Why do my birds keep getting sick with the common cold or other minor infections?

First of all, birds do not have what humans call a “cold”. For birds, it can be a Chlamydial organism, a Mycoplasma organism, or bacterial infection (many types of bacteria can cause respiratory disease).

Wild finches get Chlamydia psittaci which clogs up their sinuses and upper respiratory tract, making it difficult if not impossible to eat. There has also been Mycoplasma infections which do much the same thing.

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I just found an abandoned wild baby bird in our yard and gave it to my pet bird to foster. They seem to be doing great. Is this ok?

If the pet bird is feeding the baby wild bird, then leave it be at this time since you are unlikely to reunite the wild bird with its mother. There are some viruses and bacteria that wild birds may carry that could infect your bird.

At this time, I would let things continue since it seems to be working. However, if the baby wild bird becomes much larger than your (I am assuming finch) then it could become too much for your bird to do. Watch your bird closely for signs of fatigue and weight loss.

Answered by Cathy Johnson-Delaney, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian Practice, Dipl. ABVP-Exotic Companion Mammals.

New Species! – Society Finches

My new sweet Societies 🙂

I am elated with this new forever pair I just got tonight through a private breeder. They are so very pretty, happy and just so sweet. And the male’s song is beautiful! I will have to think up some names for them soon.

As soon as I placed them in the warm and cozy bird room they fluffed their feathers, groomed each other lovingly and closed their eyes. I don’t think I could have asked for a better homecoming.

I placed some fresh boiled egg soft food as well as crushed eggshells in their cage and they ate the soft food up immediately. I’m sure they will still be working on the eggshells in the morning.

For the next few days of quarantine they will stay in their travel cage so there are no pretty flowers in their pictures as their usually would be.

Next week I am getting another Society pair as well as new pairs of zebra mutations. I can’t wait!