Sick chaffinch? (1 Viewer)

[helenol]

Jut noticed this bird in the garden. Couldn't get a decent shot, as it's going dark, etc etc. (excuses)

Is it a sick female chaffinch? It is quite "fluffed up". Seemed to fly off ok.

 

[Fuchsia]

She does look a bit fed up h,
Was it cold?

Jen

 

[Nina P]

Just looks cold, hopefully, as this is the time of year fowl pest strikes, and it is carried by wild birds, so keep an eye out for others, and if you can put out a mineral block, like poeple put in bird cages, it helps the wild birds fend off most illnesses quickly, and keeps their feathers in fine fettle. I have four of these blocks out and all are in use when the birds feel the need to improve their feathers.
Hopefully it is just a chilly wind that is the cause, but do try the mineral blocks, they may not set about them very quickly unless the birds are feeling unwell.

 

[helenol]

Thanks Nina, I will no doubt be purchasing some mineral blocks sooner rather than later.

F - That's just it, it wasn't cold at all today, in fact it was rather pleasant. That's what made me notice her - fluffed up etc. on such a warmish day.

 

[alcedo.atthis]

Sick Chaffie'

Is it a sick female chaffinch? It is quite "fluffed up". Seemed to fly off ok.

Hi Helen, looking closely at the piccie, it looks like it is suffering from an attack of the bacterium, E.coli O86. If it is, there's no cure. Sorry.

Regards


Malky @ Westhill

 

[helenol]

If it is, there's no cure. Sorry.

Is it likely to affect a large number?

 

[alcedo.atthis]

Is it likely to affect a large number?

There are a lot of factors influencing the spread. If you have a read of the post "Deaths in Finches and Sparrows 5 (Jan 2004) that will give you an idea. It's in the "News Views and Reporting Points" forum.
The distended crop kind of gives the idea that it is E.coli O86.


Regards

Malky @ Westhill

 

[SimonG]

That's exactly how my poorly Dunnock looked a few weeks ago, never saw him/her again. :-(

Luckily I haven't noticed any other birds like it since, particularly the two remaining Dunnocks.

Simon

 

[bristolbirder]

Is it a sick female chaffinch? It is quite "fluffed up". Seemed to fly off ok.[/QUOTE]

Looks like bad news to me Helen. I've seen 3 Greenfinches die in my garden in the last couple of months and they all looked fluffed up like this before succombing the next day.

I have been paying more attention than usual to cleaning up the whole feeding area and feeders in an attempt to limit the spread of the disease. One thing that has occurred to me is that I use feeding trays attached to the bottom of the seed feeders. Unfortunately this means that birds defacate onto any spilt seeds in the tray. I therefore wash these trays every time I top up the feeders but I can't help wondering if these seed trays are making the problem worse.

Steve

 

[scampo]

Is it a sick female chaffinch? It is quite "fluffed up". Seemed to fly off ok.

Hi Helen, looking closely at the piccie, it looks like it is suffering from an attack of the bacterium, E.coli O86. If it is, there's no cure. Sorry.

Regards


Malky @ Westhill

Crikey, Malcolm - I wish my doctor was as able at diagnosis as that! I did once read that many sick birds are suffering from parasitic infections. I think they don't last long as predators will soon have them. I rarely see sick songbirds, much more often sad and lonely looking gulls at the side of reservoirs (and even then not many).

 

[helenol]

Thanks for the info everyone. Haven't seen it since I took the pic the other day. Probably became Mrs Sparrowhawks lunch.