Treating my new yellow-backed gould

[cindy]

I have sesame, wheat germ, and extra virgin olive oil.

I don't use peanut oil. We don't eat a lot of fried foods.

By the way the french toast will be served with a side of fruit!!!!

John, how many pieces do you want....taking orders everyone!

[debbie276]

In this article, also on Lady Gouldian Finch.com discusses the retreatments or the treatment throughout the breeding season.
Maybe it is just a way to keep you ordering more than is necessary
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/featur ... cmites.mgi

The life cycle of the airsac mite is 14 - 21 days. SCATT remains active in the birds blood stream for three weeks. If your not introducing birds that may have an active case of ASM where would they get them from?
There is a very good article by Frank Scandaglia, DVM about air sac mites, unfortunetly it was posted on a geocities site so the links no longer work. He says that one interesting aspect of the Air Sac Mite life cycle, is that the female is Larviparous, this means that the Nymph stage occurs within the adult female Air Sac Mite, thus the female "gives birth" to Larvae which soon go on to mature into adults. The scatt kills all stages of the parasite so I dont' see why it wouldn't rid the bird of them totally so retreatment wouldn't be necessary.
I believe that people are quick to say ASM when in fact what they think are symptoms of ASM could very well be a respiratory infection. One vet has told me that a diagnosis is made by wetting the feathers on the neck with alcohol and transilluminating the trachea with a bright penlight. This procedure is best performed in a darkened room. With normal vision, the mites can be seen as dark, pinhead size, moving spots in the trachea. He doesn't believe we should treat unless a possitive diagnosis is made so that we don't further compromise an already sick bird and possibly exacerbate the actual problem.

[CandoAviary]

Thanks so much for the info. I had just blindly been treating every 4 months though they showed no symptoms. Just thought this was right as the couple of gouldian breeders I had bought from said treat,treat,treat. Of course they also have pet stores with many birds coming in and out.. ..I rarely bring a bird into my flock and then only after strict quarentine in a different house. Well.... I believe I will be saving some money. I have never seen this information on this forum. Thanks for joining and sharing your knowledge. We need more helpful and sharing members like you. Thanks again.

[CandoAviary]

I don't use peanut oil. We don't eat a lot of fried foods.

I don't deep fry either but I love what peanut oil does for flavor...just add a tablesppon to a hot Wok...stir fry veggies, tofu, shrimp or whatever..... YUM and healthy. We stir fry all the time and experiment with different flavors of oil for a little different taste to the dishes..... Almond oil is another yummy one And you only need 1 tablespoon.

[L in Ontario]

I have been treating all new birds that come into my home and then on a 3 month basis - the entire flock.

Reading all this information I rather agree - we don't need to keep medicating over and over and over throughout the year. Just treat the new ones per directions and then they should be fine. Yay for less meds as a routine!

[debbie276]

I wish I could post the whole article but I wouldn't be able to add a working link to it, so not sure I should do that. It's one of those things, many will say to treat preventatively and many will say not to, you have to do what makes sense to you.

[cindy]

I also read the clicking sound associated with difficulty breathing isn't always airsac mites, it can also be a symptom because something is wrong with the thyroid. I'll see if I can find that article again and post it.

[JohnBoy]

Anyway, should I treat the new bird even though she is showing no signs of ASM?

[L in Ontario]

I would and do treat any and all incoming birds.

[JohnBoy]

I would and do treat any and all incoming birds.

OK

[CandoAviary]

A video showing scatt application
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi50ZrOqaQ8&NR=1

[debbie276]

Very nice video! I've never heard treat 3 times in a row though I have heard 2 times. I did feel sorry for that poor bird in his pocket.
Thanks

[L in Ontario]

I've never heard of nor applied three doses of Scatt either (in the 5 short years or so that I've been doing it). I also felt sorry for the bird in his pocket and then in his hand all the while he was talking and animating (shaking) with his hands. Sorry - that guy does not impress me... and why would you have to rub the Scatt on the bird at all - wouldn't that remove part of the liquid as it adheres to your finger???

[CandoAviary]

Is that Mickp in the video I think I recognize that accent