Question about quarantine procedures...

[nelloyello11]

Okay, so I am thinking of (most likely will not be able to resist) getting a couple more finches when I go to my very first bird fair in a June. I want to make sure I have everything in order by then. So, I want to know what I should plan on doing for quarantining my new birds.
How long to keep them separated from my other birds? What kinds of treatments should I give them? What sorts of additional meds should I have on hand? Should I treat all of my current birds for the same things as the new birds?
What else do you all do/recommend?
Thanks!

[ac12]

There are MANY different procedures, and they work for different people.

This is the quarantine procedure that I generally follow.
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/featur ... antine.mgi
I tweak it a bit for my birds.

I keep the new birds separate for 4-6 weeks, to complete the medication cycles.

If your current birds are OK, I would not medicate them.
Although there are some bird and meds that can be given periodically, as mentioned in the article.

gud luk

[nelloyello11]

Thanks, ac12. Since they won't be going into the same cages as my existing birds, should I still treat the newcomers, or only if hey show symptoms of illness? They will be quarantined as far away from my existung birds as possible, before being moved to the bird area.

[ac12]

It depends on the type of birds you have and what you buy.

- I medicate all incoming birds, because I determined that is what I want to. I cannot afford to have a disease get into my flock, because I cannot $ afford to replace them. So I medicate to "try" to stop the disease from coming in.
- Others do a minimal medication treatment.
- And others do not medicate at all.

How much medication treatment you choose to do is really up to you. There is no "right" answer.

During this time monitor and observe the birds for signs of illness, then treat accordingly.

If you decide to medicate, I do not think it would hurt to do your current birds also. That way you know they are all treated to the same level.

BTW what kinds of finches do you have?