Matilda is sick

[dozey1]

Hi guys can anyone suggest how to deal with my birdie illness. i bought two black firocks 2 weeks ago one seems to be wheezy and now matilda seems to have gone down with the same thing. she is worse than the new one. any ideas.She was eating yesterday but today she wouldn't leave the coop. Help>>> Please.

[MaureenHall]

First thing to ask is what kind of bedding are you using? It may be dust in the bedding that is causing the wheeziness. First "remedy" to try if the bedding's ok is garlic - put some in their water or mix a little powdered garlic in their food. Have you just got the 2 birds or had you already got some that you've introduced these to? I think BP also recommends using Respite as a first course of action.

Good luck, hope the girls soon pick up

[Bramble-Poultry]

I do maureen - but its the garlic in it that is the active ingredient - we all just use different formats of the same product really!!

Maureen is right - check its not a bedding problem first, some bedding is dusty and some things like bark chip have a mould spore that causes respiratory problems.

Most birds can suffer from a cold in much that same way we can, they suffer for a few days with a cough, splutter and a sneeze, but get over it quite quicky in a week or two. It is not usually fatal, expecially if they are kept dry and out of draughts and given some garlic based additive (not too much it taints the eggs). they may have a bit of a runny nose too.

However if they start to get excessive discharge from the eyes, nose and/or mouth. Or they have a really bad rasping breathing sound when they are asleep. Or they go completeley off their food then I would suggest it is NOT a cold but a respiratory infection, this will need a vet and antibiotics if you don't want to lose the bird. With a cold the bird is usually themselves, eating and drinking and scratching around, they may not have as much energy so rest a little more often, but if you notice the bird id not behaving in its usual manner it is time to keep a close eye on it.

Unfortunatley as the weather changes we are going to see a lot more of these little problems sneak in - its like us we all seem to get colds and flus this time of year!