sneezing and gasping starling

bigwig · #1 (**permalink**) 11-06-2010, 07:50 PM

HI,

We have a young starling in our garden who is not well. He was fledged about 6 weeks ago and seemed to be doing well at first. Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that he has been sneezing and coughing and gagging. This has got progressively worse over time. He is still able to feed, but today I could see he really wasn't feeling good at all. He sat on the table next to me with his eyes closed and appeared to be struggling to draw breath. Although he will feed from a bowl placed on the table next to me he is not sick enough to allow me to catch him. Poor little bird. Is there any thing we can do to help him ?

bigwig · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010, 06:58 AM

all these people looking and no one got any advice ??

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010, 10:26 AM

It sounds like it could be trichomoniasis. As this is a very nasty and highly contagious disease it's important that you stop ALL feeding immediately and disinfect al of your food/water equipment. Hold off from feeding for at least 2 weeks.

This disease has killed a huge chunk of the British Greenfinch population, so it's not trivial - it is mostly spread through bird tables.

Info here: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GBH...eet_180707.pdf

and here: Greenfinches decline

animartco · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010, 12:01 PM

Hi Bigwig. In view of what RKB said I suggest you try to catch the bird and take him inoors to care for, or to a local wildlife centre. It is much better to have him out of the way so he doesn't contaminate the others. If he is too sick to feed then get someone to dispatch him.

bigwig · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010, 09:03 PM

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I read the link and the symptoms described don't seem to fit what I am seeing. The bird is sneezing and coughing/gagging as if he has something stuck in his throat or has a sore throat. Today he seemed slightly better, although I'm not sure if it was the same bird ( they all look so much alike ), I just assumed it was because he was still sneezing and coughing. One of the other starlings flew down and landed on the bowl I was holding and I noticed that it has now started sneezing, too. Could it be a respiratory infection, do you think ? I really hope its not trichomoniasis. If it is would my rabbits and guinea pigs be at risk ??

I've been feeding insect suet pellets and suet rolls,as well as other food stuffs, could the suet get stuck in their gullets maybe and account for the gagging reflex ?

RKB · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010, 10:01 PM

Trich' is a parasite that lives in the throat and blocks it up, so gagging does sound suspicious. If you suspect it, stop feeding and clean your stuff just to be on the safe side.