[alisonwo]

Got four new girls two weeks ago three OK but the cuckoo maran not happy, she sits hunched up most of the time although eating and drinking OK otherwise, occasionally stretching neck and gaping, sometimes coughing or sneezing its hard to tell which it is.  The girls are all about 18 weeks old now.  They have clean water free fed on pellets and probably too many treats, shed cleaned every day, not laying yet.  Have picked her up and stroked her chest no apparent blockage, certainly lively enough when I go out, but looking at her now she is hunched up and unhappy on her own, the other 3 are keeping away from her.  I wondered if it could be gapeworm have started them all on flubenvet this morning.  Any other ideas??  thanks alison

[alisonwo]

I got in touch with the supplier who says it could be a respiratory infection due to stress (caused by the move).  Never thought of that one so am trying some cider vinegar in the water.  Anything else I can do?? thanks alison

[hillfooter]

You should isolate this bird as if she hasn't exposed the others she soon will.  Check her breathing is it rattlely or is there a discharge from her nose.  Although gapeworm is possible I doubt it and I'd agree this is almost certainly a respiratory infection which was laying dormant until induced by stress.  However it's no less serious for that and ACV won't solve a case of mycoplasmosis  (also called mycoplasma or MG which is the likely problem).  ACV is a bit of a panacea and is mostly useless to treat a sick bird with.  It's only positive benefit is when used to encourage healthy birds to drink.  If it's an infection this will only respond to an antibiotic which you can only get from seeing a vet.  If it is MG which was dormant it almost certainly means she's a carrier and even if the a/bs cure the symptoms it's likely to recur with stress such as a moult or even the advent of laying.  You should isolate her asap and see a vet unless the symptoms clear up in the next couple of days or have this bird culled if she deteriorates.

Sorry to not be so sanguine as to suggest ACV will be effective.
HF