Mites or just moulting?

[Kathy09]

Hello

I came up to my budgies yesterday about 2 0' clock, and they were sitting preening and scrachting away at their feathers. So later on about 7 o'clock I went back up to my bedroom and they were still doing this except there were loads of feathers everywhere, and I mean loads. The Whole time I've kept them I'd never seen so many feathers. From small fluffy ones, to one from their tail, wings and chest. And I've noticed there still continuing to scratch and preen, does this sound as if they have mites, or is it just be being too worried and there just having a moult. Please help. And if they do have mites how on Earth do I get rid of the mites? Someone told me that indoor birds don't usually get mites. And if they do to use something called Ivermectin?.

[brdfvr]

They can still get mites if they are indoor birds. If they are mites, you would be able to see them running around everywhere. When we had chickens and they got mites, we had a spray bottle of ivermectin (not sure on the concentration) and would treat under the wings and around the vent area 2xs a day until they were gone check those areas, that's where they usually hide. It doesn't sound like a regular molt though. How old are your birds?

[Kathy09]

They are a year old. I also found another pile of feathers in and out of their cage. I had to pick the feathers from their cage the mess there was.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by Kathy09

Hello

I came up to my budgies yesterday about 2 0' clock, and they were sitting preening and scrachting away at their feathers. So later on about 7 o'clock I went back up to my bedroom and they were still doing this except there were loads of feathers everywhere, and I mean loads. The Whole time I've kept them I'd never seen so many feathers. From small fluffy ones, to one from their tail, wings and chest. And I've noticed there still continuing to scratch and preen, does this sound as if they have mites, or is it just be being too worried and there just having a moult. Please help. And if they do have mites how on Earth do I get rid of the mites? Someone told me that indoor birds don't usually get mites. And if they do to use something called Ivermectin?.

If they are blood mites you can easily tell just by holding your birds. Some mites will crawl onto your skin and you will start scratching yourself. LOL.

Feather shaft mites attach themselves to the shafts, you will have to look closely at the shafts to see them (I have heard, I have never had a problem with them here).

I don't recomend spraying Ivermectin on your birds as I believe doing so can possibly kill them?

A product I keep around and have used before with great success is A.I.L. (Avian Insect Liquidator), do a Google search to find a source to purchase from. Great stuff, you can spray it safely on baby birds in the nest even, just cover their eyes and nostrils and remove food and water temporarily.

[Kathy09]

Thanks. I went to my Local pet shop and got some spray for them. There are still more feathers coming off them, and there scratching more but I think that's just the stuff scratching them.

[JenG78]

i would recommend getting them into a vet ASAP - mite infections can be very serious and deadly and a lot of the over-the-counter "treatments" can be more harm than help - check with a vet and get thier advice on how to deal with the problem.

[Kathy09]

Thanks. I'm actually taking both of them to a vet in 1 hour, so he'll see what's actually wrong with them, I'll post later and tell how they get on.

[RubyMuse]

Yes, a vet needs to see them. Try to take tape and pick up a few things with the tape so you can see them under a microscope, take the tape to the vet.

One way to trap mights is to put a piece of white sheet in the bottom of the cage loosely drapped over itself to create some folds - then check it in the early dawn hours as mites do not live on the animal but will return to a suitable living space after biting the animal. You should be able to see them on the sheet.

If you find them, drop the sheet in a bucket of very mild bleach water (far away from your birds - fumes). But save one on tape first - identification under a microscope is a good idea.

Oral meds can help with this - but stay away from any powder or spray - not safe for birds.

[Kathy09]

I took them to the vets. One of the were treated for a swollen eye and the other I found out was actually a female all along. He said it might just be moulting if they continue he will give them something to treat them.

[Eternal Damnation]

how do birds get mites?? i dont want mine to get them, any way i can prevent them from getting mites?