Ill female chaffinch

[Tan y Dderwen]

Hello, I wonder if you could help me. 3 or 4 days ago I noticed a female chaffinch which seemed ill. My first impression was that it had been attacked and had a narrow escape because it looks as if it is missing tail feathers. I now noticed that it has lost most feathers at the back of its underbelly. It does fly although it does also sit around more than the others, looking very fluffy, and today appeared dizzy when flying. It did drink a lot and was foraging for food on the ground, both around the bird feeders and elsewhere in the garden. I am wondering if I can do anything to help her and also if whatever she's got is some kind of virus that could be a danger to the other birds. I would be grateful for any advice. Thanks a lot!

[RKB]

It might be trichomoniasis. This is fatal in finches, and is spread at bird tables. The birds appear lethargic, fluffy, weak and unable to swallow properly. The loss of feathers might have been from a narrow escape with a cat, due to being ill.

If you suspect Trichomoniasis, see this: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GBH...heet_Sep06.pdf

By attracting healthy birds to a diseased area, you might be infecting them too.

[Tan y Dderwen]

Hello and thanks for your reply. I don't think it is this illness, she does not have problems swallowing - this morning she was quite lively and feeding on the ground on bird seed. Also, it is not only some tail feathers that are missing, she has an almost completely bare/pink bum.
Thank you!

[FoxtonWildlifeRescue]

Cats have bacteria in their mouths which causes blood poisoning in birds that they have attacked. Would've thought that it would have keeled over by now though. Usually causes death within 48hrs

[Picidae]

Feather loss can also be the result of a bacterial or viral infection/mite infestation.

Whether it's Trich or not, I'd thoroughly clean and disinfect all your feeders/birdbath/birdtable and relocate your feeders in another part of the garden for a few weeks. Also use a weak disinfectant solution to hose down the ground feeding area then rinse thoroughly. Trichonomads (the parasites can survive outside the bird's body for a degree of time (30mins?) and is also passed from bird to bird by food contaminated by faeces or saliva. It's not a bad thing to do this regularly anyway as prevention is better than cure. If you read the link RKB gave you and also the ones below, you'd know why good feeder hygiene is vital!

TRICHOMONAS GALLINAE

The RSPB: Advice: Outbreaks of disease in finches and other garden birds

(Its also a good idea not to encourage pigeons into wild bird feeding stations too since they are known vectors of the organism that causes Trich.)

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by RKB

It might be trichomoniasis. This is fatal in finches, and is spread at bird tables. The birds appear lethargic, fluffy, weak and unable to swallow properly.

Oh no , before the winter I've seen this in tree sparrows & greenfinches, thought they looked a bit ill & were choking on seeds as they are greedy little beggers. Will keep an eye out & try & keep feeders clean.

[RKB]

Could be salmonella then, which is also common in finches.

This causes the vent (bum) to become wet due to loose droppings, so it might look bare because of that (and be sore).


Read this:

http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/Sal...eet_June09.PDF