Not a good year

[DanteD716]

Paul, I am so sorry. I hope this one makes it.. I had no idea you could not get those products. If I was closer I would catch up each and every bird so you could treat them.

I hope it is a weahter problem and it will resolve itself next year. We also had a strange year here, but opposite of yours, we had a really warm winter, barely any snow ever stuck on the ground over a day or two. We usually have tons of snow, that is what we are known for. I hope you get a good winter and summer like ours next year, and that all the birds will get on track. Don't lose faith just yet!

[poohbear]

8.30pm here and the remaining bicheno chick has just stopped begging and gone to roost.
I have wire hanging baskets stuffed with fir branches hanging here and there.This afternoon after checking one,a bicheno flew out...there's a coconut fibre nest in there with 4 newly hatched chicks...so here we go again...wish me luck.

Bit dark for a photo but I'm sure you'll get the idea.The birds seem to like them to nest in.

[DanteD716]

Very nice idea and very pretty! Congrats on the chicks, I hope these ones make it!

[lovemyfinch]

So sorry for all the heartbreak Paul You care so much for your birds that I can only imagine how you are feeling right now
Saying an extra prayer that the fledgling and this next clutch sail through.

[Foosa101]

How horrible to have to experience. I do hope things improve and quickly for both you and your birds. Best of luck and hang in there.

[poohbear]

Little lads on his own...but up to press seems to be doing ok.Removed the old nest box yesterday and it was riddled with mites.The other deaths might be due to this.I'm working my way round the place using three different mite killers both powder and spray.Bit difficult to know what to do with two boxes that have young uns in.Don't want any abandoned chicks through over interfering.

[debbie276]

best of luck, mites are horrible to deal with.

[Sally]

It sounds like some of your problems could be related to the unusual weather, how are other breeders doing with their programs? Mites are awful, and very well may be the problem with the Bicheno young. Do you have access to Avian Insect Liquidator by Vetafarm (Australia)? It is for mites, lice, and ants, and I have used it in my cages, on my birds, and in the birdroom--it kills other insects as well. It says it is safe to use on newly-hatched chicks. If you can't get this, here are the ingredients, maybe you can find something comparable:

Permethrin 1.25g/L
Piperonyl Butoxide 6.25g/L,
Methoprene 20mg/L

[poohbear]

Thanks sally I'll read it up...

PS.Cat owners beware of Permethrin based products...It's dangerously toxic to cats and fish.

[Sally]

Thanks sally I'll read it up...

PS.Cat owners beware of Permethrin based products...It's dangerously toxic to cats and fish.

Thanks for that tip, Paul! The AIL bottle says it is toxic to fish, but no mention of cats. My cats normally aren't in my birdroom, but I've had a recent invasion of water bugs (Texas cockroaches), and I was thinking of spraying AIL around my whole house. I'll figure out something else now.

[DanteD716]

Paul, I fear that if you do not treat the boxes with chicks, the mites can spread.

[fabulousfinch]

Paul,

Have you considered spraying your entire aviary with a bactericide, fungicide, virucide. It will kill any mold or fungi that may have set up in your aviary that could be releasing airborne spores. Of course it won't treat sick birds directly, but it will kill any resident surface problems in the aviary as you attempt different treatments for your birds. A respiratory problem could be caused by any one of the above organisms in addition to mites.

Bill

[fabulousfinch]

Hi Paul,

P.S. The mites you can see wouldn't be air sac mites, but they could be transmitting a disease when they bite, or they could be transporting a disease on their bodies. Or it might not be the mites at all (although they still gotta go). Air sac mites typically kill more slowly so I think it is something else and killing the mites you can see and sanitizing your aviary would be where I would start.

All the best,

Bill

[poohbear]

Thanks folks.,..I shall be disinfecting the whole area bit by bit...not easy it's a large area.Fingers crossed.

[monotwine]

If you can use F10 (available through vets usually though perhaps there you can buy it else where) you'll knock anything environmental (other than insect/mite) dead in 1 minute. All you need is a drenching spray on all the surfaces. Totally safe for the birds. which can be hopping about while you at it. Obviously you cannot drench the nests being used though.

It's awful when something like this rips through your aviary. Thinking of you and and hope you manage to control whatever this is.