feather and bone

[bird-brain]

Hi guys, for those of you who have not read it I have a very lengthy thread up regarding my plight with these chick's illness (Frustrated).

In short, bought chicks from a breeder (LF SF's), 12 hours later noticed one sneezing her head off. vet saw one chick. Only avian vet for 100 miles and she sux at drawing blood and has killed a bird of mine doing it before and nearly killed another so no labs (which take about 10=14 days to get back anyway) soooo she would not prescribe anything but tetracycline.

symptoms began as sneezing, progressed to the beak opening and head shaking, then to yellow nasal discharge and inflamed nares, from that I had one chick that developed rattling in her lungs and she and one other went off of food. I watered them via syringe and forced mash into their beaks for 36 hours.

They all seemed to improve...days later they all have conjuctivitis, one who was not previously very ill is laboring a tad with her breathing and her right eye is very swollen.

This is likely viral so antibiotics are probably a waste but I am back on tetracycline. I have ordered tylosin express shipped and will switch out as soon as it arrives just in case it is bacterial.

The most pressing issue I have right now is my oldest chick. She is horribly under weight and getting thinner every day. She eats, she drinks and seems to be eating as much as the others which is pretty much constantly. They could all stand to gain a few truth be told but this one chick is nothing but feather and bone. These chicks will not eat egg, they will not eat wet food. Is there anything I can dropper feed her to try to build her back up?

I really don't know why she is dropping off so much. I considered worms but they have only been outside 3 times and for short periods. These chicks are 41/2 to five weeks old.

thanks in advance!

 

[CMV]

I am not sure why you didn't return these birds to the breeder immediately. I certainly would have. If these birds are ill then they are always going to be sickly in appearance. There is nothing that is going to change that.

There is a hand-feeding baby parrot formula on the market. You may want to look in to it. I think you can get it at any pet store that sells avian supplies. Your useless avian vet can probably also help you learn how to tube feed if you really want to be aggressive with their treatment.

Good luck.

 

[bird-brain]

I am not sure why you didn't return these birds to the breeder immediately. I certainly would have. If these birds are ill then they are always going to be sickly in appearance. There is nothing that is going to change that.

There is a hand-feeding baby parrot formula on the market. You may want to look in to it. I think you can get it at any pet store that sells avian supplies. Your useless avian vet can probably also help you learn how to tube feed if you really want to be aggressive with their treatment.

Good luck.

I called the breeder. Lets just say he is as useless as the vet. All of that is detailed in the big thread and I'm not going to beat that horse anymore. The state vet gets to handle it.

I doubt I will go as far as crop needles or tubing. Even Stella in her weakened state is far too active to do so without a great deal of trauma.

I forgot to mention that I used hand rearing formula on Stella during her first bad episode with some success. I have breeder parrot species as well. I am out and have more on order but can not get it locally.....but just remembered where there is a recipe for emergency hand rearing formula.................thanks for jogging my memory.