ya feel that is not getting a drink then use a syringe as jimmy did sugest.Alittle time comsuming but it will be worth in.Hope it helps peckedhen.Speckled

jimmy white · October 10, 2005

hows the wee young one pecked hen, i hope its good news

Peckedhen · October 10, 2005

Well, it's still with us but I'n not sure if I'm just prolonging the inevitable. It is still not eating or drinking and looks pretty miserable. I emptied it's crop and gave it some live yugurt and soaked some dried dog food as I don't have pellets - just a pigeon mix. I've been syringing warm water every two hours or so and have it on a hot water bottle so it's warm. This morning I'm going to try some soaked small seeds and see if I can get those down it's throat. It's droppings are very liquid - green and white (lovely topic as I eat my breakfast!) The guy I got it from has said that I should give up, it's just a ball of feathers but I can't think like that.....I'll let you know how it gets on. Thanks for asking Jimmy.

Peckedhen · October 10, 2005

Will do Rose, thanks.

October 10, 2005

Sorry to hear the squeaker is not responding. If the bird is to be a pet well keep trying it begining to sound like cooccidious and you need to treat it there are plenty products on the market I use the one in tablet form from Johnsons. However if you intend to race the young bird then the best thing to do is get some one to dispatch it for you. As a rule sick youngsters never go on to be any good . I wish you all the luck in the world. but know what I would do in either case. ??)

fly hard fly fair

October 10, 2005

Sorry to hear things appear to be going badly, Peckedhen. :'(

Rose has pre-posted me, and I believe her advice very sound. But you may have seen the debate on electrolytes, and diarrhoea. Your bird needs electrolytes or recovery salts now. If you don't have the ready made stuff, in addition to your glucose or honey, add a pinch of salt to the bird's water - just a few grains, just enough to sit on the very edge of the teaspoon.

And with due respect, I would advise you against the 'scatter gun' approach. Stick to one strategy - just consider the bird as having YBS for example. Feed sparingly (at first) and only a light easily digestible diet : seed perfect but definitely no force feeding, no grain for now and no dog food for ever - and a 'strong' garlic drinking water solution. By strong, I mean a jam jar full of water would have a quarter of a clove in it, and I would change it only every second day, for at least a week (and that goes for the electrolyte solution too).

And don't forget to clean & disinifect round this bird, keep it away from the others, and make sure you don't become the 'bridge' that allows its illness to infect your other birds.

And I know how you are feeling and thinking right now, but when push comes to shove, you must ensure that this bird presents absolutely no danger to you or your other birds. And at the first signs that the creature is suffering, you must do what is necessary, and act as all humane people must, however distressful that is. Give it another full week of straightforward care, Peckedhen. If it hasn't turned the corner by then, you will have done everything for it that anyone could expect .

Peckedhen · October 10, 2005

Bruno, I can't personally do it but, all the birds are going back to the guy I got them from tomorroow and I know that he will do the necessary.

I am going to start afresh with new, and hopefully healthy birds. It turns out that these birds will not home far. I have been advised not to take them out of site of the loft or I'll loose them! > I am keeping my fantails though ( having got Albert through whatever he had, we are quite attached!)

If the bird is not eating or drinking then I have to use a syringe - I'll stop pushing seeds in though.

October 10, 2005

Understand how you feel, Peckedhen, quite useless myself on that front too.

I take it that 'all the birds' includes the two 'wild' white ones too, leaving you with your original fantails.

Clean sheet & fresh start might do you the world of good. When I said 'safe for you' it includes your own emotional and mental well being. Nothing worse than constant stress.

After these birds have gone make sure you do a thorough cleaning & disinfecting job in your loft.

Diamond dave · March 5, 2006

Pecked hen.

One thing to watch out for when weaning youngsters away is to watch for there eyes closing (like they are sleepy) This will tell you that they have not found the drinker yet - that would tell you when to dip there heads in the drinker.

Some will tell you that if they cant find the water themselves then they wont be any good - I disagree - I'm sure it wont do them any harm.

Also, be on your guard with loose droppings but dont get a bottle out every time you see one. Young birds often pass watery type droppings when they are stressed

and weaning is a very stressful time for a baby.

The prognosis, for me, of this particular case is that the droppings are not only watery but green as well. This would suggest a health problem and I would have to agree with shadow on outcome.

In any case - these are problems we all suffer - not just you - and you deserve a pat on the back for being vigilant.

Good luck

Peckedhen · March 6, 2006

Diamond Dave - you've responded to a thread some five months old - however, your advice is timely as I have squabs at the moment and will, very shortly, be weaning them.

Cheers.

March 10, 2006

How are thr Babies doing Sue

Peckedhen · March 10, 2006

Doing well thanks Linda - I'm loving it! Two fantail babies now flying (sort of, LOL) and beginning to peck and three Logans - rung today (with the help of a friend). I've just got a a new loft BUT hubby is now getting interested and thinks he could enjoy racing!! Well, he'll have to get his own loft and birds! ;D ;D

All well at your side of the big pond? At least you have a few more miles between you and AI. :-/