Gouldian Finch Deaths

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

We took two ill gouldian finches in from someone who had them kept outside. We got them well for a period, but the female soon got ill and remained ill for weeks before dying. She was puffed up, lost balance, slept lots, eyes seemed unfocused and spent time on the floor. She didn't stop eating until the very end.

We then replaced this bird with one that looked very similar. She was so happy and energetic and ate well and seemed perfect with the male. Within 3 or 4 days of this finch starting to look ill it died too. Once again it didn't stop eating, was puffed up, glazed eyes, sleeping lots and not really moving as much as she used to.

It seems odd that the male is so healthy. Maybe he could be a bit of a bully? He doesn't eat huge amounts of food compared to what both females did. We feed with sticks, seed, fruit, veg, protein. We also have added vitamins to the water quite regularly.

I don't want this to happen again obviously, but my concern is that the male will get sad with no friends.

I don't know of any bird vets locally and I'm not too keen on taking the body to the vet for an autopsy...

Any help would be great.

ANSWER: That is a bit strange. It sounds like the birds contracted something from outside at their previous owners. Unfortunately, without an autopsy, it would be impossible to know exactly WHAT they got but fortunately, the solution is simple.
Remove the make from the cage and put him in a temporary cage. Clean the infected out COMPLETELY with bleach water. Every last thing in that cage needs to be cleaned, everything that came with the birds needs to either be cleaned or thrown out. After all this is done and the cage is rinsed well (bleach will kill your boy if any is left), put your boy back in and get a heater on him, ones from the reptile section of a pet store is perfect. Keep an eye on him for the next couple days and if he doesn't show signs of illness, feel free to get him another mate.
I recommend trying to find a breeder in your area. Their birds cost less and are generally more healthy than the ones you buy from a pet store

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, we have just got out birds from breeders locally rather than pet stores. They are Gouldian finches and I'm not even sure they sell them at pet stores. I wonder why the male one is fine if the cage is infected in some way? We of course will clean the cage out completely before we get a new companion. At the moment we are just using a lamp to keep the bird warm if needed.  

Thanks for your help

Answer
I'm not entirely sure why the male would be fine while the female was affected. I know it is possible though because I had something similar happen to my own birds. Two females dropped dead in three days and the males were fine. The cages were sterilized and the birds but back in.
I admit, cleaning the cages with bleach is kind of like going after a fly with a bazooka. However, the contaminate isn't known so it is the only way.
Just make sure the temperature doesn't drop below 26C