Green finches messy eaters or trichomonosis

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  • Evening Wendy,  just when I was thinking we were going to get away without seeing a case this year seems this poor Greenie is first victim in the garden;   we only have around 4  greenies and really hope the others stay healthy;   guess we can only keep up the hygiene routine and an eye out for any sick birds but its gut-wrenching when you see them and can do nothing to cure them   :(  

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • Many thanks Jenny,  I'll keep my eyes open and fingers crossed that we see no more of this dreadful disease.

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • Gutted for the little fella. I know it's nature but it's hard not to feel for them. On a plus side I have not seen any more signs than my initial concern and was heartened when I saw them on Autumn watch displaying the same eating habits discarding the husks, I've still got a troop of 7-9 cleaning me out of hearts. Hopefully yours is a one off case hazel.

  • Morning Martin,   thanks for your comments and as you say, hope this is a one off case but I will have to keep a lookout for further signs of this nasty disease.    I saw the Greenfinch this morning and am now certain it has the Trichomonas as often after they eat, they take a drink - fortunately we have no water bowls or they would be removed straight away as they carry high risk transfer of the parasite;  we have a pond and it was drinking from the edge so much less risk as its a place birds don't use, only on rare occasion.  They tend to drink from the waterfall run offs.    

    On the bright side, I was really heartened to learn that you have no signs of Trichomonas in  your garden and it was just the husk removal you saw.    I'm sure you would spot instantly a sick bird as they look poorly and very fluffed up with Trich.      Hopefully, I can continue to feed the birds with just the one sick Greenfinch, shame it often happens at a time when birds are in more need of our help to supplement their food.      Got my fingers crossed and once I can capture the Greenfinch I will separate it from the other birds and get it to vet   :(

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • Hi Hazy, So sorry to hear you've got a sick Greenfinch. I really hope that it's restricted to just the one. It must be heart-breaking for you with all your hard work keeping it all clean & then it probably brings it in from somewhere else. I hope you can catch it soon. Could you make some sort of a cage with sunflower hearts & water inside & then when you see this one go in, drop down the door? It's probably easier said than done but then you could market it & the RSPB sell it for catching sick birds. There must be a lot of people who have the same problem.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Sorry you've found a sick Greenfinch, Hazel. Let's hope it's an isolated case.

    I think they must have had a good breeding season this year as I'm getting quite a lot of youngish looking ones coming the the feeders. Ironically, not many Goldfinch which are usually the most numerous finch that I get.

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    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • Hi, thanks Tony,   thankfully, there does seem to have been a good number of Greenies hatched this year although we never get many in the garden.     I have seen flocks of them around the Neumann's/Northwich area that we walk.    

    Not seen any other poorly birds in the garden apart from female chaffinch and bullfinch which always succumb to Papilloma virus warts on their legs/feet   so fingers crossed and I'll try and capture the sick Greenfinch if I get an opportunity so I can remove him from the garden.    

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    Regards, Hazel 

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