S76 Every 3 Weeks For ASM??

[alfdtuna]

Many of you have read and responded to my posts regarding my possible into to Gouldians, and I do thank you. I have quickly learned that it seems every success story has its variations. I had a breeder tell me that she treats her birds every 3 weeks with S76. Is this common practice?? is adding citric acid to daily water for yeast infection prevention a common practice?
Tracey

[dfcauley]

Hi Tracey,

I do not treat my birds that often of ASM. I do treat them about every three months. I always treat any new birds. Some people do not preventively treat for ASM but I feel better safe than sorry.

I also add a touch of citric acid to all the water I give my birds. I also boil all their water, but I know this is not a practice most people do. I just do this because my birds have responded so well since I began do this.

Hope this helps!

[Sally]

I had not heard of the citric acid--is this something you get at the health food store? I use organic apple cider vinegar, would that have the same affect? I put 1 T. ACV per 1 gallon of water. Donna, you boil all your water? That's a lot of work. Is this to counteract all the chemicals that are added to city water? I know some people use distilled water, but that can add up too.

On S76, it is administered for two days in a row, three weeks in a row, so maybe that is what she meant by three weeks. I don't think any of the ASM manufacturers recommend every three weeks--that would be overkill for sure, and I would think harmful to the birds.

[nixity]

MOST yeast infections are secondary.
Meaning - if a "perfectly healthy" bird develops a yeast infection it is likely secondary to something else.

I.e., a bacterial infection which has thrown off the bird's immune system and compromised it to the point that the yeast is able to bloom/multiply and become symptomatic.

Also, treating with antibiotics which kills off good and bad bacteria can result in yeast infections sometimes.

Citric acid works by lowering the pH of the water and making it a less favorable environment for those types of things - but it will not treat an existing infection and if the bird develops a bacterial/protozoal etc., the citric acid would not be enough to really prevent a secondary yeast infection from developing.

I do not personally agree that it is necessary to treat every three weeks with Iverlux.
This means you would be treating your birds CONSTANTLY because of the way the meds are administered (2 consecutive days for three consecutive weeks).
I believe this would cause more issues with resistance than anything else.

The most recent (that I can find) research paper suggests a very short developmental life spam of the mite, so one treatment should be sufficient but two is acceptable in order to be certain you get the full life cycle.
If you have a confirmed infection, with a proper treatment plan and aviary disinfection - I do not understand what the purpose of repeated treatment would be.

The birds would have to have a vector for re-infection - the mites would have to come from somewhere. If you eliminate the infection in your flock, you'd simply be treating superfluously.

If you are bringing in birds often and don't really have a quarantine process in place then it would make more sense
But that's just my 2c..

[dfcauley]

. Donna, you boil all your water? That's a lot of work. Is this to counteract all the chemicals that are added to city water? I know some people use distilled water, but that can add up too..

Sally,

After the flood here a while back our water became bad for a while. So I began boiling all their water. The effects seem to improve things so I have kept doing this. It really isn't too bad. I have to boil a gallon or two a day. I just put it into milk jugs and keep about 6 galloons made up at all times. I don't know if it is so terribly necessary, but it makes me feel better about their water.

[alfdtuna]

Out of curiosity, (Sally, Tiffany and any/all other Gouldian breeders) how many you folks actually keep some Ladies inside your homes in living quarters to observe? I am very aware breeder pairs must have their quiet time without compromise. Waht about jsut pretty birds being pretty. It seems like most successful owners keep all the birds in bird rooms/outdoor aviaries and they never really get to sit back and admire these spectacular specticles, but rather just tend to them! Or is the tending part the reward which I suppose is success enough. Just wondering....

[Sally]

alfdtuna, I really can't call myself a LG breeder, as I once had a few pairs and let them have a few clutches. However, I decided to branch out into African species, waxbills in particular, and needed the cage space, so the LGs had to go. Though my second bedroom is taken over with breeding cages, the spillover into my dining room is various juveniles and adult singles. Yes, I think many keep a large cage or an indoor aviary just to enjoy the birds.

[nixity]

My birds have their own room but it is mostly a product of the fact that I have cats.. one of whom is grossly obese and would probably eat my dog if she wasn't faster.

I still spend a great deal of time sitting and observing them..
It is a "quiet" room, of sorts, where I can be alone with my thoughts and just sit with the birds and be happy

I wouldn't say all of the time I spend with them is "work" or a chore.
Sure, there is a lot of work involved, but I think most people would say it is a labor of love

[Domenic]

Out of curiosity, (Sally, Tiffany and any/all other Gouldian breeders) how many you folks actually keep some Ladies inside your homes in living quarters to observe? I am very aware breeder pairs must have their quiet time without compromise. Waht about jsut pretty birds being pretty. It seems like most successful owners keep all the birds in bird rooms/outdoor aviaries and they never really get to sit back and admire these spectacular specticles, but rather just tend to them!

Right now I only have one gouldian, but that's beside the point that I keep all of my birds in plain sight because I love to be able to see them throughout the day. They have ample hiding opportunities but they rarely use them and they have become pretty tolerant of humans and also of loud noises like the radio, vacuum, TV, etc. My cordon bleus (which are some of the lightest sitters) are breeding right in my living room and they incubate nonstop, even with sounds all around them. I think as long as you aren't shoving your face in their cage/aviary all the time, birds can get used to and thrive with noisy surroundings. I think it's quite possible to get them to breed as well.

[debbie276]

All of my gouldians are in the solarium by the backdoor and we all know everyone always uses the backdoor. The room is also off the kitchen where there is always a ton of activity. I used to have them in the basement in a "birdroom" but didn't like the fact that I rarely got to enjoy their song and antics. I've had no problems having them right in the middle of all the house activity.

[lovemyfinch]

I can already hear all of the oohs, my aviary is in the living quarters. My hubby didn't want me to buy such beautiful birds and hide them away, so he built the aviary so that it would fit in beautifully with the rest of the decor, as a focal point. I am far from being a breeder, however the gouldians, zebras, and shaftails are reproducing...in fact one of my pairs are sitting on 4 fertile eggs due to hatch b the end of the week (their 3rd and final clutch for the season).

[Domenic]

the gouldians, zebras, and shaftails are reproducing...in fact one of my pairs are sitting on 4 fertile eggs due to hatch b the end of the week (their 3rd and final clutch for the season).

I had no idea that you were getting your birds to breed in the middle of your house! That's fantastic Janine, great job. It really is the best of both worlds when you get to watch the birds all throughout the day and also get to see chicks in the nest.

[lovemyfinch]

the gouldians, zebras, and shaftails are reproducing...in fact one of my pairs are sitting on 4 fertile eggs due to hatch b the end of the week (their 3rd and final clutch for the season).

I had no idea that you were getting your birds to breed in the middle of your house! That's fantastic Janine, great job. It really is the best of both worlds when you get to watch the birds all throughout the day and also get to see chicks in the nest.

I had been keeping my homey practice to myself, worried what others might think of it. However, so far things have been working out (knock on wood). In fact I just noticed this evening that my fawn shaftail Isabelle has been laying eggs daddy is one of my fawn babies born from Tux a few months ago.

[Meagan83]

It seems like most successful owners keep all the birds in bird rooms/outdoor aviaries and they never really get to sit back and admire these spectacular specticles, but rather just tend to them! Or is the tending part the reward which I suppose is success enough. Just wondering....

I used to keep mine in my living room, but my cats gave cause for creating a "bird room". The bird room does give them a calmer environment to live in though, and I keep a rocking chair in there so I can kick back and enjoy them when I feel like just relaxing.

[Ursula]

I keep mine in the "living quarters" too. My aviary is a former sunroom, adjoining the living room and only separated with a screen door. That way I can always hear and see the birds any time I like. I also have 2 fishtanks in the living room and 1 in the bedroom. I can't imagine keeping birds and fish in a basement if I don't have to. I like to enjoy them at all times when I'm home...