PLEASE READ: the importance of quarantining & vetting new birds

[Lori]

Hi Megan,

Thank you for sharing your story. Sending my deepest heartfelt sympathy on your loss of Wrigley -

[Tiki]

Since quarantine was addressed on another thread, please read this and see why it it so important. Diseases in birds can spread very rapidly. Megan is an excellent bird mommy too, the bird would have picked up something in the pet store or the breeder.

[lyz2814]

Some of you may have read about Poo and her infection in the "Get Help With Your Bird" thread. My story is a little similar, but fortunately, had a happy ending. I took my newly purchased baby Senegal to the vet within 2 days of getting her, for a full checkup. Her physical went wonderfully--she looked and sounded wonderful, weight good, etc. The vet asked if I wanted blood tests run, and I said Yes.


Turns out she had high WBC and very high gram Neg bacteria. While she was negative for Psittacosis, we still had an infection on our hands! The first series of anitbiotics didn't work, so a culture and new perscriptions were needed. 3 months later, she was clear of the infection. Note that she looked just fine the whole time. I am really glad that I took her to the vet right away, even though she was busy and eating and looking good, and went with the "Full Metal" tests ($$).

[Copper]

Angel came home at the beginning of October, 2006.
Her first home lasted a year. She developed a dislike for the wife. She was given to a breeder of B&G's. She lived in the house for a few months, but owner number 2 became ill. Due to chemo, radiation, and a weakened immune system, a section of an old barn was converted to an aviary, and all the birds moved out there.
Owner's wife, daughter, and son in law cared for them, but Angel would have nothing to do with them, so it was easier to just throw foot and water in the bowls, and hose the place down weekly. Even that got to be too much. The owner decided that most of the birds needed to go.
I had heard about the situation and went out. Long story short(er) she came home.

Vet check a few days later...
Underweight. She should be between 1200 and 1500 grams... she was 1000. Slightly elevated WBC, and her feathers from the last moult showed some weakness that was associated with diet of cheerios, dried fruit, and dog food.
Test results came back with psittacosis.
Even though she was in quarentine, and care was given to make sure clothing was changed, seperate air filter/purifyers, sanitising, ect., decided that it was best to treat the whole flock. The others got antibiotic in the water daily, she got it in liquid suspension twice a day for 40 days.
Last check came back clean, and she will have another check this month.
Since the rest of the crew had been checked just the month prior, and all their tests had come back clean, it could only have come from her previous owners. Not only was she saved, but I called the previous owner, and he was able to get his remaining flock on antibiotics too. They plugged the holes that the wild birds were coming in through. They got rid of the droppings, disinfecting the entire place with bleach, and not one bird was lost. (beside the macaws, there are swans, trumpeters, mutes, and blacks)
Angel has gained almost 200 grams in the 5 months she has been here, and that wonderful macaw personality is surfacing. She started her moult early, and the new feathers are coming in clear, full of the jewel-like colors that are what make these creatures exciting to view... Eye candy for the soul.
Quarentine may not be fun, avian vets are costly, but if we can make the difference for just one bird needing a second change, it's priceless.

[Ashenwelt]

Now this kind of worries me. I have been going to a shop that raises a lot of their own birds. They recomended I bring in my other bird (my Hahns), to introduce to a young parrot, to see if they would get along. Honestly, I had always heard they were one of the best stores in the area. They also cover the whole range of birds (they had a duck, severa hacyanth (sp?), and several soft bills; and many, many parrots).

I take it then this would be a bad idea????

My bird has regular checkups. And any new bird would have a full workup the same week she came home.

The store deals with two vets, and actually sells from joe of the street (or in my case Rob), to zoos around the world. They specialize in hand-fed tame baby birds (weened).

[TonyB.]

omg that is so upsetting i love my little baby and i read so many bad stories of death and im so afraid for her safety i have been overprotective of her as it is with my girlfriend anyone who comes close to her im like ready to catch her or hold her i would and will be heartbroken if anything happens to her im just so afraid reading these stories

[piperbambam]

Im so truelly sorry for you loss. And i commend you for coming on here and telling us all your story so this might not happen to someone else. Im glad you did everything right and cared so much about your other birds just as much as the new one. Many people get so caught up with the new baby that they forget the dangers it can cause to the fids they already have

[Xray Susie]

I'm bringing my CAG baby home in about a week. He comes from a breeder (home). He's 5 months old. I was discussing visiting the vet and she said to give the bird some time, that if I were to take him the first week, he'd be stressed and his white blood count would be high. She suggested waiting a week or so.

He'll be my only bird, so I won't have to worry about quarrantine.

I also read in this thread something about avoiding bird shows and expos. The last one I went to encouraged bird owners to bring their birds and participate in a session with a bird expert. Is that bad?

[Nazir's]

XRay: Hmmm... I asked my breeder that same question... About bringing Iris to see him a this up coming bird show. He told me that it was okay because Iris was vacinated against the Polyomavirus, so he should be fine. I was concern about this too. If I do decide to bring him along with me, I wont put him down or take him around any unfamiliar birds.

I too am interested in hearing the responses to your question.

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by Nazir's

XRay: Hmmm... I asked my breeder that same question... About bringing Iris to see him a this up coming bird show. He told me that it was okay because Iris was vacinated against the Polyomavirus, so he should be fine. I was concern about this too. If I do decide to bring him along with me, I wont put him down or take him around any unfamiliar birds.

I too am interested in hearing the responses to your question.

When was your last booster? If you do not have a booster annually, the vaccination is not effective.