Zebra finches - honest advice to owners. Diseases and their treatment

On a distant sunny land there is a beautiful city of Tuapse. Here, on one of the central streets, there is a certain pet store where this story began. ...The first delight of the first day of vacation. You need to say hello to the sea, to your native places, feel the curly pavement tiles under your feet, listen to the cooing of turtle doves and the chirping of cicadas, breathe in the fragrant southern air to your heart’s content, and, of course, stick your nose in everywhere. Apparently, that’s why the devil brought me to the pet store!

Among the rustling, crawling, singing and floating inhabitants of the store, a lonely bird sat in a cage. She looked at me. I'm on her. She's at me again. Elegant, smaller than a sparrow, fragile carrot-orange legs, a chiseled beak, cute eyes smaller than a pinhead, but the main thing is the cheerful tirelessness with which the little thing non-stop jumped on the perch and “talked” about something and broke my heart. I looked at the bird again. The bird is on me... And that’s it, I’m gone, gone completely and irrevocably! Cupid's arrow strikes not only lovers: sometimes the insidious Cupid sneaks up on us unnoticed in such situations! True, I had to go to another resort town to buy it: in the Tuapse store there was only one female, and it was better to keep the finch (them, the insidious breakers of my heart!) in pairs, but that’s not the point now.


To find out more about future pets, I rushed to storm bookstores. On the entire coast, alas, there was only one publication on finches, a book by A.I. Rakhmanov, a famous zoologist, author of many books on ornamental animals. I have unlimited respect for Alexander Ivanovich Rakhmanov and in no way want to criticize him. In simple, accessible language, in an interesting presentation, the author provides a lot of valuable information general order: who are the birds, what is their anatomy, what family does the desired creature belong to, where does it live in wildlife, what kind of life he leads, how he nests, etc. These chapters are simply devouring! But when it comes to practical issues, advice on “how to build a wooden cage with your own hands” and “in what proportions to mix grain for feeding” in our century, with our rich selection of pet supplies, is, to put it mildly, surprising...

This long preamble was written so that you understand the situation: I was left completely alone. In the middle of the sultry south, thousands of kilometers from home, with Rakhmanov in his purse, finches in his hands and knowledge almost equal to zero. Clutching the cage with two charming creatures to my heart, glowing with happiness, like Ilyich’s light bulb, I drove home. Oh, if only people could know in advance WHAT awaits them next!.. In general, I don’t like flirting with readers, lying to them, writing about the merits and hiding the truth about the shortcomings of an animal. Therefore, let me tell you our story and give novice zebra finches lovers some, albeit unexpected, but honest advice.

We took a young couple, a boy and a girl, about 3-4 months old or a little older - unfortunately, the pet store couldn’t tell us the exact date of birth. The female was gorgeous from the very beginning, and the boy was just starting to look prettier: cheeks began to stand out on his head, which would soon become bright, red-brown, and after molting, a striped “vest” formed on his chest, because it’s not for nothing that these finches are called zebra finches. And here you are honest advice number one: read books and the Internet, listen to the advice of experienced owners, but don’t believe everything they write or say. The authors constantly reward female finches with offensive epithets: “nondescript”, “ugly”, “dimly colored”, etc. Our girl was and remains a real beauty! Bright, contrasting, unusual - a chiseled, graceful light gray head with expressive black stripes running down from the eyes, dark wings and back, a light, golden, well-fed belly, a magnificent black-white-spotted “decoration” on the tail and bright-pink paws and beak. Of course, she will never have colored cheeks, a striped chest and beautiful side spots under her wings, but she is in no way inferior to the dapper male.

There are other, more serious examples, when even experienced owners do not see eye to eye, and the truth turns out to be some kind of “arithmetic mean.” In the same pet store, they assured me that zebrafish are friendly and flocking birds, that they are super-duper social animals, so the best option for purchasing is one female for two males, or vice versa, two females for one male. (A.I. Rakhmanov often talks about dozens of birds different types in a huge cage or enclosure.) I wanted to have just a couple, and I don’t regret it at all.

Walking around the city with a cage waiting for my train, I heard a heartbreaking story on exactly this topic. A nice family of vacationers from Magadan approached us - a young man with his wife, child and his elderly mother (“Oh, how pretty!” “We had exactly the same ones!”). Among other things, they told how they mistakenly first bought not a pair, but two female finches, who grew up and stopped getting along with each other. I had to take the male too. Having formed a pair with one of the females, the male and his chosen one pecked the lonely female to death... Therefore, I will say again: do not believe everyone! Choose the opinion of the majority, do not neglect authoritative sources, and, of course, listen to the voice of your own heart.

Note:
Keeping finches in an aviary, when a whole flock lives in a large aviary or a huge cage, on the street or at home, is advisable only in two cases:
1) if you are interested in genetics and want to engage in breeding work, breed finches of various breeds and colors, crossing different males and females with each other;
2) if you like the role of a large breeder who breeds birds for sale. Well, and of course, if housing conditions allow! But for beginning finch lovers, one pair is enough.

The birds endured the one-and-a-half-hour commute on the train remarkably well. They pecked the food well, pooped regularly, and took to the drinking bowl as they should, but they did not eat the expensive tasty sticks that were hung from the ceiling of the cage. (By the way, they don’t eat them even now.)

At home, after delighted oohs, aahs and toasts to the health of the newfound pets, the evening turned into night, people and birds fell asleep, and at 4 o’clock in the morning I was woken up by a terrible creaking croak. At first it seemed to me that some local bird was showing off outside the window (and in the south birds scream a lot and often), but it soon became clear that it was our male who was screaming in a bad voice. Female zebra finches can neither scream nor sing: they chirp pleasantly and quietly, but monotonously. From the next bed, where my beloved was sleeping, a gloomy obscenity was heard: “I’m going to break this rooster’s neck!” This is how our favorites got humorous nicknames: Rooster and Hen.

The rooster was constantly acting out. Nothing helped: neither affection, nor threats, nor slippers flying towards the bedside table where the cage stands, nor even a rustling bag, which the birds were terribly afraid of: they soon realized that no one would throw them out into the street and make soup from them, That’s why the bag scare stopped working after a couple of times. Once on the beach we got into a conversation with a young couple: we are from St. Petersburg, we will be vacationing here until such and such a date, so we are bringing birds home... “So it’s your parrot that squeals throughout the entire village at night?” – the guys asked naively, and I realized: we need to do something urgently! First they will throw us off the train, and if they don’t, then in St. Petersburg our neighbors will certainly kill us. After suffering with the shameless loudmouth for a week, we went to the same resort town: to return the Rooster to the pet store, or exchange him for another.

After giving a lecture about our irresponsibility, scolding us and categorically declaring that live goods cannot be exchanged or returned, the saleswoman changed her anger to mercy and took the Rooster, exchanging it for a new one. Low bow to her!
Rooster two turned out to be older and more beautiful - already moulted, with bright cheeks and chest. We decided to sit for ten minutes on a bench in the neighboring yard to watch and listen to how this male screams, and found out: he sings very interestingly (and most importantly, quite quietly!), and with each trill his neck vibrates in a funny and cute way... Why did that happen? Later, much later, I remembered the seller’s words: “Each male has his own song”... Then a chapter from Rakhmanov came to mind, where he talks about finches in their natural habitat. While guarding the nesting site and attracting a female, the male zebra finch makes his own individual set of sounds: his own rhythm, his own overflow, his own volume, so that other birds clearly know that this territory is already occupied.

Afterwards, when I was leaving, I saw how the sales girl, who replaced the Rooster for us, was smoking on the porch of the pet store with some young man. “This is the third time they’ve brought him back!” - I heard a fragment of a conversation. It follows from this
Honest tip number two: When choosing a finch, take any female that you like, but take a closer look at the male. Choose your future pet and stand next to the cage for at least a few minutes - you will certainly hear those sounds that will accompany you throughout the bird’s life: the boy not only greets the girl, he also constantly “talks”, and in the morning he loudly greets the first ones sun rays, enjoying the day ahead.

When we bought the finch, the seller told us the following thing: “The teenage chicks are now beginning to molt. Be careful! I must warn you." Chicken had a rather large bald patch on her back. Later, bald patches were discovered on the neck, on the abdomen, and under the wings - it seemed that every day the unfortunate child was becoming more and more plucked and looked somehow unhealthy. So I have to give you honest tip number three: Molting is inevitable in birds. If you bought a cute bird, and a few days later you saw a shabby monster in a cage, do not rush to faint, sprinkle ashes on your head and rush to the veterinary clinic. Help your bird get through this difficult period, and in a few weeks you will forget it like a bad dream. Full cycle feather changes (from the beginning of molting to the moment when a perfectly smooth, “new”, fully feathered beauty appears before you) takes about 2-2.5 months for finches.

When molting, finches need to be given a vitamin mixture for feather growth and color improvement. If the apartment is not cold and there are no drafts, it is recommended that the birds place a bathing suit or an ordinary saucer with water in the cage 1-2 times a week. Amadins love water treatments, and after swimming, they begin to vigorously shake themselves off, jump, flap their wings and clean themselves. Such actions are very useful: the bird gets rid of loose fluff and dead pieces of skin by massaging itself with its beak, thereby stimulating the growth of new feathers.

If you live in southern latitudes or it is a hot summer, finches will benefit from good sunbathing. Most breeders recommend protecting birds from drafts and under no circumstances placing the cage in direct sunlight, but making exceptions to the rules is not only possible, but also necessary! Every morning, before going to the beach, I noted the time, took it outside and exposed the cage to the sun, but not for long - for 10-15 minutes; It can't be longer under any circumstances. Together with the sun's rays, the bird's body receives the most valuable vitamin D, which is very useful for pets, and especially during the molting period.

Note:
Attention! If your finches do not live together and you want to place a male and a female together for mating, do not do this under any circumstances if you notice even the slightest signs of molting in at least one of the birds. Mating games, building a nest, incubating the clutch and feeding the chicks require enormous effort from finches. Both parents feed the chicks - it is extremely difficult for one female or one male to cope with this! If a couple lives inseparably in the same cage, mating and fertilization during molting most likely will not occur. But it is strictly forbidden to provoke birds to reproduce!

Remove the nesting box or hanging nest from the cage, and after molting, allow the future parents to rest and recuperate for at least 1-2 months. A.I. Rakhmanov recommends (and other authors agree with him on this issue) that after the flight of one or two broods, also remove the nests and any materials suitable for “construction” in order to allow the birds to recover and moult. Constant laying and feeding of chicks exhausts the parents' bodies. Well-fed, well-groomed, caressed by their owners, zebras want to reproduce 24 hours a day and 365 days a year (in this matter they have absolutely no “brakes”!), and watching the young animals grow up is a great happiness. But the zebra finch is a living creature, and not a small “factory” producing its own kind!

Honest tip number four: I’ll tell you a few words about caring for finches in general.
Note:
In 2006, Zooprice published a book written by the famous ornithologist O.P. Smirnov. It is best to buy a zebra cage with a retractable bottom - this will make daily cleaning easier. Amadins emit virtually no odor; Bird cleaning takes about 3-5 minutes a day.

There is no special food for finches. Food for exotic birds is perfect for them (it says so on the bag, don’t confuse it!). Without exception, all sources say: “parrot” food is absolutely not suitable for finches! Food mixtures for canaries, which many owners give, are also not very good for finches, they can be used only as a last resort: for example, when the house has run out of “normal” food, and there is nothing suitable in the nearest pet store, so the birds will eat something until tomorrow what they are given.

Treats for birds must be chosen by trial and error (amadines include both gourmets and capricious ones!), plus the vitamin supplements that I have already mentioned (my pets eat the vitamin mixture with great pleasure). One of the healthiest delicacies that zebra finches like is chumiza branches with delicious grains. Another significant point: small birds have an extremely “fast” metabolism, so they eat a lot and often. Your zebrafish's feeder should always be full to the brim, especially if you leave home for a long time. When you go away for a weekend or holiday weekend, set out several full feeders. Left without food, birds can die!

In addition to food, zebra finches should be given a little cottage cheese and a boiled egg, but not more than 1-2 times a week. Residues of food should be removed so that they do not spoil, but the grain mixture and fresh water in the drinking bowl must be in the cage at all times. Birds will happily peck fresh fruits and herbs. As an additional source of calcium and to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, many breeders advise adding crushed eggshells to finches' food. Any bird needs to peck at gravel or grains of sand - this is due to the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract of birds. Some of the small pebbles remain in the bird’s stomach, helping to grind and grind the food. For this purpose, you need to buy gravel to fill the crop and improve digestion. River sand or small pebbles will not work; you must use purchased gravel.

The advice we've received from the literature (and from a pet store clerk) is to line the slide-out tray of the cage with a layer of gravel so that the birds can peck at it whenever they want. But I don’t support this idea: I don’t need the constant grinding of sand on my teeth and an even layer of sandy dust on the floor and cabinets - we mix gravel with food (and the finches really peck at it when they want!), and to make cleaning easier we line the bottom of the cage with regular toilet paper or napkins.

Since we’ve touched on the topic of cleanliness, I’ll honestly answer this question: do birds pig? They look like pigs! Usually there are a lot of husked (or simply accidentally thrown out of the feeder) grains lying around the cage, so it’s easier to put the cage with finches on a newspaper and shake off the debris from it once a day. Never let a finch fly around the room if you are an amateur fresh air and you have a window that is constantly open, or there are other predatory pets nearby (for example, a cat, dog, rat or ferret). In this case, it is easier to buy the birds a large, spacious cage - it will be calmer for everyone, and first of all for you.

Zebra finches love tasty food and bright sunlight. They hate drafts, noise and tobacco smoke, but it’s not just finches that don’t like this... As you can see, feeding and caring for zebra finches is extremely simple. It follows from this honest tip number five: If you have never kept birds and want to try, start with zebra finches! And, if a seller in a pet store or a breeder praises his “product” and assures you that zebra cats are unpretentious, easy to care for, practically do not get sick and live quite a long time - you can really believe this! Having experienced quite serious problems on my own skin, but at the same time having received a lot of pleasure and joy, I began to take a closer look at birds in pet stores and on the Internet. Zebra finches are far from the ultimate dream! For example, rice finches (pictures): huge, gorgeous, black and white, with a bright scarlet beak. Gould's finches are also beautiful, these birds shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow! But these finches are more capricious, difficult to care for and breed, so it’s better to start with the more common, inexpensive and unpretentious zebra finches, which are no less interesting and can give you a lot of happy days spent together.

The last, sixth honest advice for our readers it sounds like this: get as much pleasure as possible from communicating with your pets! And you will experience the greatest joy if you watch your pets for at least half an hour a day. Therefore, finally, we would like to tell you about the interesting habits and manners of these amazing birds. Zebra finches are talented onomatopoeists. Of course, this little bird won’t reproduce your cell phone ringtones or chatter humanly like a parrot to the delight of pranksters. And, of course, only males can make funny sounds, since females, as we already wrote, can only tweet.

Our finches grew up in the south. At first they lived in a pet store among other birds, and then they ended up in a village where I rented a room (and my friends and I are staying not in Tuapse itself, but in its suburbs, where there is no noise from cars and loud sounds). Arriving in St. Petersburg and finding himself in an unfamiliar environment, Rooster got comfortable and began to “concert” vigorously and a lot. He enjoys talking to blaring car alarms, crows chattering outside the window, a record player and a TV. .

I have several decorative rats living in the same room, and soon the finches began to squawk in response to the rats' fuss and squeaks. But the most interesting discovery awaited me when I turned on the music. It turned out that my zebras adore everything melodic, and it doesn’t matter at all what genre this or that composition belongs to, as long as it is calm, beautiful and non-aggressive. The ragged rhythms of rappers, the hoarse “thieves’” chanson or the creaking cacophonies of modern avant-garde composers do not bother the finches at all - it seems that these birds have impeccable artistic taste! .

Most of all they like the symphonies of Mozart, the orchestral suites of Handel, the rock ballads of the groups “Scorpions”, “Depeche Mode”, etc., Zemfira and Pugachev (for some reason they are “dragged” by female vocals!), and especially - New Age electronic music with sounds of nature and cries of birds and animals. Moreover, both sing along to the music: the male gives flowery roulades, and the female gently chirps to the beat of the music. As the bird grows, when it learns more and more new sounds, its song may also change - it will become richer, the range of sounds will increase, and new rhythms will appear. In my Rooster this has already become very noticeable.

We are still oh so far from mating - my finches are still just teenagers. But from the very first day, they began to actively be kind to each other: cleaning their partner’s feathers, constantly “talking to each other” and having fun jumping around the entire cage. My zebrafish’s favorite position is to sit on a perch in an embrace, snuggling closely together; They sleep in this position. The male is more active, constantly fluttering, singing and swinging with pleasure in a ring suspended from the ceiling, while the female is much lazier. Perhaps her calm disposition can be explained by the still ongoing molting, which takes a lot of energy from the bird. (By the way, about molting... How wonderful it is to admire a bird when new feathers grow in the places where the former bald patches were - this is an incomparable joy!) My Hen is much more voracious than the male, more often he flies to the feeder, however, unlike the Rooster , is still a little afraid of water.

If the pair is chosen correctly, finches never conflict, do not fight, or push each other away from the feeder. My favorites live very friendly, and watching their fun, games, calf tenderness, antics and jumps is very interesting - when watching them you get a lot of positive emotions! In one of the “in contact” groups dedicated to finches, I came across this vivid comparison: supposedly zebrafish prefer the company of their own kind to humans, they are often shy and distrustful, so a cage with finches is more like a land aquarium. .

To be honest, this is not entirely true: of course, it is impossible to kiss and cuddle a bird like a cat, but my pets really love affectionate stroking on the back and communication with all members of the household. Among the videos on the Internet, I found an absolutely stunning video: a tame male zebra finch calmly sits on a person’s hand, not even trying to fly away, and languidly, like a cat, closes his eyes when he is stroked. Such trust and affection can only be achieved when the chicks were bred in your home and have become accustomed to affection and human hands since childhood.

Finishing our story and summing up everything that has been said, I can tell the readers of Zooprice only one thing: do not be afraid of difficulties, feel free to get zebra finches! These funny feathered babies will give you many amazing discoveries and that unique joy that is difficult to describe in words - the joy of love, tenderness and contact with amazing world nature.

Protozoa cause serious illnesses in humans, domestic and commercial animals.

Pathogens are transmitted to humans through nutrition, through arthropod carriers, and sexually.

Protozoal infections

Amoebiasis
Babesiosis
Balantidiasis
Chagas disease
Coccidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Leishmaniasis
Giardiasis
Malaria
Sarcocystosis
Sleeping sickness
Toxoplasmosis
Trichomoniasis

Examples of protozoal infections in Gould's finches

Eimeriosis (coccidiosis)

Sources of invasion are sick and recovered chicks, as well as adult birds, which can be carriers of Eimeria.

Clinical picture

The manifestation of clinical signs usually coincides with the development of second generation schizonts. In acute cases, thirst and depression are observed. Sick chicks and birds sit with drooping wings, their feathers are ruffled, and their mucous membranes are pale. The stool becomes liquid and then mixed with large amounts of blood and mucus. The death of chicks usually occurs on the 6th - 7th day after infection or on the 2nd - 3rd day after the first clinical signs are identified.

In the subacute course, the chicks lose weight, paresis and paralysis of the legs and wings may be observed, and convulsions are noted. Changes in blood composition are accompanied by a decrease in the number of red blood cells and leukopenia.

Pathomorphology

The corpses are emaciated, the circumference of the cloaca and hind limbs are contaminated with feces, sometimes bloody. Eimeria causes catarrhal inflammation of various parts of the intestine. In the middle part of the thin section, grayish-white nodules are observed, located deep in the wall.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made comprehensively, taking into account epidemiological, clinical data and pathoanatomical changes. They are confirmed by laboratory tests, the detection of eimeria or their stages of development - schizonts and merozoites - in feces and intestinal contents (by the Darling, Fulleborn method). In differential diagnosis, histomoniasis, trichomoniasis and pullorosis are excluded.

Treatment and prevention

A significant number of drugs - coccidiostatics - have been proposed for the treatment of eimeriosis. However, it must be borne in mind that many coccidiostatics are addictive and after a while they become ineffective.

Depending on the effect on the endogenous stages of eimeria, drugs are divided into those that interfere with and those that do not interfere with the development of immunity. The former are used to prevent eimeriosis and are given continuously throughout the entire period of raising chicks. This group of drugs includes Avatek, Cigro, Cycostat, Madikox, Koktsisan 12% granulate, Monlar 10% granulate, Koktsistak, Aviax, Sakoks 120, Elan-cogran 100.

The second group of drugs does not interfere with the development of immunity. They are used, as a rule, for therapeutic purposes when the first clinical signs of eimeriosis appear. This is Baycox, Amprolium.

When using drugs, it is necessary to keep in mind that eimeria quickly develop mechanisms of resistance (addiction) to both ionophores and chemical coccidiostatics. Therefore, the use of eimeriostatics should be alternated. Currently, two main ways of replacing drugs have been developed. In rotational programs, one coccidiostat is used for several months, and after the ionophore antibiotic, it is advisable to carry out sanitation with a chemical coccidiostat. In shuttle programs, drugs are changed during one cycle of raising a generation of chicks, or during the breeding season.

Mastigophorosis histomoniasis (enterohepatitis, black head) of birds

Protozoal disease of chicks various types birds, including exotic birds, caused by protozoa of the family Trichomonadidae. It is characterized by purulent-necrotic inflammation of the blind processes of the large intestine and focal liver damage.

Histomoniasis is widespread. The causative agent is Histomonas melegridis, which belongs to the order Trichomonadida, genus Trichomonas. Its development consists of two phases - flagellar and amoeboid.

Young animals aged from 2 days to 2 - 3 months are affected. The disease usually occurs in mid or late summer. May hurt in autumn and winter adult bird, especially under poor conditions.

Clinical picture

The incubation period of the disease lasts from 7 to 30 days. It can occur acutely or chronically.

In acute cases, the chicks' appetite deteriorates. Sick birds - chicks and adults - are inactive, depressed, and gather in groups. After 2-4 days, general weakness is observed, the plumage loses its luster, and the wings droop. Diarrhea appears, feces have an unpleasant odor, light yellow, and then greenish and brown in color.

As the disease progresses, the bird becomes weaker and loses weight. Congestion develops, the scalp becomes dark blue (in chicks the color becomes almost black, hence the name black. Body temperature drops by 1-2°C until the end of the disease. There may be prolonged convulsions. Death occurs after 1-3 weeks. In adult birds, the disease is chronic. This manifests itself in general weakness and emaciation.

Pathomorphology

When examining a dead bird, an enlargement of the cecum is detected. The intestinal lumen is filled with a curdled mass. After its removal, ulcers open on the mucous membrane. Often there may be fibrinous peritonitis as a result of inflammation of the serous membrane of the intestines. The liver is enlarged in size, gray-brown nodules are visible on its surface. Some of them are located in the parenchyma, others are on the surface. When cut, a curdled mass is visible.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made taking into account the clinical signs of the disease, epidemiological data and the results of studies for the presence of histomonads. To find the causative agent of the disease, the contents of damaged caeca or scrapings from the mucous membrane are taken from a sick bird and viewed in a dark field microscope or examined by phase-contrast microscopy in a hanging drop preparation. Smears are prepared and stained according to Romanovsky, and they are also inoculated on an artificial nutrient medium.

Histomoniasis is differentiated from eimeriosis, trichomoniasis, tuberculosis, leukemia, and colibacillosis.

Treatment and prevention

When the disease appears, sick birds are prescribed metronidazole at a dose of 0.05% of the feed weight for 5-7 days, and then for prophylactic purposes at half the dose; nitazol (engyptin A, acinitrazole) - at a dose of 1% of the feed weight for no more than 5 days, and then continue to give 0.3%. You can also use furazolidone at a dose of 0.02 - 0.04% of the feed weight.

For chemoprophylaxis of histomoniasis, many researchers used enteroseptol (0.02 g/kg with feed), furazolidone (0.006 g per bird with feed). It is necessary to do timely deworming against heteracidosis and other invasive diseases.

Diseases of birds caused by prokaryotes

Borelliosis (spirochetosis, treponemosis) is a vector-borne disease of domestic and wild birds, characterized by fever, depression, anemia, drowsiness, nervous symptoms and high mortality. All domestic and wild birds, including exotic birds, get sick.

Borreliosis is widespread in many countries of the world with warm climates.

The causative agent is Borrelia galiinarum (Spirochaeta anserinum) belongs to the phylum Protophyta, order Spirochaetales.

Borrelia have a thread-like shape, twisting in the form of a spiral 3-30 microns long and 0.2-0.4 microns thick. The number of curls is 9-12. Borrelia can move forward, quickly screwing in like a corkscrew. They reproduce by transverse division. They grow well on avian embryos.

The main carrier of borreliosis is argasid mites, which create a natural focus of the disease. Infection occurs during an attack on a home or wild bird vector ticks or bedbugs. The pathogen can be transferred through tick vectors from one bird species to another.

Clinical picture

The incubation period lasts 2-7 days.

In acute cases, body temperature rises to 42-43°C. Appetite sharply worsens and thirst appears. Anemia and exhaustion quickly develop, the paws and mucous membranes become pale. The bird is weakening and moving with difficulty. Borelia reproducing in the blood can form balls, clogging blood vessels, which aggravates the course of the disease. Bird mortality can reach up to 30-90%. Sometimes the acute course of the disease resolves without death. The course of the disease drags on for 2-3 weeks. The bird gradually weakens, and paralysis and paresis of the limbs are often observed.

Pathomorphology

They note exhaustion, anemia of the mucous and serous membranes, massive hemorrhages on the surface internal organs, enlarged spleen, degeneration of parenchymal organs. The mucous membranes of the small and large intestines are hyperemic, with pinpoint hemorrhages. The heart muscle has the appearance of boiled meat with hemorrhages.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of epidemiological data, clinical signs and microscopic examination of smears prepared from blood, bone marrow and liver. Smears are stained according to Romanovsky, Buri (black ink) or Morozov.

Borreliosis is differentiated from plague and tick-borne toxicosis.

Treatment and prevention

A high effect is achieved by using a 1% solution of novarsenol intramuscularly at a dose of 0.02-0.05 g/kg, penicillin at a dose of 20 - 25 thousand IU, bicilin-6 at a dose of 50 thousand IU/kg intramuscularly once.

Finches (lat. Amadina) are a genus of birds of the weaver finch family, which includes two African species. There are many beautiful indoor birds in the world, and finches are one of them. Parrot Amadins come from the order Passeriformes, the bird's body length is about 10 - 11 centimeters; in color - varied, depending on the species; they are vocal and very active. Originated from the Philippines, then appeared in China and Japan, closer to the 18th century they became widespread in Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, as well as on the islands of the Malay Archipelago. After the 18th century, these parrots could be found in Europe. Wealthy people could keep them, and overseas merchants brought these birds.

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• Latin name: Emberiza
• Kingdom:
• Class:
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Finches
• Genus: Amadina
• Body length: 12-14 cm
• Weight: 8-12 g

There are thirty-eight species of finches in total, and more than three hundred subspecies. Moreover, their number is growing every year, as breeders do not stand still and continue to breed more and more new species of finches with unusual plumage colors that cannot be found in nature. The color scheme is varied, and the beauty is indescribable.

Japanese finch

Japanese finches are very rarely found in the wild - this species was bred by breeders. It appeared due to the crossing of the bronze manakin with the Chinese species of finches. It is called Japanese because it came to Europe from Japan. Japanese finches are the best mothers of all 38 species. They even hatch other people's eggs and treat the chicks as if they were their own.

Pearl Japanese Amadina

The Japanese Pearl Amadina appeared in 1982. And it lived only in Japan; exporting the exotic bird was very difficult and expensive. It is unusual in its color - silver-gray head, throat, wings and tail, and the chest, belly, back of the head and back are chocolate.

Male Japanese finches do not have conflicts and get along with any bird in the same cage, even with other species.

In general, these birds are calm and unpretentious, easy to keep. They are well suited for beginner lovers of feathered friends.

These birds live throughout the Australian continent and are absolutely not picky about conditions or cohabitants. Therefore, they can settle both near water and far from it, both on the streets and in parks. Males have orange cheeks and a bright red beak, while females have gray cheeks and an orange beak. The male is slightly larger than the female. This makes them very easy to distinguish from each other. Another special sexual difference is that males sing loudly and beautifully, while females are either silent or make short, incomprehensible sounds. Amadina is a wise woman. If she lives in a dry area, she will not lay eggs (this can continue for years).

Today, white finches can be found in nature in Australia, Africa, South Asia in forests and on open area. Although the bird is small, it is very active and cheerful. He fascinates many people with his appearance, but he has problems with his singing. They sing, but not melodiously. And males have a slightly better voice than females. If you think that White Finches are only white in color, then you are deeply mistaken. Their plumage can be brown and fawn, and the bright combination of colors includes several shades: black, red, green, blue, yellow and even purple. Like a rainbow.

Rice Amadins originate from the islands of Bali and Java. This name was deservedly given to them: on these islands most of the fields are sown with rice, and finches, in turn, cause great damage, devastating them. Sometimes these birds are called Javan sparrow. This type of finches is the largest - they grow up to 15 centimeters, their color is gray. It is very difficult to distinguish a female from a male; only an experienced person can do this. Among this species, the snow-white pancake is very popular; it is often confused with Amadina Bela. This breed was developed in Japan and China. It can also be fawn or isabella in color.

Most often it is found in Australia and settles closer to the water, and nests

only on trees in eucalyptus savanna. The bird got its name from its long and pointed tail, which lengthens it to 17 centimeters, of which 6–8 are the tail itself. The sharp-tailed finch is brownish-gray in color. Famous for his devotion to his partner.

Red-throated finch

They inhabit the southern and southwestern territories of Africa. They do not fly far from the water and nest in the forest zone. They grow up to 12-13 centimeters. The Red-throated Amadina, like the Red-headed Amadina, got its name thanks to the males - they have red plumage on the throat and head. The Red-throated themselves are brown. And Redheads are gray-brown.

Chestnut-breasted finch

They live in the northern and eastern parts of Australia, as well as in New Guinea. The habitat is arranged closer to the water. They live in large flocks. In size, it is the same as the Japanese one, only it has a more powerful beak and a shorter tail. The color on the chest is light brown or chestnut.

Gould's finch

Gould's Finches are native to Australia and got their name from a researcher who named these exotic birds after his wife. They are standard in size - 11 cm, but their color is truly fascinating: their bodies are green, yellow, purple, white and even blue, and their heads are red and black, sometimes yellow. Males are brighter in color and sing, but females are not.

Scaly-breasted finch

They have successfully settled in China and India, and can also be seen on the Philippine and Indonesian islands. They settle in flocks, choosing forest areas, sometimes settling near people. The color is gray-brown with a scaly pattern on the chest and wings, which is why it got its original name. They are also interesting because they build spherical nests on the tallest trees.

Among lovers of feathered friends, finches are in great demand. After all, if there was a “Miss Beauty” competition among indoor birds, then this type of exotic bird would definitely be in the top three. They not only fascinate with their beauty, but many of them also sing well, and besides this, they are easy to care for and maintain. The main thing is to invest your soul and love, because finches really feel this.

If you buy a zebra finch in an enclosure where there are two or more of them, we recommend taking two birds at once. After all, they become very attached to each other and then can suffer greatly. Therefore, immediately check with the seller about their preferences, so that later there is no “lamour-tuzhur”.

• A cage must be selected with a size of 300*200*250 mm, preferably with a lower pull-out tray. It's not some whim, it's just this small nuance will make cleaning much easier.
• The cage is cleaned regularly several times a week. There are cases when finches attack the owner’s hand, trying to bite it when he is cleaning up their territory. This is normal for the behavior of finches. Although the bird is small, it has character.
• The cage must be placed in the brightest room, because they are light-loving, and in winter it is advisable to place them near an artificial light source, otherwise zebra finches lethargic and inactive.
• Keep the cage away from drafts and from sudden temperature change, it should be constant and fluctuate around 18–20 degrees. Also keep away from noise and sharp sounds - this can lead to instant death.
• In your pets' house you need to place two perches, two drinking bowls, a feeder and a bath. This type of bird is ambitious and they enjoy water procedures.
• Nutrition should be balanced and rich in vitamins. They can live independently in their cage without the presence of their owners for about 5 days, as long as they have enough food and drink.

Care

Honestly, caring for finches does not take much time and does not take much effort, but if you are a lazy person, then finches are not for you. They love cleanliness and will not tolerate dirt either in their cages or around them.

• The cage must be cleaned regularly. All finches love spacious cages. Poultry farmers recommend choosing rectangular ones, because in square ones they feel uncomfortable, but in round ones they generally experience fear and even experience stress. And get a flat-top living space for your pets.
• Cover the bottom with dry sand about two centimeters, and do not forget to change it. The cage must be placed in a bright room, and keep in mind that the birds need to be in direct sunlight for at least three hours a day; the more they sunbathe, the better.
• Keep away from drafts - birds, like people, do not like them. But also remember about a balanced and fortified diet. You can read all this on forums where various topics related to finches are discussed. And most bird farmers note that these birds are the friendliest, most beautiful, and active. Among the shortcomings, a dispute has flared up - some write that their singing is annoying, others say the opposite.

Nutrition

Nutrition for finches plays a very important role: in freedom, birds live 3–5 years, and in captivity up to 10.

Mixtures:

• grain mixtures;
• millet (considered the healthiest);
• buckwheat;
• millet;
• corn chaff;
• wheat chaff;
• sunflower seeds.

Soft food(from vitamin deficiency and diseases from malnutrition):

• eggs;
• low-fat cottage cheese;
• boiled rice

Mineral feeding:

• sand;
• pebbles;
• shell rock;
• eggshell.

Water:

• filtered water;
• boiled water.

Forbidden:

• dill;

They eat grain mixtures, low-fat cottage cheese, chicken eggs and wheat bread. You can purchase dry, green, cereal food at a pet store. In addition to food, adult birds must be given calcium, fruits and greens, and chicks must be given cereals and eggs.

Vegetable diet

• zucchini- rich in mineral salts. There are large quantities of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium salts. Zucchini contains various vitamins - A, E, C, B1, B2, nicotinic acid. The most common organic acid in zucchini is malic acid. Zucchini is also rich in folic acid, which plays a role important role in the process of hematopoiesis.
  You can offer zucchini either cut into slices or as part of a mash, grated and mixed with other ingredients, for example, grated egg, carrots, cucumber. Also, zucchini can be grated, mixed only with grated breadcrumbs and served in a small bowl in this form.;
• Chinese cabbage- contains minerals and vitamins in the same quantities as the well-known cabbage cabbage. However, there is 2 times more vitamin C in Beijing cabbage than in regular cabbage and in head lettuce, as well as protein. Chinese cabbage also contains vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6, PP, E, P, K, U, 16 types of amino acids, glucose and organic acids. The juice of this cabbage is rich in vitamins such as B1, B2, B12, PP.
  Finches and astrildas very readily eat the leaves of Chinese cabbage. They can be secured in a vegetable holder or between the bars of a cage.;
• broccoli- has a high content of vitamins - A, C, E, K, as well as PP and group B; minerals - potassium, calcium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, chromium, manganese, iodine, copper, boron; carbohydrates and proteins; There is also carotene.
  Finches can be given broccoli, finely chopped into a mash, mixed with other ingredients, for example, grated egg and carrots.;
• carrot- finch is very beneficial for health due to its high content of vitamins - A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E, K, PP, mineral salts of potassium, iron, copper, iodine, phosphorus, enzymes, fructose and glucose, carotene .
  Carrots are perhaps the main vegetable that is often included in the diet of birds. Amadins can be given in grated form as part of mash (with grated egg, zucchini), or you can simply mix it with grated breadcrumbs.;
• sweet red pepper- contains vitamins A, C, B, B1, B2, B6, PP, P, E, K, folic acid, organic acids and mineral salts, as well as carbohydrates, starch, fiber and pectin.
  Sweet bell peppers can be given in small pieces, secured in a special holder for vegetables and fruits.;
• cucumbers- also contains vitamins (in small quantities) and microelements. Cucumber fruits are 95 percent water, but otherwise contain vitamins: A, B1, B2 PP, C, carotene, pectin, calcium, magnesium, iron, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, iodine and fiber.
  Cucumber can be given to finches by cutting them into slices and securing them in a special vegetable holder. Also, it can be included in mash by grating and mixing with other ingredients, for example, egg, carrots, zucchini.;
• beet- unique in its content of nutrients. It contains: protein, fat, sugar, fiber, organic acids, mineral salts, microelements (magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, sodium, chlorine, etc.); vitamins - C, B1, B2, P, PP and folic acid. Beets occupy one of the first places among vegetables in terms of iodine content.
  Finches and astrilds can grate beets, squeeze them thoroughly and mix with grated breadcrumbs.;
• pumpkin- contains carotene (provitamin A), vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, D, PP, E. It also contains a rather rare vitamin T, many acids, including nicotinic acid and salts of various microelements.
  Pumpkin can be given to finches either in slices, secured in a vegetable holder, or as part of mash, grated and mixed with other ingredients, for example, egg, zucchini.;
• squash- rich in vitamins such as PP, B1, B2, C. Also, this vegetable is rich in macro and microelements: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron.
  Amadins can be offered squash either cut into slices or as part of a mash, grated and mixed with other ingredients, for example, grated egg, carrots.;
• Brussels sprouts- contains vitamins: PP, beta-carotene, A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, as well as macro and microelements, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron.
  Brussels sprouts can be given to finches, finely chopped into a mash, mixed with other ingredients, for example, grated egg and carrots.

Reproduction

Finches are one of those birds that still bear offspring while living in cages.

So, the first thing you need to pay attention to when breeding finches at home is sufficient length daylight hours. The second is the presence of a normal cage and nesting house. If you put a nest in a cage, the birds’ reflex to reproduction will work, and the instinct to procreate will awaken. If you want to reproduce, go to the veterinary pharmacy for a nest, or better yet, two. Experienced poultry farmers recommend placing two nests at once.

Most finches are responsible parents, so they hatch the eggs in turns, although the female still sits on them longer.

This lasts twelve days. There are 3–6 eggs in a clutch; unfortunately, chicks do not always hatch from all the eggs. There are cases when a female or a male simply pecks at their eggs. Veterinarians claim that this is mineral and protein starvation. Therefore, their diet should be rich in vitamins and essential minerals.

Chicks

Chicks are sometimes born with a light fluff and after a couple of hours they ask to eat, opening their mouths wide. The first days only the mother feeds, then the father joins in too. After three days they are already squeaking a little, and on the fifth – seventh day the finches’ eyes will open.

At seven to nine days, zebra finches, like other species of finches, begin to fledge. The chicks leave their parental nest at the age of three to four weeks. If the chicks are full, their crops are swollen, and sometimes grains even appear; this appearance frightens many. There is nothing to be afraid of - this indicates that the parents are coping with their responsibilities. Before plumage, finches differ little from each other.

This disease is given a separate page due to the importance of the material.
Gould's finches affected by the tracheal mite also lose the feather cover on their heads; baldness, as a rule, begins from the back of the head, so tick infestation should be excluded by carrying out preventive treatment of balding birds with ivermectin-type drugs (see the article "Tracheal mite - prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Gould's finches")

Are there other diseases that are specific to Gould’s finches?

Yes - this is baldness of Gould's finches (alopecia)

In a number of other reasons for the occurrence of alopecia (baldness) in Gould's finches, the main one, as is considered among breeders of Gould's finches, is iodine deficiency.

Currently, the etiology of baldness of Gould's finches, both females and males, is no less seriously associated with the peculiarity of the nervous system of Gould's finches, with the fact that the bird kept in captivity is constantly exposed to stress.

Also among the reasons that can lead to the loss of feather cover in Gould’s finches is:

1. infection with a tracheal mite,

2.helminthic and protozoal infestations,

3. incorrectly composed diet

4.poor living conditions, in particular lack of daylight.

5. stress experienced

Consider the baldness of Gould's finches due to iodine deficiency. Many Australian bird species are susceptible to this problem.

Female Gouldian finches lose feather cover on their heads, most often during the process of raising chicks and at the end of the breeding season, up to complete baldness; it happens that the bird loses feather cover without taking part in breeding.

In America and Europe, special drinking iodine has been developed and used to treat and restore feathers on the head.Liquid Iodine (Drinkable Iodine) for Birds

Ingredients: Potassium Iodide
Atlantic Macrocystis Pyrifera Sea Kelp
Sodium Benzoate

(Photos show a female Gould finch BEFORE and AFTER treatment with drinking iodine. Treatment takes from 4 to 8 weeks)

Unfortunately, it is not produced in our country; purchases have to be made according to our own capabilities. .

The main ingredient is potassium iodide (Potassium Iodide), it is soluble in water and is used to treat birds, the drug also contains giant sea kelp (Atlantic macrocystis pyrifera sea kelp) and the preservative sodium benzoate.

The drug helps with the functioning of the thyroid gland and accelerates the formation of a new feather.

Directions for use:

Prophylactic dose: Add 2 drops of liquid iodine to 1 quart of clean drinking water. (1 US quart = 0.95 liters of water) Use daily.

Treatment dose: add 6 drops of liquid iodine to two ounces (1 US ounce = 29.5 ml) of drinking water - treatment course is two weeks. Use as the only source of drinking water.

Safely
for young and adult birds. Keep the medicine bottle closed before and after
use.

It is possible that in nature Gould finches have a lot of iodine in the food chain, plus their habitat, sea (ocean) air, saturated with iodine vapor. However, the diets of these birds in captivity are obviously low in iodine, which leads to catastrophic results in some individuals, such as malfunction of the thyroid gland and complete baldness.

Iodine deficiency can also lead to deterioration of plumage, difficulty molting, breathing problems and infertility problems.

How can we treat the baldness of Gould's finches caused by iodine deficiency in our domestic conditions?

So, take a regular alcohol solution of iodine and drop 3 drops into 250 ml of clean boiled or filtered water, the alcohol will evaporate, and the iodine we need so much will remain in the form of an iodine solution, which is poured into the bird’s drinking bowl and given for three days in a row, then a break for three days during which Clean drinking water is given and then the course is repeated three more times.

It is clear that inorganic iodine from an alcohol solution cannot in any way replace organic iodine contained in algae and a number of fruits and vegetables. But the recipe is given as an SOS help in critical cases when it is impossible to give specialized iodine preparations to the birds.

Seaweed is useful for the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency in Gould's finches. seaweed Laminaria.

You can grind it in a coffee grinder and give it in courses, but not constantly in a separate feeder; birds eat kelp with great appetite, especially female Gould finches.

Dry kelp is crushed to a fine powder (in simple terms - meal) and added to food (grain mixture or soft).

An ornithologist with a nickname on the Internet VK (Victoria Kozlova) recommends the following regimen for the use of kelp for the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency in Gould's finches:
During the period of molting and preparation for reproduction, 1 tablespoon without top on
a liter jar of grain feed, this feed is given to birds for days in a row
7-10. Then a break of 2-3 weeks and again for 7-10 days.

For prevention iodine deficiency - once a month and a half with soft food 1-2 times (not more often) a small pinch - 1/3 tsp. for 100 -150 g soft
feed (literally sprinkle a little powder on top of the feed).

Iodine is slowly absorbed by the body and if overdosed, the bird becomes lethargic, there may be loss of coordination due to weakness, short-term numbness of the paws, increased heart rate and inflammation/swelling of the mucous membranes.

Laminaria should not be constantly present in the diet of Gould's finches; the advice of "experts" found on specialized forums about constantly feeding kelp to Gould's finches is harmful and illiterate, as is inappropriate and enthusiasm for the fact that birds feed their chicks kelp. All this will have irreversible consequences, so listen to the advice and approach the feeding of iodine-containing bait to your birds wisely.
An excess of iodine is just as dangerous as a deficiency and leads to pathological changes in the reproductive system of the female Gould's finch. Possible birth of chicks with deformities, weak chicks and their death in early age etc.

Iodine tends to accumulate in the body and the consequences of an excess of this element in the bird’s body do not always appear immediately and clearly. During the breeding season of Gouldian finches, their diet should not contain any iodine-containing preparations, such as Nekton Bio (observation by E. Schmidt (breeder of Gouldian finches in Germany), she warned against giving this drug due to the pattern she identified of the death of chicks in parental pairs who received this drug during the breeding period, nor iodine-containing additives in the form of dry seaweed Nekton bio .... - the drug is very strong, it should only be used for birds during the molting period, but in no case during the breeding period. cannot be used. Dosage "Nekton Bio" - a measuring spoon located inside a jar of 250 grams of water.

The product is based on thallus kelp - available
forms of amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, alginates,
vitamins (A, C, D, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, E, K, PP), macro- and microelements (K,
Na, Ca, Mg, I, CL, S, Si etc.), bioactive natural
connections.

Also, during treatment, you can drink Gould's finches with specialized iodine-containing liquids. For example - Aqua Drink from Vitacraft.

- Drinking water for birds enriched with iodine and minerals. Additional food for birds. Drinking water for ornamental birds.

Feeding instructions: Serve every day in place of regular drinking water.
Ingredients: water, algae.
Water analysis (100 ml): 40 mg sodium, potassium, 3.6 mg, 8 mg magnesium,

73 mg calcium chloride, 68 mg, 44 mg sulfate, nitrates, 3.1 mg, 19.7 mg silicate.

Diseases of finches are divided into two categories. The first includes those that affect absolutely all birds (salmonellosis, ornithosis, pasteurellosis or cholera, atypical plague, streptococcosis, coccidosis, etc.). The second includes specific diseases that most often bother finches.

Tracheal mite in finches

Main symptoms: frequent, intermittent breathing, coughing and sneezing, worse at night. Males lose their voice. Mucus oozes from the nose. You can also notice that the finch is sick by the fact that it often swallows saliva, stops flying, and does not eat.

As a rule, the cause of this disease in finches is contact with an infected individual.

Tracheal mites are easy to treat. One drop of Novomek or Stronghold 6% solution is applied to the skin of the bird under each wing. If necessary, repeat the procedure after 10 days.

Non-communicable diseases

Non-contagious diseases of finches can be caused by poor living conditions or poor nutrition.

Thus, a lack of vitamins causes hypovitaminosis. Vitamin A deficiency manifests itself in clouded eyes and baldness of the bird's head. The consequences of vitamin B deficiency are disruption of the vestibular apparatus, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases of finches associated with a lack of vitamin D: rickets, softening of the beak and claws. Lack of vitamin E leads to reproductive dysfunction.

Treatment: improving nutrition, supplementing it with vitamin preparations and mineral supplements (bone meal, chalk, crushed eggshells, calcium glycerophosphate).

Finches are very active birds, so keeping them in cages that are too small leads to the development of physical inactivity. Consequences: obesity, loss of voice, shortness of breath, loss of the ability to fly. Excess weight, in turn, threatens liver dysfunction.

During the period of caring for chicks, finches may develop iodine deficiency. Its sign is the loss of feathers on the head.

If you notice that the finch is sick (has become lethargic, unkempt, and often itches), examine it. Red spots and flaking areas on the skin may be a sign of dermatitis. In this case, the bird must be shown to a doctor so that he can determine the cause of the disease. This could be contagious colibacillosis or staphylococcus, low air humidity in the room where the bird lives, or an allergy.

Emergency measures and prevention

If you suspect that a finch is sick, immediately quarantine it in a separate cage and then take it to the veterinarian. It is necessary to keep the bird separate from the flock until the fact that it is a carrier of a contagious virus, fungus or infection has been ruled out. To do this, they will take a skin scraping from the finch, a swab from the throat, and analyze the discharge from the beak and eyes, and feces.

Many diseases of finches in the early stages do not have obvious external symptoms, so they are difficult to diagnose and begin treatment on time. It is necessary to regularly carry out preventive examinations of birds and have their droppings analyzed to detect helminth eggs, salmonella, and chlamydia.

The listed diseases are characteristic of all types of finches (zebra finches, rice finches, Japanese finches and Guilder finches).

Sometimes the seasonal molting of birds is mistaken for a symptom of illness. To avoid confusion, keep in mind that finches molt after hatching eggs, after reaching 2 months of age (juvenile molt), in spring and autumn, as a result of stress. Shedding may be accompanied by a decrease in appetite and a slight increase in temperature.