Neophema tumors

[Catbird]

Last night I lost my Rock Parrot hen.

I thought she was egg bound because I could feel a large lump in her abdomen. She died while waiting for the vet. He did an autospy right away and turns out she had a huge tumor on her gizzard, which had spread to the liver.

Does anyone know what causes these tumors?

I have been very careful with their diet as I know they are a species prone to obesity. The Rock Parrots are on a good quality finch mix, with a little oats, and fresh friut and veg daily, as well as natural grasses and coastal plants.

- Claire

[Smiley]

Hi Claire,
There are so many things that can cause tumors.There are so many disease as well that could do this...I will not name them.But some times it is in the jeans from the family..Have you seen mice that have tumors,well it can be the same in birds..parents have them ect ect....you can guest about it...But I dont think you will know why..unless you did a lot of test,and that would run into a lot of $$$$


Natalie

[Catbird]

Thanks Natalie,

Yeah the vet has sent the tissue off to a bird cancer expert, however it could be 6 months before he even gets to look at the sample. I asked the vet about a disease causing it and he said it was unlikely. I'd hate to think it was herditary as I got her from a pretty reliable breeder.

The other thing the vet said was that the hen's ovaries weren't developed. The hen had been feeding off the male, working the nest box and mating, but no eggs - I guess that was why. The vet rekkon she was a dud! Did you have any similar problems with your Rocks?

Now ... who' s got a spare couple of Rock hens handy???

- Claire

[Smiley]

I havent not seen a tumor in any bird..Only photos...That is a shame that she was a dud..and what happened to her..Such a shame...And yes I would be looking else where for another one..Just in case there was a run of bad birds there where you got her from...I am not saying that the breeders has bad birds,this just happens...

Natalie

[AussieBirds]

It sounds to me like the bird was, as the vet put it, a dud and she had a problem from birth Clair.

John

[fischer]

Hi Claire and Natalie, Iv'e ocasionaly had tumors appear in birds over the years, usually in Budgies, there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it, just pops up in the odd bird here and there.
With Rock Parrots, Neophema/Petrophila, Claire, the situation may be a little different, the numbers kept in aviculture are fairly low, therefore the genetic pool is fairly small, at least in NSW and the other eastern states it is, which increases the chance of this type of illness occuring.
Claire, try to source your birds from as many different breeders as you can, this will reduce the chances of this happening again,I don't think it can be diet related, but try to reduce as many fatty foods as possible, IE, too much sunflower seed, this may help.
All the best luck with them Claire, Im glad you are trying to breed one of the rarer Neophemas.
Hope this helps...Tony

[Catbird]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll definately be looking into the cancer/tumor subject further.

I've only had one experience with this sort of thing before, but that was with a feather cyst that turned nasty in an elderly cockatiel.

My Rocks have been on a strict 'no sunflower' diet as I have been told they often died from obsesity or other problems caused by being overweight. The vet said she was in excellent condition.

I won't give up on this species - I'm determined to breed them! They are one of my favourite birds. I'll speak to the guy I sourced them from and see if he's had any other problems with his birds. One of my males is also from him. He has an excellent reputation as a breeder so I doubt he'd intentionally sell a dud bird.

I might get the boys surgically sexed to check their teste activity. Does anyone know if that is possible?

ta,

Claire

[Smiley]

Yes that is possible Claire..

Natalie