Bacterial enteritis (E. coli and relatives) in canaries and finches
Other names: Bacterial diarrhea، Intestinal infection، E. coli
Symptoms
- Watery or green diarrhea
- Fluffed-up appearance, sleepiness and not eating
- Death of chicks in the nest
- Navel infection in newly hatched chicks
How it spreads
Water or spoiled egg food or contaminated greens, poor hygiene, and stress.
Diagnosis
A swab and bacterial culture with an antibiotic sensitivity test (culture & sensitivity). Gram stain of the droppings.
Treatment
An antibiotic according to the culture. Merck gives examples such as enrofloxacin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole at bird doses. Very important: do not use random antibiotics in the water without a diagnosis. [Update 3] Merck (revised 2026): the most common pathogens in ornamental birds are Gram-negatives (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Enterobacter, Proteus, Citrobacter, E. coli), and treatment depends on the site of infection and the culture and sensitivity result. (All under veterinary supervision.)
Prevention
Fresh egg food removed after 2 hours in the heat, clean water daily, and clean waterers.
Season
Highest in summer (egg food and greens spoil quickly in the heat)
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Salmonellosis
- Mycoplasmosis (sinusitis and eye infection)
- Chlamydiosis (psittacosis)
- Avian tuberculosis
- Campylobacteriosis
- Contaminated water infection (Pseudomonas/Klebsiella)
- Bumblefoot and skin infection
- Yersiniosis (pseudotuberculosis)
Sources
- merckvetmanual.com
- KB (not web-verified this session): widely repeated aviculture/breeder consensus; treat with stated confidence
- merckvetmanual.com