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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

885.0. "stressed flock of zebras..." by MSGAXP::MISTOVICH () Mon Nov 14 1994 16:26

    I lost one of my zebra finches several weeks ago to a yeast infection. 
    We had been through this before,but this time, when I realized little
    Zeke was ill I tried for 3 days to isolate him, but was unable to.  It was 
    as though the rest of the flock was protecting him.  They stayed in a
    circle around him night and day and when I would go into the cage to
    try to get him, they all seemed to run "interference."  This had never
    happened before when I'd needed to isolate him.  By the time I was able
    to catch him, it was nearly too late.  Additional mistakes (I was very
    stressed, sleeping only 3 hours/night) such as not getting good enough
    dropping samples to run a gram stain wasted another precious day and he
    was gone the next morning.
    
    The hen that stayed with him in his nest those last days also tested
    positive for yeast, plus other's were exhibiting symptoms, so I treated 
    the entire flock.  The problem now is that everybody is under the weather. 
    They're getting benebac daily to try and get their digestive systems back 
    in order.  I had pulled everybody into 3 separate cages (2 birds each) 
    because I'd had to isolate the hen and another cock who had a swollen toe. 
    Separated, they were all looking good, so yesterday I put them back in 
    together. This morning, although they greeted me loudly, within half an 
    hour they all were taking turns resting with their feathers too puffed out.
    
    Any suggestions for helping to get my flock back to mental and physical
    health?
    
    thanks,
    Mary
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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885.1some improvements...MSGAXP::MISTOVICHWed Nov 16 1994 14:438
    Well, eveybody looks real good now, except for the little hen who
    stayed by Zeke's side.  I have a heat lamp aimed at one end of the cage
    to keep her a little warmer -- she moved closer to it this morning, so
    I guess she appreciates it.  The vet had recommended just treating her
    with benebac because there was so little yeast in the most recent gram
    stain, but she's not eating much, so I'm going to try administering
    some in the paste tonight, along with a drop of Nystatin to see if that
    will help her.
885.2all doing well but oneMSGAXP::MISTOVICHFri Dec 02 1994 15:2725
    Now everybody is doing real well except one little cock who the lonely
    hen had just taken up with.  I thought Zeke had died, but when this guy
    started beeping I realized *he* was Zeke (beeps a minor third higher
    than everybody else!) and his 2-day old brother had died.
    
    There are no signs of an active infection other than low energy,
    sleeping puffed up all the time and not beeping again.
    His breathing and droppings are normal, weight is good, breathing is
    clear and normal, and his abdomen is normal (not swollen).  His initial 
    bloodwork has shown suppressed immune system, with mostly one type of
    white cell. He goes up and down day by day-- last night he seemed on the 
    road to being himself,then this morning, after a good nights rest (we 
    all turned in extra early) he was 2-steps backwards.  We're doing 
    intensive vitamins for the next 2 weeks, heat lamp to keep him warm, and 
    he and his new mate are separated for extra quiet and rest (she is doing 
    fine, at least).
    
    I think it may be genetic -- I got the parents from a pet store, so
    they could easily be brother & sister.  If he doesn't improve
    dramatically, we'll probably repeat the blood test in 2 weeks.
    
    I suspect I'll be saying goodbye to Zeke fairly soon.  I miss his funny
    little voice....
    
    Mary