two deaths

symbro · December 10, 2005

two days ago i went out to feed my birds and knoticed a dead cock. these birds were in my breeding loft. so i figured someone just was trying to take over his nest box and he died in the fight. but today i had a hen die in a locked box with just her cock. she didnt even look dead at first b/c she was sitting like a hen does on eggs. i can see nothing wrong with them nor any of the other birds. the werent skinny nor had canker. it has been getting into the upper 30's here and had rain and fog.

i gave all my birds an antibotic that goes in the water and turns it yellow. cant remember the name off hand. after they finish their five day stretch i will give them either garlic or Apple cider vinger.

also i freshly cleaned their poop trays so i can watch how they look.

any advise would be great.

December 10, 2005

seek a vets advice I never treat blind with antibiotics they are only any good if it is a virus no use at all if it is a bacterial problem good luck

December 10, 2005

I agree with Shadow, you can actually do your bird harm by treating blindly.

Our vet will check a sample for $18, it's hard to find a local vet who is avian friendly, if all else fails you can send samples to Dr. Marx in OK, his address is in all the pigeon magazines.

December 10, 2005

Suspect this may be another flare-up of your earlier problem, Symbro. :'(

You mention 30C outside temperature.. what's it like inside and is your ventilation maintaining a good fresh air exchange?

Agree with others. Don't treat blind, although I would go along with strong garlic in the drinking water at least until the vet's report came back. And if another one goes down, bag it and get into the freezer, then take the carcase to your vet.

GOOD LUCK

December 10, 2005

make sure feed is clean sounds more like mechanical problem is there any mucous or moisture around eyes or mouth

December 10, 2005

Symbro, realised from your posts elsewhere that the '30' you speak about is probably F rather than C, so can discount heatstroke...

Like Slug, wondered if either (1) you had changed something recently or (2) there was some common link back to your previous problem, either in the birds (e.g. a carrier - see Jimmy White's post on paratyphoid) or where you got them from?

carl · December 11, 2005

Yes i would freeze one of the dead birds and take it to someone who can tell you why it died.Someone like Rod adams.

jimmy white · December 12, 2005

yes, definately need p.m on these birds

December 13, 2005

You want to make sure you give the loft a good clean, i.e. disinfect the whole loft from top to btm. and maybe use a blow torch to kill any worm eggs and cocci-eggs that may be hiding in all the nucks and crannies. And repeat this once you have found out the cause and got the rest right.

symbro · December 15, 2005

well the birds are long gone... i didnt even think of that and after finishing finals i just got back to my beloved internet.

i cleaned the loft after the two deaths. i plan on doing it again tommorrow. what would be symptoms of mouse contamination? i have started to knotice mouse droppings in my store room. i bought a trap tonight and will place it in the morning. and i will be cleaning out the trays also. my food is locked up tight so if he was getting anywhere it would be some of the left over food in the trays!

December 15, 2005

Theres your answer Symbro, the mice will be crapping all round you loft (and the birds eat them thinking its food) and mice bring in disease from outside, Salmonella being the big one that they get from mice, get the droppings tested of the others or you will have birds dropping off the perches all round you, I know because I had the same problem about 5 years ago, and had to cull a lot of them. Get rat poison, mice traps and mice deterrants in the loft. and find out where they are getting in. Dont leave the rat poison where the birds can eat it!!! They are coming in for a reason, do you leave corn in the lofts i.e. hoppers, if so I would stop it.

December 15, 2005

Good detective work, Symbro. Agree with Sbelbin, giant holes in your loft hygiene.

Don't leave any grain exposed overnight, lift your hoppers, and spray disinifect them before use, making sure they are dry before putting grain in them. Sanitise the drinking water, the only disinfectant I know for that purpose is Vanodine 18, if you can get it, its safe for the birds to drink. Make sure the grain bins are secure. Bag & bin litter from your loft. Think about removing the drinker at night.

A side benefit of a floor dressing is that it shows up footprints. Get one down, something like floor white and / or stalosan, if you can get them. A kill zone for microbes, and a double check that there's nothing walking around inside the loft that shouldn't be. Do your nest boxes and perches with it too.

December 19, 2005

seek a vets advice I never treat blind with antibiotics they are only any good if it is a virus no use at all if it is a bacterial problem good luck

I think you will find that it is the other way round.Antibiotics are used against a bacterial infection not for viruses.You have to vaccinate for them.Please get your facts right before posting to avoid confusing people.

December 20, 2005

Beautyhomer, I had already picked-up on what Shadow had said about antibiotics. If you refer to any of his other posts, you will soon pick-up from the knowledge displayed there that this wasn't a case of posting wrong information, it's a case of posting the information the wrong way round.

No doubt he has the same kind of school report card as me : "check your written work for errors before final submission. 0/10." ;D