General finch questions

[David]

Hi everyone!
I am just wondering if I have a common cold, running nose and sored throat etc. should I wear gloves when feeding my finches? I am afraid will pass any of my symptoms to them I am still recovering but not completely yet, I wore a mask too when feed my finches, am I worry too much? Any advices will be great, thanks so much in advance for your time!

[dcompt]

I've never thought about it, but I think it would be ok to treat them as you normally would. People don't take such precautions with other pets and I don't know why birds would be more at risk. Maybe someone with some medical or veterinarian background can give you better information than just a guess.

[Sunbay]

Always wash your hands before handling birds, prepping food & water, or otherwise tending to them. Cold/sniffles or not.

Also, wash/sanitize between caring for different cages, and if you have a sick bird, or one you are worried about, tend to that one last.

You never know what you may have picked up on your hands, besides germs. Cleaning agents, coffee grounds, stuff from outside in the garden....on and on.

It's for your health too - there are several "zoonotic" diseases that are transmissible both ways. Not very common, but it does happen. Transmissible diseases include Avian Tuberculosis, Giardia, Campylobacteriosis, and more.

Good question!
Hope you feel better soon.

Lauren (RN - not really a germaphobe, just realistic)

[David]

Thank you Donna and Lauren!
That's true, I always washed my hand so well before handle food/seed for my bird, when I feed them or handling them. I just worried when I got a cold if will make them have the same symptoms as I am now hehe but I will be careful, just concerned their health, since I care for them more than I am sometimes I want to get well soon , so I can get closer to them and make me happy by looking at my birds!

[Angela&Shalamar]

If all you have is a run of the mill cold your birds are in no danger. Dcmpt actually some of us do take precautions for other animals...ferrets can die of the human cold and I actually did come very close to losing one that way. He picked up my cold and got VERY dehydrated...on a weekend after vet hours just like the animal handbook says, LOL.

[Zebrafincher]

I am always washing my hands in between changing birds cages, seeds, etc and other things. I have been sick several times, and my birds have been fine. If I'm too ill to get up, my partner will change the seed and water for a day or too, until I can.

I've heard Psittacosis is the worst thing a person can catch from a parrot, canary or finch, but its pretty rare in people. All of my new birds have been tested for it, however,

[David]

Sorry kind of late to reply. Thanks everyone for great answers I was getting better and I always wash my hand before handle bird drink/food containers etc, and I just don't wanna get sick at all ,no matter if will make my bird sick or not. Just worried about them since they are so tiny