What health steps to take during quarantine?

[AzillaFinch]

I'm relatively new to finches and have been reading the forum avidly trying to learn as much as I can to improve what I'm doing with my 5 kiddos. I have 3 in the "flock" and two new ones that started quarantine mid-last week. I've been reading about fecal swabs, mite treatments, etc. and want to know what all health steps I need to take with my guys in quarantine to make sure they are healthy before entering the flock. I got them from my local small petstore, so they likely weren't getting top care or food, but from all outward appearances and behavior thus far, they appear pretty healthy (externally).

My other 3 (the flock) have never had (that I have seen or detected by their behaviors) any mites going on but should I preventatively treat them as well if I treat the new guys? Not sure what to do.

And I have kept mite discs from the petstore on the cage, changing them out monthly. These don't say "8 in 1 Preventative" on them, that members were saying are toxic... but should I remove these mite disks? Are mite discs in general a dangerous thing?

Thanks for any help you can give!

[Sally]

Everyone has a different approach to quarantine. Some medicate birds while in quarantine. I prefer to take a minimalist approach. I will treat new birds with Scatt (for possible air sac mites as well as other mites), a wormer in case they have been in outside aviaries, and then I just watch them. I do also use a product called NV powder in their water for the first few days, this is a treatment for stress, which all new birds are experiencing. This is the time to get them used to my food/water, my feeders/waterers, and my routine. I often place a small heat lamp on one end of the quarantine cage, since heat/warmth is one of the best treatments for stress/illness.

I have never used any of those hang-on mite disks, so I cannot comment on whether other brands are any different than the 8 in 1.

[Leo519]

My quarantine is also on the minimalist side:
First I spritz them with Avian Insect Liquidator (AIL) right before I transfer them from the carrier to the quarantine cage, then I give them Vitalize in their drinking water for the first few 2-3 days for stress, after that it's Ivermectin for air sac mites, then Worm Away, and finally I observe them for a week or so and if they behave normally, show no signs of illness, and their poops are good I move them in with the other finches.

[debbie276]

I treat with scatt when moving them to the quarentine cage. Next day I treat with worm away. Then I just watch and give them time to get used to my food and water. If anything looks off I go from there.

[AzillaFinch]

Hey, thanks for the replies! Very helpful!!

Sally & Laura - can I get the Invermectin, AIL and Wormer Away at a pet store or do I need to see a vet or order online?

[Leo519]

AzillaFinch

You will most likely have to get them online unless there's a very specialized bird supply store in your area that carries these products.

Just some side info - Ivermectin and Scatt are pretty much the same thing. I believe Ivermectin is the main ingredient in Scatt (and S76), so you can either buy Ivermectin straight, or get Scatt or S76 - all are very good products from what I've heard. Couldn't hurt to comparison shop and get whichever one is the best deal.

Worm Away is Morning Bird's brand of wormer. There are other wormer products available but Worm Away seems to be the one of choice.

Online retailers who carry these items (including AIL) are:

http://www.morningbirdproducts.com/

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/

http://www.allbirdproducts.com/

I don't think you can get all three products on just one site though. If I remember correctly I got my AIL and Ivermectin from All Bird Products..
and Worm Away from Morning Bird Products.
Lady Gouldian Finch also carries Morning Bird Products, and each website often has different specials going on with sale prices or free shipping, etc. so might be worth while to compare sites to see where the best prices are

[AzillaFinch]

Laura,
Thanks SO much!! I just went to LadyGouldianFinch and was able to get all of them and a few other items I thought might be helpful to keep the cages clean and pest free during quarantine. Thank you so much for being so helpful!!

[debbie276]

FYI Ivermectin is not the main ingredient in scatt. Ivermectin and s76 only remain in the birds system for hours which is why you have to treat multiple times. Scatt stays on their system for 21 days so only one treatment is needed.

Most bird medications will need to be ordered online just find someone nearest to you to cut down on the shipping costs. www.ladygouldian.com also carries all these medications and more.

[AzillaFinch]

Debbie, thanks! Well, I've been doing more reading and discovered that I'm doing some pretty DUMB things (I can't believe how stupid I am!) like having the quarantine cage in the same room as my existing flock's cage. I've also been thoughtlessly going between cages when doing watering and feeding, so.... waiting for all the supplies to arrive then EVERYBODY in the house is getting their cage and supplies disinfected and all are going to get a round of treatment since I've probably exposed everyone to whatever the two new guys may have just through my own stupidity.

Good grief, do I want to kick my own rear... I mean, we tell sick humans to stay away from healthy humans, right? Common sense! Gaw, what was I thinking???

Well, hopefully when the supplies get here we get everyone cleaned up and healthy.

[Sally]

Don't beat yourself up. When I first got into finches, I never quarantined, I brought birds home and added them right into the same cage with other birds. Many of us learn as we go, not doing the research ahead of time. Ideally, quarantine is in another building at the very least, but few can do that. Most members have to make do with another room.

[Leo519]

AzillaFinch

Glad I was able to help and you were able to get what you needed (and then some!) all on one site

[AzillaFinch]

Thanks Sally... I'm really kinda feeling like hell about it. That makes me feel a little better. I actually did the same thing with the "flock." So this is actually the first quarantine I'm doing. Until now I guess I've been extremely lucky. I never treated my originals for mites or worms... never knew to until I started reading up on things here.

Actually, now I have myself all freaked out about mites. Trying not to overthink it (I should not not not have done and internet search on it!) and just waiting for my Scatt and AIL and other stuff to get here (got an email that it's supposed to arrive on the 31st...yay!) so I can get the birds treated and get thorough cage and house disinfecting underway. Think I will feel better then.

Thank you for giving me hope... that uneducated Finch mom's like me can learn from people like you how to be better parents to the peeps!

ps- how long do new members get moderated for before they can post on their own? just curious

[Sally]

It is very easy to read all the topics about mites, illness, breeding problems, etc., and get discouraged or worried from the start. Just remember that for the most part, people tend to post more about their problems than to post just to say 'My birds are doing fine.' There always seem to be more posts about problems than successes, or maybe we just notice those more.

ps - you're almost there, three more.

[debbie276]

We all make mistakes, I wouldn't beat myself up over it.
Mites are not as common as it may seem here. As Sally said most post about problems. Many times upper respiratory infections are misdiagnosed as air sac mites, asm seem to be the go to diagnoses for any breathing issues.
I wouldn't panic about all the birds especially if you are not seeing any issues with the new ones. A dose of Scatt and worming them all can't hurt though especially if it's never been done before.

best of luck