Wildlife

Goldfinch Finch Trichomonosis Welfare

Trichomonosis is a fatal disease affecting garden finches that requires hygiene management at feeding stations to prevent spread.

Key Facts

Trichomonosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae which causes lesions in the throat
Affected birds cannot swallow and show lethargy, regurgitation and wet plumage around the bill
Greenfinch populations have declined by over 60% since 2005 largely due to trichomonosis
The disease spreads through regurgitated food and contaminated water at shared feeding stations
Feeding station hygiene through regular cleaning dramatically reduces transmission rates

Welfare Considerations

Trichomonosis causes death by slow starvation over days to weeks as throat lesions prevent swallowing. Individual birds experience significant suffering throughout this period. Garden feeding stations can amplify transmission if not properly maintained. Regular cleaning with appropriate disinfectants directly prevents welfare harm at scale.

What You Can Do

Clean bird feeders and water baths with a 10% bleach solution every 1-2 weeks
Remove fallen seed from beneath feeders to prevent ground-level transmission
Report diseased finches to Garden Wildlife Health project at ZSL
Pause garden feeding temporarily if sick birds are observed to reduce transmission