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Hi,

We are very upset and don't know what happened. Please give us some ideas so this doesn't happen again. Our experience is limited, but things we're going very good we thought. We have a young pair of lovies that laid their first clutch of 5 eggs in late May or early June. 1 hatched and we pulled the baby at 21 days old to start handfeeding. We've been handfeeding this baby for a little under 5 weeks. Great feeding response overall, starting playing with seed on the weaning process, almost ready to fly, overall very healthy little bird. Until this morning. Button was at the bottom of the cage and was not excited about food or vocalizing at all. We pulled him from cage and he was limp, lathargic, and couldnt stand. Eyes would open when petting, but he couldnt keep them open much otherwise. He coudnt use his legs from almost being stiff and toes seemed curled up. We wrapped in warm towel and 45 minutes later he flapped wings in a couple stints and tried to stand then on the last attempt passed away immediately after. The only thing that changed was the following and we are devasted at the thought that we may have caused this...About a week ago we removed the heat from the brooder. We felt the brooder was warm enough and the heating pad was making it too hot being summer and him being older. Was doing fine for the week. Yesterday we put him in a cage. He was perching fine, very curious, climbing about exploring, and overall seemed ok. Went to bed with him on his perch. Did the change from brooder to cage kill him? No fans, AC blowers, drafts, ect. Our house is about 74 degress. I find it hard to think this is what did it, but this was a significant change just yesterday. Any ideas are welcome. It just seems so sudden and unexpected.

Thanks!

I'm very sorry you've lost the baby. To know what happened and protect the others, it's essential to get the little body to your avian vet ASAP. If you can't go right now, put the body into a sealed baggie in the refrigerator -- NOT the freezer. But taking it to the vet today is the only way to learn more. I hope it was nothing contagious.

There's only one illness that kills this quickly and unexpectedly.......Polyomavirus. Timing is just about right, too, weaning age. As Bluebird Exotics suggested, have a necropsy done on the remains and I would also have the parent birds tested. If the necropsy results indicate Polyomavirus, it came from somewhere and the parents are the obvious place to start.

Lovebirds are not lifetime carriers so if the parents do test positive, they will most likely test negative in another 6 months. I would not let them breed again until you have answers nor would I bring any young birds into your home until you know what's responsible for the baby's death.

I agree wholeheartedly with Linda and Bluebell about taking the baby in for a necropsy and I would also test the parent birds. The first thing that came to mind for me was Polyoma as well. Good luck and keep us posted! Now - to Linda L - where did you hear that lovies are not lifetime carriers of Poly? My avian vet, and articles I've read on the net, lead me to believe that they can carry that as well as PBFD and be asymptomatic carriers and shed throughout their lives. I am raising larger, more expensive, parrots now and was advised NOT to raise lovies due to this risk. I was also told not to breed 'tiels, or budgies for the very same reasons. Your thoughts??

Thanks

Sally

My information regarding lovebirds not being lifetime carriers of Polyomavirus came from a conversation with my avian vet.

Years ago, I lost 3 young lovebirds to Polyomavirus and I asked my avian vet if the parents needed to be destroyed. Her answer was no. Wait 6 months and retest the parents until they test negative. My pair finally tested negative and went on to produce a number of clutches of very healthy chicks. I only breed lovebirds and the last time I lost one to Polyoma was back in 1995 when I lost those 3 youngsters.

Budgies, on the other hand, are known lifetime carriers and the vaccine does not work for them.

Thanks Linda.

Sally