FINCHforum

I'm assuming it's mites because he's pecking himself a lot as if he's itching all over.
The female doesn't seem bothered by itching, just the male. Of course she spends all day in the nest.
I've got budgies that were never bothered by any abnormal itching so this is new to me.
Is it mites or something else?

Well if he is doing it excessively it is probably feather mites. You can easily get something at the pet store for this and spray him. I would clean the cage really well and spray it. I would also replace the nest with a new one. Are there eggs in the nest or babies?

Another thing it could be is if the zebra is not bathing. Do you provide water for him to bathe in?

He does it pretty much all the time. He loves to take baths and the cage is always clean. There is a hen in the nest that has been sitting on her eggs for some time now. She doesn't itch at all. Just sits all day like a little stuffed bird and only comes out to eat and take a bath.

Can you spray the bird through the bars of the cage? I'd hate to have to try to grab him.

yes. Just be sure to remove all food and water dishes. I would give him a good spray and then follow up in a few days if it doesn't stop.

Roger that.
Thanks a bunch.

You are lucky being in the States...After initial spraying etc. go to the Lady Gouldian Site and purchase S76 this is added to the drinking and bath water and kills any mites that attack the birds actually making the blood of the birds toxic to them.
This stuff is brilliant and breeders in the UK club together to buy from the States because it is so expensive by the time we have imported it and paid taxes etc.
Paul.

I was just reading about this product as a treatment for air sac mites.
I don't think their water was contaminated. Do they mean contaminated by droppings or what? I like to change their water several times a day and their cage is very clean.

They're zebras and we had them for about a month. If there was a possibility of them having consumed contaminated water, could it have been at the pet shop where we purchased them?
The reason I'm concerned now is the fact that lately at night I would hear a little clicking sound coming from their nest, and the female will sometimes sit in there with her mouth open.
What's going on?

oh my.... it sounds like air sac mites if there is clicking. You will need to treat them, although I am sure it is rare for zebras to get these.
I bought some s76 today at the bird show. I use it regularly for my birds. It is great for mites, and worms. Great product!!

How long have you had these birds?

We had them since the middle of March.
The clicking sound isn't continuous. Mostly hear it a couple of times at night. They're in the nest when I hear it that's how I know it's not anything else they're tapping on. I think it's the female Come to think of it, I don't hear it during the day. Sometimes she'll sit with her mouth open. But she hardly ever comes out of the nest.
But if they are air sac mites how could they have gotten them. Our cage is always clean. I even check the food during the day and change the water often.

Is your female sitting on eggs? I am not convinced that it is air sac mites.
She could have a respitory infection. Do you have any antibiotics?

Whether or not your birds have air sac mites...and I don't think any of us on here are 100% sure...S76 is something to have in your cupboard.And regular use will keep your birds mite free.
Paul.

I'm definitely going to buy it.
If it wasn't for all the help from you guys I'd still be completely in the dark.
Thanks for all the advice.
The old saying..."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Livingonaprayer -

What the site is referring to in regards to contaminated water is when a bird with air sac mites drinks from a water container - that water source is now contaminated. Another bird drinks from the contaminated water source and now that bird may get air sac mites as well.

It is best to treat all birds that come into contact with each other and share the same food/water.