Dying bird. Please help!

[Kitty]

I have a pheasant named Ocious. He lives amongst my aviary birds in the garden.

Over the last couple of days he's been acting depressed (sleeping during the day, not eating much, being quiet, paying little attention to his surroundings and generally looking sad).

I thought this could be because I moved his chicken friend into another pen or because the weather is getting colder...This morning I checked on him and he looks awful.

His balance has gone and he's lying on his side with his wings spread out. He's waving his head around and his toes are curled into "fists", almost as though he's trying to grab onto something that's not there. His eyes are rolling around in his head and when I talk to him he looks right through me. It's like he can't see or hear me anymore.

I'm pretty sure Ocious is going to die. I've bought him indoors so he can be in peace and so the other birds don't see him die (I know that sounds silly but Ocious is the gentle giant of the aviary, He's been around for a long time and he's always been so happy and sociable with the other birds).

Hopefully, keeping Ocious away from the other birds will help prevent the spread of infection too, if there is one?

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?
Is he going to die?
Does this sound like something that could hurt my other birds?

Please help!

 

[Kitty]

Ps: The earliest I can take him to ANY vets is tomorrow morning at 10am. My emergency vet can't see him until after then either.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am so very sorry to hear about Ocious. I wish I could tell you what's wrong with him, but I have no idea. Could he have possibly suffered a stroke?

 

[MaraWentz]

May be injured or in shock? I walked outside earlier this year to my boss' great Dane playfully jumping around a huge woodpecker (I always thought they were tiny). I got there in time before she grabbed it and it laid there just like your pheasant on its side with its wings spread and neck flopping everywhere. I had thought it was broken. But it had just enough strength to fly 4 ft towards me to latch on and actually peck me! Then kt fluttered and fell away to the woods, but it seemed as though it had went into shock

 

[skittles9]

maybe its just ocious time to go, what are the colors of his feathers now? maybe it could be the food that has him like that.

 

[MeganMango]

I am always so shocked by the inability to get in to see a vet. I dont know where you live, but the vets I use and the vet offices where I worked ALWAYS had someone on-call and available in emergencies. I would suggest asking around and calling other vets. It could be something treatable, but birds need to be dealt with quickly when they show signs of illness. Your poor baby could be suffering and even if the only option is euthanasia, at the very least you could alleviate his suffering. If no one will see you, please keep him warm and comfortable. It sounds neurological to me, but Im biased because Im a neuroscientist. If you have a hot water bottle you can wrap it in a towel to provide a warm soft place to lie.

 

[94lt1]

I am always so shocked by the inability to get in to see a vet. I dont know where you live, but the vets I use and the vet offices where I worked ALWAYS had someone on-call and available in emergencies. I would suggest asking around and calling other vets. It could be something treatable, but birds need to be dealt with quickly when they show signs of illness. Your poor baby could be suffering and even if the only option is euthanasia, at the very least you could alleviate his suffering. If no one will see you, please keep him warm and comfortable. It sounds neurological to me, but Im biased because Im a neuroscientist. If you have a hot water bottle you can wrap it in a towel to provide a warm soft place to lie.

In a lot of areas, vets aren't even avian vets.. we found out the hard way a few years ago when we had a parakeet get scratched by a stray cat...and we live a few hours from Houston.. we listened to that vet and it cost the bird its life.. cost the vet his title of avian vet too...

There are tons if vets out there that say their avain or all animal... but they're full of caca...

 

[MeganMango]

I agree it can be hard to get good vet care for any animal. I had some trouble with a woman who claimed to be an equine vet who nearly killed my horse. Turns out shes a cow vet and has "limited" horse experience. Needless to say about a year after our issues and hearing about several other unhappy clients she lost her job. I just feel so bad for this poor bird, and his poor owner. Its so hard to watch and be unable to do anything. I wish we could get him some help asap.

 

[Kitty]

Thank you for your advice, everyone.

Luckily, after absolutely begging my local veterinary clinic, I managed to get Ocious an appointment earlier today. I know all the avian and emergency vets within 50 miles of my house...I can't believe it took me so long to find someone to help Ocious.

The vet thinks it could be a severe inner ear problem that's got worse over time. Due to Ocious naturally hiding his symptoms it has only recently become obvious that he's sick.

I've been given some antibiotic medication to treat the inner ear problem and some pain killers to give Ocious twice a day, if he's not shown any signs of improvement within three days I will have him put to sleep.

He's in really bad shape and watching him roll his head around is an upsetting and disturbing sight. I really hope this medication works, failing that, I hope he can be at peace soon.

 

[94lt1]

Its hard to lose one.. I still have poor jester in my mind all that poor baby needed was someone to love him... someone to get him to a vet, maybe a week before I found him and got him to the vet..

I'll be praying for your beautiful bird glad you got him some help, let's hope its what he needs

 

[Aquila]

Best of luck.

What kind of pheasant is he?

 

[MikeyTN]

I hope for the best for Ocious!!! He's a beautiful pheasant!! When I was living in South Dakota I see the wild ones there all the time.

 

[MikeyTN]

Is he a Golden Pheasant? There was a area in Sioux Falls that had different types of pheasants in pens for display.

 

[Rio Mom]

I hope Ocious is feeling better soon! Love the name, and he is absolutely stunning!

 

[ann]

i hope he feels better soon! if not, he he had a long life full of love!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

He's beautiful! Golden pheasants are one of the prettiest birds.

Are you still keeping him inside? I would give him some sort of heat source - reptile heat lamp, heat pad, even just a hot water bottle. I hope everything turns out ok

 

[Kitty]

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your kind words.

Ocious has made it through the night, I'm suprised because I've been expecting the worst. Whilst giving Ocious his medication this morning he seemed to be a little more responsive to his surroundings. For a few seconds he looked at me and I could see his old self in his eyes, maybe there is some hope?

I have Ocious in a Dog crate/cage my living room because it's the warmest room in the house. I have a microwavable heat pad I give him at night.

He hasn't eaten or drank for 24hrs so I placed some sunflower seeds (his favourite) one by one in his beak. I've also been using a pipette to give him small amounts of water. I'm being very careful not to drown or choke him whilst I do this.

Do you think force feeding him a bad idea? I just want him to keep his strength up.

Copperarabian is right, Ocious is a Golden Pheasant. I got him a long time ago as a rescue bird so I have no idea how old he is. He had a bad start in life but his time in my garden has been perfect. My aviary was custom built just for him and exceeded his needs entirely. He's been spoilt rotten

Pheasants don't make good pets. They screech louder than a crashing car at 4am, they're very flighty, shy and cautious. Most pet pheasants shoot up and hit their heads on aviary roofs and break their necks because they get so spooked by everything...Pheasants are almost impossible to tame, but somehow Ocious is one of the most gentle, friendly and calm birds I have ever seen. I am very lucky to have spent my time enjoying such a wonderful bird, I only wish I could have more time

 

[Aquila]

My friend has a farm, and I might tell her to get some pheasants! She's got different types of roosters, chickens, and ducks. Oh, and a turkey (that survived thanksgiving) and most are pretty tame.

For Ocious, what about giving him handfeeding formula? Might offer some better nutrition.

 

[Kitty]

Please don't tell your friend to get pheasants. They're very timid birds and are susceptible to be attacked by other birds. Ocious was rescued from a farm, all his feathers were torn out by chickens and guinea fowl. When chickens and turkeys taste blood they want more.

Pheasants can't be kept free range because they fly away and will never come back. They have to have an aviary specially built for their requirements.

Pheasants don't like people...I would never recommend keeping an animal that fears humans unless it's absolutely necessary. There are too many animals available these days that aren't suitable pets, Chameleons for example. I love reptiles but Chameleons are extremely shy creatures (hints the camouflage!) They don't want to be stared at and played with. They have no defences so being seen makes them feel vulnerable. They shouldn't have to live their lives feeling scared, it's cruel. They die very easily from stress and they shouldn't be sold as pets in my opinion.

Tell your friend to get some peacocks! They're stunning and much more farm/pet/garden suitable. They can free range, they get on with other larger birds, they don't mind (or even enjoy) human company and they're stunning!

 

[mtdoramike]

What a beautiful bird. I'm glad you got into see someone. In my area, there are only 3 avian vets within a 40-50 mile radius and two that I would even consider using.