Sevin?

[carcoozie]

Have any of you used Sevin dust with finches? The reason I ask is because my finches are still itching up a storm after 3 weeks of S76. One has pulled out almost all of his flight feathers ~ I read online that quill mites can cause this and that S76 won't kill quill mites. Said they were carried on pigeons mostly and we have them around here and I did use a branch from outside once.
I am just trying to figure it all out but obviously don't want to hurt the birdies inadvertenly.
Any thoughts?

[cindy]

How did you clean the branch before putting it in the cage? If soaked in bleach and water that would destroy the mites. If you wiped it in vinegar it is not going to work. wild pigeons carry all kinds of stuff...if you try another mite treatment and clean the cage good with bleach and water (soak) and soak all cups and branches.

I have hear of people using sevin dust on birds by putting then in a pillow case with the dust in it and shaking it a little to coat the bird...biggest concern I would have is it getts in eys and nostils and can be inhaled into the lungs...big tip if the can said to avoid contain with skin, and avoid inhalation of sevin by humans it might not be so healthy for the birds....frankly the pillow case method is old and I feel cruel.


They have sprays like Pestex that can be used on the bird and it's enviroment

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_pestex.mgi

[carcoozie]

Thank you, Cindy. I'm pretty sure my downfall was the incorrect cleansing of the branch. Mistake I won't make again at least.

This last time of treatment, I have removed everything from the cage and cleaned and then used a mite/lice spray and doused everything with it. I am hopeful that this will cure it.

Yikes about the bird in pillowcase (probably works to coat them, but yikes). The thing I read said to coat nesting material with the Sevin and then the birds would nest in it and effectively coat themselves - would that be ok - or would too much get in their mouths due to moving it around? Another site said to mix it in water and they could bath in it - although it didn't state how much in how much water - and again - they could drink it.

Does any of this sound like a good idea?

Thanks for the help!

[cindy]

Honestly, why risk their health and the health of the young, it is a powder and inhaled into the lungs of a human it can be irritating...in a bird that tiny I would be really concerned.

Try the Petex....I would bleach the branch (soak it is best it gets into every nook and crevis) and if there is a nest spray it with pestex or soak the nest in bleach and water and rinse well sun dry. Same with anything wooden.

I would forgo the sevin even in a bath, there is even mite and lice spray at petco for birds.