Rescued 3 sick canaries

[crimson]

I went into our 'pet store' to pick up supplies. this is where I found Puff, my sick budgie.

One of the employees came up to me and asked me if I would come into the back, to look at some sick canaries, and if I'd be willing to take them for a mere $25.00 each(I'll get to that in a minute)

they were in separate cages, the pale yellow one was the worst one.(I've named this one Buttercup.)
it has scaley face mites, and air sac mites very badly....probably 60% chance it will die.

the second one(I'll name her Sugar) has air sac mites, or feather mites. If it's feather mites, it would explain why she is so itchy at the back of her neck.
I had spoken to the manager about that one 3 weeks ago, obviously did nothing to help her.

the third one who I'll call 'Tiny" is very small, but very pretty. She seems to be the best one out of the three, but she is lacking from nutritional deficiencies, as the tip of her beak is bent down a bit, and possibly has air sac mites as well.

When I treated poor Buttercup(the 1st bird) with Ivermectin, I placed her back into the cage, and she laid on her side gasping for air....that's how bad she is.
it took her about 2 minutes to get herself upright, and went over to her dish to eat.
I've got a heat lamp on her, perches are low to the ground,3/4 covered up and has been treated with everything I have here.

I took all three home for THEM and them only.
I only paid for 2 of them and not Buttercup.

I'm pretty sure I can get 2 of them better, but really not sure at this point for Buttercup....she's so far gone, but is still perching, and her poop is fine...in fact all the birds poop is good, and their feet are not scaley.

luckily I had 3 spare cages!!

I also came home with the strangest most beautiful lovebird today. It's a possible hybrid, something....and I will post the pictures and story in the lovebird section....please also read there, I desperately need help with the mutation!!

Butter cup is pale yellow
Sugar, is all white, with a bit of yellow and black
Tiny is all white with a hint of yellow & black, with the hooked beak

they are all very pretty birds, and deserve to live, NOT SUFFER!!!

IMG_4592_zps7f6f8f5f.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

IMG_4600_zps534397f3.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

IMG_4598_zps68f46d39.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

 

[BillsBirds]

You must have the same disease that I do! I cannot pass up any bird, either. Ivermectin is what I'd use. Scaly face is bad enough, but, air sac mites added to the mix will really make your job that much harder. Good luck! BTW, I responded to your Lovebird photos with jealousy & envy. What a beautiful bird! I want one!

 

[crimson]

You must have the same disease that I do! I cannot pass up any bird, either. Ivermectin is what I'd use. Scaly face is bad enough, but, air sac mites added to the mix will really make your job that much harder. Good luck! BTW, I responded to your Lovebird photos with jealousy & envy. What a beautiful bird! I want one!

thanks, Bill. I just cannot turn my back on a sick bird that I think I can help.
I can now see how rescuing is addictive.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I got my first canary, Leonardo, that way! I saw this obviously ill little red factor canary who needed help and wasn't getting it. I hope your canaries (all three of them!) get better.
I am going to go check the lovebird section now...........

 

[Betrisher]

Bless you, Beth! I hope the three little darlings do well and survive for you. How hateful to think of a pet shop that would allow three little lives to be so poorly as if they were disposable! Get well, babies!

 

[MikeyTN]

Yes soon enough you'll be full with rescues....I know the feeling.....but its a wonderful thing your doing though!!!!! I hope they'll get better soon like Puff did.

 

[noblemacaw]

You are a very wonderful person for taking in those Canaries. I hope all of them make it and get well for you! Lupe has always wanted a Canary but they are very expensive here. Over 100 dollars! I am sure if I looked hard enough I could find one for a better price but for now a Canary is not in the cards.

I want to learn the different species with the different songs. I want to be able to have the Canary out with all the parrots as it kills me to have to have Lupe's English budgies segregated behind a closed door in the spare bedroom. This is done for two reasons...my horrible asthma. I cannot go into that room without wheezing even though Lupe keeps them very clean. Second they spend a year downstairs with their cage right next to Mihijo's. Many years ago my Eclectus Joaquin died from cancer and the Borna virus and in Mihijo's necropsy it showed up in him so you can understand why now I have to keep the budgies separate from Valentino and Julio. Totally blows.

I am going to wait a while before we add the Canary. This will give me time to research the different species of them and their songs. I hope your rescues all survive and get healthy!!

 

[crimson]

Trish-I sure hope they make it too, especially Buttercup. she is suffering so with breathing, but is still perching. I know the Ivermectin is working because they tend to rub their beaks more on the perches, and they click louder....it's such a gross sound!
there really is nothing more I can do for Buttercup but wait, just like I did with Puff.
I check on Buttercup about every 30 minutes, and she's either eating, or perching.

Rebecca- If you lived near me I would give you one. I just love them, especially the males which sing.
I have a green american singer-Tango, and by far they are the best singers out of all the canaries. He's also the dad of all the chicks that I breed. Believe it or not, I bought Tango and Mango (the mom) from the same very pet store 3 years ago.....but their standards were better then, and I've never ever had a problem with them.
canaries in a pet store are approximately $70-150.
I sell mine for $25-50 depending on their colour, male or female.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Wow, you sell your canaries for a great price!! My little Pepito (i still feel so sad about losing him) was about $150 back in 2006 and I don't even know who bred him, where, his exact age, etc.
If i lived locally, i would get a canary from you if i were getting another one.

 

[crimson]

Wow, you sell your canaries for a great price!! My little Pepito (i still feel so sad about losing him) was about $150 back in 2006 and I don't even know who bred him, where, his exact age, etc.
If i lived locally, i would get a canary from you if i were getting another one.

yes back then the prices were much higher, now the market has been saturated so much the prices have dropped dramatically, except in the stores of course

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh wow, Beth!!! How are the wee ones this morning? I'll have my fingers and toes crossed that they all make it for you.

You sure have a heart of gold, NO doubt about that. :smile015:

 

[crimson]

Oh wow, Beth!!! How are the wee ones this morning? I'll have my fingers and toes crossed that they all make it for you.

You sure have a heart of gold, NO doubt about that. :smile015:

It's almost 8 am and I haven't checked on them yet. it's cloudy & rainy, so I think they need some extra zzzz's.

I sure hope Buttercup is still standing, gosh she is NOT good.
Even if the Ivermectin kills the active air sac mites, when they die they still remain in the trachea, and clog their air ways, and they end up suffocating. It really is an no win situation when it's gone too far.
I do have my slippery Elm here which helps, but it can clog them up as well, so extra caution has to be given when administering it.....stress!!!!

 

[crimson]

I do believe Buttercup is a wee bit better!, I went in with food and fresh water, and the first thing I looked at was Buttercups cage....half expecting her to be on the bottom of the cage.
she was perched by the door. I looked at her seed cup and it was totally empty.

she appears to have a bit more energy than yesterday, and she had a REALLY good drink of water.....7 sips of water. I saw her eat yesterday but not drink....I guess today she was thirsty, lol.

Tiny is doing well, and Sugar sounds crackly and crunchy when she breaths.

the difference between Buttercup and Sugar is Buttercup air ways are still very tight, where Sugars are very loose(which is a good sign)
I gave them egg food, Kelp,F-Vite,spirolina(vit A) and herb salad along with their seed.
guess what they all dug into first....the egg food!!

I also noticed that Sugar is not scratching like she was yesterday(she's the one with no feathers around her neck)

I'm going to try and get some video of the birds today so you can see and here what air sac mites sound like.

 

[Mayden]

Thanks for the update. Good luck with them.

Is there not a chance you can report the store to animal control? They're not providing the birds with proper care if they're letting them suffer with mites and whatnot.

 

[crimson]

After I came home from grocery shopping I checked on the canaries. I bent down to look at Buttercup and she gave me this cry for help, gosh I started crying. there is nothing else I can do for her, she sounds so raspy.

 

[Echo]

After I came home from grocery shopping I checked on the canaries. I bent down to look at Buttercup and she gave me this cry for help, gosh I started crying. there is nothing else I can do for her, she sounds so raspy.

Oh noooo

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm sorry......

 

[crimson]

I hate it when it gets to me, but she is still perching, and has energy.....as of tonight still hanging in there....we'll see what happens tomorrow.

 

[Kalidasa]

I hope she makes it. It makes me a little angry they had the gall to charge you to save these birds's lives, but done is done and at least now they have a fighting chance. This is why I won't even look at anymore birds in those places. It's too sad.

 

[ann]

you're doing a wonderful thing, they could not be in better hands. hang in there (canaries too)!