Green Finch over-dose

[Steve JH]

Is it possible for Green Finches to over dose on Sun-flower seeds ?
I feed Sun-Flower seeds,Niger and Pea-Nuts to the birds that care to visit my back garden feeders,Just of late I have seen several "Spaced-out" Green Finches on the lawn,so much so that you can pick them up,then they seem to wake up,shake them selves and fly off, Only Green Finches though ?

Any Ideas ?

Regards H

[roseway]

More likely to be due to fermenting fruit, I would have thought. I just hope they're not suffering from trichomonosis - do they look fluffed-up?

[~T~]

It does sound like trichomonosis. I had a few siskins like that last year.

[Steve JH]

Have just looked up Trichomonosis,,Spot on thats the problem,,

Thanks H

[rossy]

Originally Posted by Steve JH

Have just looked up Trichomonosis,,Spot on thats the problem,,

Thanks H

if thats the case take down your feeders straight away. disinfect them, and leave them down for a few weeks. rossy.

[Steve JH]

Hello All,need advise over the Trichomonosis problem I have in my garden, I have 3 Sunflower feeders 1 Niger and 1 Nut feeder,,,

Action to date, Have taken down the 3 Sunflower feeders,cleaned them sprayed them with dettol, Have not put them back up. Have cleaned out and drained the water bowls/feeders sprayed them with dettol,have not replaced the water.

Do I need to do the same with the Niger and Nut feeders ? The Green Finch,cant or do not use these feeders ? At present only the Green Finch are affected.

Also I have dishes under the Sunflower feeders to stop wast and droppings onto the garden,,But the pigeons and doves feed from these,and as the are carriers for Trichomonosis should these be removed when the feeders are put back up to disscorage the use by these two types ?

[Deb London]

Personally, if this happened to me, I would stop all feeding and watering. Natural food is in abundance right now and there must be rainwater around, I would have thought.

I have heard Greenfinches coming back into my area, although not feeding from the feeders yet. I'm by no means flush, but for every feeder I have bought, I have bought two, and a separate "shepherd's crook" pole. The filled feeder are repositioned regularly by sticking the pole into different places in the borders. When empty, it's straight into a bucket of Dettol for 20 min or so, then washed. While they dry, they can feed from the other feeder.

I will not be using the bird tables, placing food in a safe place on the ground, regularly moving the position.

The birds will have to make do with my ponds for water, where any flagellate protozoa will have a tough time competing with the other microorganisms.

Under the one permanent feeder that I have, I shovel wood-based cat litter and change it regularly. The areas where birds perch are cleaned with kitchen bleach spray.

If I do see trich I will stop feeding altogether if I think I won't be able to control it.

I guess the birds might go down the road to feed on cheap peanuts from a dirty feeder that's always in the same position. But there isn't a lot I can do if I can't see where they are heading.

[rossy]

Originally Posted by Steve JH

Hello All,need advise over the Trichomonosis problem I have in my garden, I have 3 Sunflower feeders 1 Niger and 1 Nut feeder,,,

Action to date, Have taken down the 3 Sunflower feeders,cleaned them sprayed them with dettol, Have not put them back up. Have cleaned out and drained the water bowls/feeders sprayed them with dettol,have not replaced the water.

Do I need to do the same with the Niger and Nut feeders ? The Green Finch,cant or do not use these feeders ? At present only the Green Finch are affected.

Also I have dishes under the Sunflower feeders to stop wast and droppings onto the garden,,But the pigeons and doves feed from these,and as the are carriers for Trichomonosis should these be removed when the feeders are put back up to disscorage the use by these two types ?

hello steve, as i put before ,its better if you dont put your feeders back up, because if any birds that are infected , come to feed ,they will reinfect, so the problem will carry on, and more birds will suffer,rossy.

[nightshade]

I have had one Greenfinch here with it, feathers all puffed up very slow reactions. Everthing cleaned out, feeders, water, all disinfected and stowed as Deb London says there is plenty of food about at the moment.

[forasher]

There is an article from RSPB about Trichomonosis.
The RSPB: Advice: Trichomonosis in finches and other garden birds