Very Poorly Lovebird...

[Popcorn<3]

One of my first ever Lovebirds is very ill at the moment, I didn't think he would survive through the night. Luckily he did, but it doesn't look promising. He is very shaky, but he's on a heat pad, and on antibiotics, I don't know how much longer to go on though, because he's been to the vets twice, and got much better, then went down hill, then got better, and now is down hill again. I don't think he is suffering though, or i'd put him down.

He is four years old, and has a partner, so I don't know how she'd cope if he wasn't there. He's currently in a separate cage to her and she's doing okay, but they are right near each other.

I had plans to put them in an aviary as some of you will know from my previous posts, but I don't think even if he got better I would put him in one as he's really not very strong, and it wouldn't be fair on him. I'll probably still get an aviary for the others in the summer next year, would the female bond with another Lovebird, or do they not do that? I'll probably get a few more Lovebirds and put them all in the aviary together next year, when I have everything sorted out.

I hope Romeo is okay He's the sweetest, tamest Lovebird I have, and I would miss him so much if he went. Fingers crossed : )

 

[birdlady]

Awe I am so sorry...what is he being treated for?

 

[Popcorn<3]

Well, we took him to a specialist who said there is a range of things that it could be but its most likely to be a lung infection, that sits in most birds bodies and comes out when they get stressed or something happens, we think it may have been that the female was stressing him out as she's very dominant, and was possibly plucking his feathers. The vet put him on antibiotics and gave him vitamin supplements and an injection to make him feel better, but he said it was 50/50 then, so i hate to think what it is now.

 

[birdlady]

Oh, poor baby...try to stay positive...sounds like you are doing all you can, keeping him warm, separate from the other. I hope he bounces back and surprises you.

 

[Danita]

They can recover from this, just make sure you are keeping him warm.

 

[HeatherM74]

(((hugs))) sending healing thoughts and prayers out to little Romeo.

 

[Marlene]

Sending good thoughts your way.

 

[suncoast]

I'm sorry about your faby. What antibotic is he on? Does he sound weezy when you put him up to your ear? Are you feeding him formula?

Ginger

 

[Popcorn<3]

He's not wheezy at the moment, i'm sitting with him right now, and he just surprised me by getting of the towel at the bottom of the cage to his perch for food and water. Which i'm very happy about. He had a small fall, but not far and he's eating. He's got vitamins too, called Abidec. No formula, it would take days to come online and i've never seen it be sold anywhere near where i live. I went to the pet shop in town and they have bred birds for a long time, and he had a heat mat under him, but they said a reptile lamp is more beneficial, so we are alternating between the lamp and the mat at the moment. And as he was on the floor before, we are putting him on the water bowl so he can drink once an hour, its amazing how he perked up after a little water. Thanks for the help

 

[AZReno]

Really sorry to hear this If you are not already feeding him sprouts, then you really should be, they are huge immune booster.
For the Love of Your Lovebirds….Sprout! Boozer's World
You can have sprouted wheatberries to feed in 2 days and they are readily taken by lovebirds, not shied away from like other new foods.

In answer to your question, every lovebird is different. But on the whole they are usually happy to take a new mate.

 

[Thugluvgrl187]

I am so sorry prayers and good thoughts coming!.

 

[Popcorn<3]

I did try sprouts before, but they really didn't take to them, my Senegal has them and loves them, and I've tried lots of fruits with the Lovebirds but the only fruit they like is white grapes.

 

[Danita]

He's not wheezy at the moment, i'm sitting with him right now, and he just surprised me by getting of the towel at the bottom of the cage to his perch for food and water. Which i'm very happy about. He had a small fall, but not far and he's eating. He's got vitamins too, called Abidec. No formula, it would take days to come online and i've never seen it be sold anywhere near where i live. I went to the pet shop in town and they have bred birds for a long time, and he had a heat mat under him, but they said a reptile lamp is more beneficial, so we are alternating between the lamp and the mat at the moment. And as he was on the floor before, we are putting him on the water bowl so he can drink once an hour, its amazing how he perked up after a little water. Thanks for the help

I am not sure you should be using a reptile lamp, you need a ceramic bulb. I think the reptile lamps hurt the birds.

 

[Popcorn<3]

Hes perked up so much since I've had it on though, its a daylight lamp so he can get vitamin D from it too. I think it should be okay because this is what the lady a my local pet shop uses when her birds get sick and she's bred birds for many years, not just ones of those huge chain pet stores that tell you things just to get you to pay more. Thank you though, I'll see how he goes. I was also wondering whether I should leave the lamp on overnight, I wouldn't normally, but he's doing so well and I don't want him getting cold. He's doing much better with the lamp than he was with the heat mat. Is it worth a try?

By the way, he's moving around much more again now, he has been down to the floor to warm up, and then back to the food bowl again. He was cold when i picked him up earlier, so i think its doing him some good. Thanks everyone.

 

[Anne & Gang]

healing energies coming his way

 

[MBS]

I really hope he will pull through and become healthy again. I have a pf lovie and he is very sweet too.

 

[atvchick95]

you need to get a heat lamp intended for birds not reptiles, its 2 different strengths, the reptile lamp can/has/will harm a bird

and my lovebird was bonded to his mate, now he has a new one he bonded to right off the bat - it took her a little bit to bond to him but he's loved her since day 1

 

[Popcorn<3]

Thanks but its night now, and Sunday tomorrow, so this will have to do, he can't get any worse, and I think now its just a matter of making him comfortable, which he is. Besides, he's a tropical bird, and the lamp is simply sunlight, I don't think its going to harm him.

 

[birdlady]

Found this thread on lighting...so you can read and decide.
http://forums.avianavenue.com/safet...avian-sun-light-right-above-my-bird-cage.html
So glad your baby is perking up some.

 

[Popcorn<3]

Thanks, but he likes it, he could get out the light if he wanted too, and it can't hurt his eyes because they are closed Or should i grab him some sunnies? I'm just trying to make him as happy as possible. He's sleeping right now.