Maybe I should return the finches...

[Hypnotoad72]

The one zebra female that made a recovery is doing good, but now a second one (pied, male) is showing signs of illness. He's sleeping and puffed up all the time. No runny cere or abnormal droppings that I can see, yet... just sleeping. Often. Unlike the droopy-eyed female, his seems more acute and has lasted all day. I first noticed him this morning; until today all the male finches were singing and being very happy.

He is still eating and drinking normally, but as I had bought rather a lot of birds for a medium size aviary/flight-cage (4 zebra, 5 society), I'm creeped out they might have something contagious. Or, best case scenario, had something latent that's only just coming about due to the stress of the move, that only those two had. Everyone else is acting normally...

Of course, compared to this morning and letting him sleep and putting food and medicated water closer to him (slowly so not to scare him), he HAS been eating and showing overall improvement... I went in a few minutes ago to check and he was at the food dish, eating, and his feathers weren't fluffed out as much as they were this morning.

The food I bought, along with the usual Ecotrition for finches, was a kaytee brand formulated for stressful conditions, with extra protein and carbs. And the tetracycline antibacterial water treatment. I think that's played a part in the first one's recovery and, again, I'm hopeful on the 2nd one. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll make it, but yeesh... this is ridiculous. And scary.

I did check back at the store - all the other finches are there and looking good. Should I call them tomorrow and say that 2 finches were (temporarily) ill, tell them about the status, and get their whole bird area under quarantine?

[Hypnotoad72]

Brief update: half an hour ago I added some millet for the finches... did so slowly as not to make them all spaz out. I'd changed food twice today and kept an eye on the water and changed it if I saw any sign of contamination - just to be safe as I am using that medication treatment (I know it's said to be unrecommended, but it hadn't expired yet so it's worth the try).

I went back in a moment ago to check up on him -- and he no longer looks like a fat pine cone! WHEE!! Still looks a bit tired, of course, but this is a good sign. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow... the dropping he made looked normal too, given the seeds and pellets he'd been eating along with the millet.

[Hypnotoad72]

Update II:

Aye, he's back to pretty much full health now. :) :)

I did call Petsmart, and they will keep a closer eye on the birds and it sounds like they will treat theirs with the Ornacycline too.

The stress was obviously a catalyst in bringing things out, but having seen this male in fairly normal posture again and moving around - I am much relieved.