Gouldian Finches

[zipzapzipperzoom]

Air Sac Mites...Once the eggs hatch...when should the first treatment be given? What is an example treatment scheduale? If treatments are given regularly, will it ever become a problem?

thanks,

[debbie276]

If you treated for ASM when you first got your birds in quarantine you shouldn't have to treat again. Are you having a problem that makes you want to treat them?

[zipzapzipperzoom]

Just need to know when to treat them for the first time. My societies are fostering...I've treated with S76 as a precaution when I brought in a canary. I'm new to Gouldians.

[zipzapzipperzoom]

Do Gouldians hatch infected with air sac mites? So if my societies are not infected with air sac mites...then why should I treat them if they have not been exposed? Unless they are showing symptoms...

[debbie276]

Birds will only get ASM if you have an infected bird. They are transmitted by closed contact such as a parent feeding young. The chicks can not hatch with them already.
Just an fyi, if you are fostering with society's be sure to move the chicks as soon as you can with other goulds otherwise they will not learn the gouldians song.
good luck

[zipzapzipperzoom]

So since my societies are not infected and I don't own canaries or other gouldians...then I shouldn't need to worry or proactively treat for ASMs regularly?

I am also aware that societies may carry certain diseases that are deadly to gouldians. I'm hoping that mine do not transfer anything, but I will find out. These are eggs that would otherwise be tossed, so I'm a little worried about imprinting, but this is an opportunity for me to possibly have gouldians without spending a lot of money for the purchase. I'm not planning to re home or breed them in the future either.

[cindy]

This is some information on the use of Scatt and Ivermectin 1%

*Both Scatt and Ivermectin 1% are not water soluble (oil based) so they need to be dosed topically. Ivermectin 1% 3 doses 14 days apart, Scatt 3 doses 14 days apart (waiting the 3 weeks between doses leaves to much room for a breakthrough). My avian vet said she always recommends 3 doses.

DOSE one drop topically to the back of the neck (part feathers and dose directly on the skin) repeat every 14 days for a total of 3 treatments.

Topically/blood, skin absorbed avoids the Ivermectin 1% or Scatt from going through the liver of the bird.

The point to the multiple treatments is to ensure that all phases/life cycle of the mites are eradicated. Doing one treatment is not sufficient. ASM does not live dormant in the birds, problem that they see is that treatments were not repeated within the 6 weeks to catch/stop the full life cycle of the mites so that is why breeders/owners have reoccurring issues with ASM.

By the time your bird can be heard clicking they have had ASM for a while already, it does not just happen. (Feather mites and ASM requires you also clean and treat the environment the birds live in. If one bird in the flock presents with ASM or mites you must treat all birds that shared the same flight/cage. Cage and surroundings need to be cleaned and can be sprayed down with Avian Insect Liquidator.

Doing a preventative in quarantine for the 3 doses 14 days apart, total 6 week course prior to introducing the birds into a clean flock (previously treated) she said you should not see ASM/mites in your flock unless you introduce a bird into your flock that has it and has not been quarantined or treated with a preventative first.... so do not be in a rush to add a new bird to your flight/aviary without quarantine and preventatives.

[zipzapzipperzoom]

Birds will only get ASM if you have an infected bird. They are transmitted by closed contact such as a parent feeding young. The chicks can not hatch with them already.
Just an fyi, if you are fostering with society's be sure to move the chicks as soon as you can with other goulds otherwise they will not learn the gouldians song.
good luck

That's good to know...Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't foster these if I don't have other gouldians around.

[debbie276]

Without another gouldian for them to learn from the male goulds will most likely sing like the society. It will be interesting to see what happens. If a male gouldian sings like a different species most likely any gouldian hens will not respond to their song and advances. If you don't intend to breed them it shouldn't be a big deal except you may not enjoy the gouldian song which I find lovely.

As far as ASM I personally do not treat routinely only with new birds in quarantine.
Scatt is active in the blood stream for 21 days, the life cycle of the ASM is 14-21 days. I get the repeat treatment after 14 days, personally wouldn't do it but I get the theory. 3 treatments to me is over kill and I wouldn't subject my bird to that much medicine. Ivermectin only stays active for hours so I still don't understand how the treatments can possibly be the same. JMO

best of luck