VERY chubby Great Tit

[jaelen]

We're calling him Ollie, (after Oliver Hardy ) and he's been happily stuffing himself silly all day today. I just thought I'd share the photos I've been able to get of him, (considering his shape he can still flit about pretty quickly- although it's amazing he can even get off the ground. )

[Shrike]

who ate all the pies i mean nuts lol

[Littlesparrow]

I don't think he will feel the cold with that extra padding.

[galanthus]

Trichomonosis could be an issue here possibly. I had one like it a long time ago. Typical symtoms include :-

In addition to showing signs of general illness such as lethargy and fluffed-up plumage, affected birds may drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty swallowing or show laboured breathing. Sometimes it is possible to see swelling in the throat area of an infected bird, and it may stretch its neck in discomfort.

The infection is spread as birds feed one another during the breeding season, and through food and drinking water contaminated with regurgitated saliva. Sick birds, unable to swallow, will spit out food particles, which will then carry the infection. Saliva from a sick bird can also contaminate bird baths.

The higher the concentration of birds at a feeding station, the greater the chance of another bird picking up the infected food particle and exposing itself to the infection.

If a number of birds show symptoms of trichomonosis, it is recommended to stop putting out food and leave bird baths dry until you no longer find sick or dead birds. This will help to disperse the feeding birds and with it reduce the contact between sick and healthy individuals, thus slowing down or halting the outbreak.

...... just worth thinking about in case........

[jaelen]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Trichomonosis could be an issue here possibly. I had one like it a long time ago.
...... just worth thinking about in case........

I know... that occurred to me as well, when I first saw him. That was one reason I started taking photos, was to see if I could see the regurgitated food around his beak, or any other signs of distress.

He does seem to be fine, though- just.... fat. He was the first on the feeder this morning- had a drink of water, and then a bit of everything. He doesn't have any trouble swallowing- and he flies around perfectly ok, he's just as energetic as the others.

I've watched for him throughout the day, and he's back and forth on the all the feeders- except for the squirrel-proof mealworm feeder, because he can't fit through the bars! (He did try, and wisely decided best not.)

I intend to keep an eye on him, anyway- just to be on the safe side. Plus, I am trying to be extra cautious with the feeders at the moment, because of the increased usage what with the snow and cold weather. I'm washing the water dishes every night, (they're plastic, so I'm having to bring them in so they don't crack) and only filling up small quantities of nuts, etc., so the food doesn't get damp and spoil and I can clean them more frequently.

I'm not really tidy or houseproud or anything, ('Dirt builds immunity!' so I tell the BF) just a natural paranoid. I can see the headlines now:

"Breakout of Deadly Bird Pandemic Traced to Dirty Feeders in Garden in North London- Entire British Finch and Tit Populations Wiped Out !"

Things like that keep me awake nights.

[roseway]

I'm not at all sure that he's fat - it looks to me just like puffed-up feathers because it's so cold.

[Madmills]

I understood the Tric. disease to be only amongst the finch family, i didn't realise it affected tits too, that's bad.

[galanthus]

LOL Jaelen


Madmills, I think it can be found outside the finch family but not certain. It was just a precautionary post, could be just v cold

[toadpole]

sadly i see exactly the same condition in the blue tits that visit my garden each year (hopefully yours IS just a little porker )at first i thought they were just fluffing up their feathers in the cold ...but as time goes on they act very differently ...not aware of danger.... wiping their beaks on trees and fencing ...trying to eat and then sadly giving up ....not being able to fly very well i can spot one a mile off now and i refer to them as ''Sicklies'' it really makes me very sad .....but they dont seem to last very long .in this condition ......Marion