I don't know what's wrong with her.

Yesterday one of my fantails died. No signs of illness or injury, just out of the blue. I thought maybe he flew into a wall or something, I don't know. But today when I went out to feed them my other fantail was acting really odd. She tried to fly down to their food platform, but she missed and flew into the floor. Then she tried walking over and she was really wobbly and drooping her wings.
I brought her into the house and it's scaring me how tame she's being. She's never let me touch her before and now she wouldn't get out of my hand. I got her to walk around a little and she was really wobbly and looked dizzy, she kept looking all around. She's not very interested in food or water.
My mom thinks maybe there's something in the food, the feed store stopped selling bulk seed and we've been having to buy the bagged stuff. But all of the others seem fine.

Thee could be something in the food but more likely it's salmonella. Have you noticed mice in the aviary? it's really difficult to keep them out.
Please bring the bird inside that is acting dizzy so you can monitor her and see how her poop looks and smells. What medications do you have available?

I'm sorry...I just noticed you said you did bring her into the house.

I haven't see any mice but I've seen some chipmunks in there. I keep blocking off their holes but they just dig new ones.

Right now I have tetracycline and bacitracin, have a tiny bit of sulfatrim and some metranidazole. Also have a little bit of oreganol. (There's some pretty old baytril in the fridge too.) I can go out and get some other kinds too if none of those will work.

Her poop is mostly water, with some small brown bits. She's been going too frequently I think.

I don't think you have anything that will work to treat salmonella and while there is no way of knowing if that's what is going on with her, baring doing a gram stain, I am very suspicious that it is.

I hope you have a farm stor near by. If so...this product should work to treat her.

SaraFlox (Sarafloxacin hydrochloride): Similar to Baytril, it is available as a water-soluble powder marketed for poultry. Available in 5.1 oz (15 gm) packets.


Another product that will work is Albon. The farm store may have that too.

Baytril can be purchased on line but it would take several days to get it to you. I'll go find the links anyway.

Any other birds acting off?

I think this is a must to have on hand. It will treat 10 pigeons individually.

http://www.globalpigeon.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_56&products_id=134


Enroxil...you can use this for individual treatment by giving 2 drops, one time a day. This is a generic version of baytril.

http://www.allbirdproducts.com/bird_medication.html

I checked the feed store, they didn't have either of those. I'll have to check the other one tomorrow.

You must get on this right away. If possible, have your mom order one of those medicines, on line, tonight.
Also...you need to start hand feeding the bird that is showing symptoms. I would hand feed baby applesauce and defrosted peas. Keep her warm too. Put her on a heating pad set on low.
Have you noticed if her poop is smelly?

I don't have baby applesauce, but I have applesauce with no sugar added. Is that ok? I don't have a heating pad but I can pick up some of those hand warmers. Her poop is smelly, but not horribly so. I'll get the medications online. I haven't noticed the other birds acting off, but I'll keep an eye on them. How contagious is it? Is it airborne at all?

From Winged Wisdom Web page...

Birds can become infected with salmonella by oral ingestion of contaminated food, water and through the egg - either by ventical transmisson or by penetration of the egg shell. Poultry and pigeons may carry salmonella yet appear healthy. Infected birds will be lethargic, lose their appetite, have watery droppings and may develop arthritis.

Yes...you can give her the applesauce you have. Please warm it first. Do you have frozen peas?

I have frozen peas.
I think maybe it's the chipmunks that gave it to her. I think I can seal off the holes they're using to get in.

Feed the warmed applesauce first and see how it stays down. If it does...feed her peas the next feeding. Try to get 30 into her.

I had to toss the applesauce. Looks like it was expired. I'm going to get some after I have dinner.
How do you feed them the applesauce, with a syringe?

Yes...with a syringe. Start with 10cc's and see how she tolerates it. If you are going to the store...pick up some powdered rice cereal for human babies too.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to treat the bird with metronidazole as well, because often another disease can bring on an episode of canker.
Last time I ordered form the first link I gave you, it took 5 days to get the medicine. I'm hoping because you are closer, it won't take as long.

When do I start feeding the cereal? Also, just to be clear, is a cc the same as a ml? Because that seemed like an awful lot of food.

Yes, they are the same.
If she keeps the applesauce down, you can mix a couple of teaspoons with it for the next feeding. Remember to wait until the crop is empty before feeding her again.
Was your mom able to order the medicine on line?

Ok.
Yes. We ordered the enroxil from the second link.

Good. Let us know when it arrives.
You will give her 2 drops once a day, rather than put it in her water.

She seems the same this morning. She kept all the food down.

That's good she kept the food down. I hope that keeping food in her, will give her some strength and keep her going until the medicine arrives.
Is she pooping ok?
Did you start her on the metronidazole? Always give the metronidazole on a crop that has food in it as the metronidazole can make the bird vomit.

Yes, she's been pooping fine. I've started her on the metronidazole.

Good. Keep us posted.

OMG, I just went to feed the pigeons and realized the fantails had a baby in their nest! She is soo hungry. Her mom didn't want to feed her. I think I have some formula though.

Are these the same pair one of which dies and the other is ill? If so...the baby will need to be treated too.
How old is the baby?