young bird problem

[Newbie2020]

Hello all, my first breeding season is going ok I guess. But I have one youngster than has been weaned off for about 10 days. He just doesnt look the part, he is not flying much and generally looks quite lethargic and uninterested. When you approach him though he pulls his feathers in and in the hand looks a really nice bird. I tried to look inside his mouth but noticed his bottom part of the beak was quite soft and therefore unable to open the beak as the bottom kept almost bending when attempting to do so. Should this be like this and what is causing it. Is there anything wrong with this bird from the information I have provided.

I also have a a few young birds who seem to be having trouble swallowing the corn and it seems to be passing over the hole in the back of the mouth and going into the cavity at the back of the throat? They appear to be trying to push it back out, the yellow food (I think its maize) Again is this normal?

[Back garden fancier]

Usually if a youngster that has been weaned is sitting fluffed up, it hasn't found the water. Dip it's beak in and see if it drinks.

[Guest IB]

I think you have summed up the first bird, in your own words, as not looking the part. It may be less of a worry for you now, and later, if you disposed of it now, as after 10 days, they should all be settled in and starting to look the part. It's not water, if it wasn't drinking, it would be dead by now. Sounds like it's 'going back' basically doesn't eat enough, picks at small grains only, quickly loses weight & strength, immune system goes down, and becomes open to illness / a source of infection for the others..

 

The hole on the floor of the mouth isn't the gullet, it's the airway / windpipe, and closes allowing food to go right to the back of the mouth and down the throat / gullet.

 

Youngsters will gobble food, and it does look at times like they are having bother getting it down, but that soon passes when they visit the drinker.  

[jimmy white]

I think you have summed up the first bird, in your own words, as not looking the part. It may be less of a worry for you now, and later, if you disposed of it now, as after 10 days, they should all be settled in and starting to look the part. It's not water, if it wasn't drinking, it would be dead by now. Sounds like it's 'going back' basically doesn't eat enough, picks at small grains only, quickly loses weight & strength, immune system goes down, and becomes open to illness / a source of infection for the others..

 

The hole on the floor of the mouth isn't the gullet, it's the airway / windpipe, and closes allowing food to go right to the back of the mouth and down the throat / gullet.

 

Youngsters will gobble food, and it does look at times like they are having bother getting it down, but that soon passes when they visit the drinker.  

 

i would have to agree with ib,,, allthough the other post makes sense, i,e the water,, but it should be well drinking by this time,, sometimes in the pigeon game , unfortunately these things are neccessary, [suppressing a poorly yb] better to loose one  than have anything spread to the rest,,,yb,s when first weaned , i find they are far able to eat maple peas , than other grains , to begin with,,good luck

[cowman]

another point that has not been asked what age was the bird when you took it from  the parents ?

[Craig05]

Hi Mate

if it looks as though the birds are struggling to swallow the corn, sounds like a bit of canker to me

[Guest HawkBait]

Dunno about ur 1st bird personally i would  dispose of it.Its not unusual for birds to get maze stuck in the back of the throat at the sides.try having a look then remove any bits of maze using tweezers if  its all clear then get rid of it also.  8)