Strange Growth on Shaft Tail's Beak

[Nerien]

I looked for more information, and several sources mentioned a vaccine against avian pox, one specifically called it canary pox, so that vaccine would be designed for very small birds. Did your vet mention this? I don't know if you could be taught to vaccinate your birds yourself, since getting them all to the vet would probably be both physically and financially impossible.

You found it quickly, and acted quickly, so maybe it didn't get a chance to spread past Romeo and maybe the other cagemates. There is reasonable hope for that.

After you finish initial cleaning, just remember to treat each cage as a separate, quarantined unit--when changing, washing, filling food and water, do one cage at a time, and clean sink/containers and your hands completely between each cage. That way, if it has spread to another cage, you don't accidentally spread it further by cross-contaminating items, food, water supplies.

I know it will be hard, but don't let worry over this ruin your being able to enjoy your other birds. Yes, you will want to, and should, check them frequently for signs of further outbreak, but don't let that take over. Remember to still just look at them and watch them for the enjoyment of watching them, like you always have. Your worrying won't change whether they get sick or not. So let health checks and new cleanliness standards be just that, a new routine now, and still remember to, still allow yourself to, enjoy and love your little birds.

[Lisa]

I agree with Ruth. Although this is definitely a worrying situation, from what I've read also it's not the end of the world. It sounds more like if the birds develop secondary infections that there is where most of the deaths occur. There also seem to be two types, wet and dry lesions which had different variables in play. While I would definitely act with caution, I wouldn't take this to be an immediate end to your bird world and panic.

Not for anything, but a friend of mine has an African Grey that became ill. She took him to an avian vet who diagnosed him (after $1500 worth of tests!) with some sort of disease that was also supposed to be fatal. She was told that she would have to administer medication through a syringe into his beak every night and that without it, he would waste away as his system could not function to properly digest food. After WEEKS of fighting with the bird every single night trying to administer this medication, which was causing huge trust issues between the bird and the owner, she decided this is no type of quality life for this bird at all. She decided to take him off of the medication and let nature take over the situation. Would you believe that bird did a complete turnaround and is strong and well - it was pretty much immediate after she removed him from the medication. Now she doubts the diagnosis that the vet had given her was ever correct to begin with. It's been months and the bird is as healthy as ever. So, I would still cling to that little bit of hope that things aren't as bleak as they seem. If you start having issues with other birds suddenly coming up with lesions, then that's a different story. Right now it's an isolated incident. I wouldn't panic and start euthanizing members of your flock based on what could be rather than what is. If this disease is truly airborne, then it's in the air, on you, on everything in the room. I would take precautions but adopt sort of a wait and see attitude before I do anything drastic. Keep in mind I also have birds from Teresa and have no symptoms on any of mine thus far.

[Shelleypg1919]

Poor little bird. I just read all of this. How terrifying. I had no idea that birds could get something like that. I will be thinking about your and your flock and sending prayers.

[Ginene]

Lisa@Nerien
I am going to have the lesion sent out and tested. Unfortunately Avian Pox is unmistakable when the lesions are observed. This vet works in a zoo and in private practice...she has experience with this disease and many others too. I read a lot on it and yes I am pretty much screwed because of its high rate of infection and mortality. Juliette had the lesion in my bird room and was contagious at its outbreak. I have been so preoccupied with the babies that she may have even had it earlier than Monday. It lives for a year (possibly years) in its dry form on everything and anything...so if Romeo's (as a carrier) dander gets into a birds eye, nose, lungs or a cut...they will be infected (was told this and read this). I am going to see if Teresa wants him back. I am not willing to put my flock at risk. As for my 4 birds that lived with the pair and the 5 birds + 2 hatchlings I shared a swing and perch with, I will deal with them. That's 11 birds that are probably already incubating this virus. The babies will be the first to die...Thanks anyway for the words of advice...unfortunately they bring me no peace...

[debbie276]

Ginene, my heart breaks just thinking about it, there are no words

[Ginene]

debbie276
Thank you, Debbie...I know this is a really bad situation here...I am at a loss for words...All I can tell myself is that I did the proper quarantine...the vet said that she has quarantined birds for 36 days before, only to put them with the rest of the flock and find them with an outbreak anyway. She recently lost 70 out of 100 birds at her zoo. I am sick. Really...I am trying to keep it together for lil Joe but I know what I am facing. Most of my flock will be lost and there is nothing I can do about it. I will never know who is a carrier and will never be able to breed/rehome or add new birds to my flock ever again.

[Teresa]

I can't tell you how very devastated I am over this. I had no idea that anyone was sick. I thought I took good care of my birds and kept everything clean. Their dishes are washed everyday and I check nails/beaks routinely and use Ivomec and mite spray. I use Diatomaceous earth in my bird room and give them special diets when they are molting or resting. I thought I was doing ok and to find out that I had such a monster of a disease hiding among my birds is something I cannot deal with. I've been trying to give myself time to think of what to do but I keep coming back to quitting. I have many Zebra babies out there and hate to think about it but I what else can I do but put them down?
When I see what Ginene is going through I feel beyond horrible. I would never have rehomed the shafttails if I had known there was anything wrong with them.
I will never be able to get over this. The sad part is that all my birds look so healthy right now.

[debbie276]

I am by no means an expert on disease but I'm not sure that we can be positive where this came from.
The first thought, and I hate to add more panic to the mix, was the canary that had the eye problem. And I only say that because one of the clinical signs is conjunctivitis and/or edema of the eyelids.
Wish there was a way to know where the infection is.

[Nerien]

I kind of wondered about the canary, also. Could you ask the vet if there's some kind of test to find out who is carrying the virus and who isn't?

[Ginene]

Nerien@debbie276@Teresa
Sorry it took so long to reply...I have been cleaning all day again today.
Teresa...I hope you are feeling better after our talk before. This is not any ones fault...It is impossible to know when and where Juliet contracted this virus. The vet said it imbeds itself in the DNA and is dormant until outbreak. She did say it is most likely transmitted by a mosquito. I read on the web that the North East is seeing more of this now. I truly believe that your flock is fine, as Juliet had no lesions when she was in your home.
Thankfully, Hansel (my canary) is fine. I observed him being picked on by the other male in his cage, but the Sovereign Silver took care of the problem. His eye cleared up completely within 24 hours and I discontinued the eye drops after 3 days. I don't see how he could be the cause. He has been in his quarantine cage since the day I brought him home and has had no contact with any bird in the room. He has also never acted or looked sick in any way, other than his left eye being closed. There was never any discharge or inflammation of the eye. The Silver did its job and healed the wound quickly.
The vet said its difficult to test for Avian Pox and other viruses...She has tested birds before upon receiving them and many times birds will come up negative, yet die a few days later or they will test positive and be fine. She said to keep an eye out for birds acting sick...puffy, lethargic, not singing, etc. That is the first sign that someone may have contracted the pox.
Anyway, I hope no one thinks I am placing blame on Teresa. She was kind enough to give me her beautiful Shaft Tails and I am so sad that things ended this way. I truly believe that we both love and provide our birds with the best care. Something like this is unexpected and disappointing, but it is not the end of the world. Two of my dear friends each buried there 7 year old daughters in December and January. Both girls died unexpectedly due to complications from CP (Gabriel) and a rare genetic disorder (Alexa). And it is this that gives me perspective...I will take Avian Pox any day...

[Nerien]

Sorry it took so long to reply...I have been cleaning all day again today.

I have been thinking of you all day, and hoped your absence was just from being busy. I am still so sorry for you going through this.

But your perspective is right on. Last Friday was the 6 month anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, and the date fell on a Friday, as was the original day. Watching my sister go through the date, church preparations, memories, the media back in that little town intruding on their grief and trauma all over again. Earlier that week, someone called in a threat against the students and teachers of one of their schools just before dismissal time, so all the schools went on lockdown again, and the kids didn't get home until hours later. I could hear the anger and also the cry in her voice when she posted "leave us alone, already!".
Last Thursday was the 3-1/2 year mark from our big auto accident. Today, hubby went to the doctor who did surgery #4 on his wrist, the re-break and set it right, holding it all together with a metal plate. It has been 20 months since that surgery, it looks like the bone has not healed solid yet. CT scan being scheduled to confirm. Which will mean surgery #5, including taking a chunk of bone to graft into it from hubby's hip, which means two surgical sites, two places where bone has to heal, weeks out of work and out of commission. Or don't, and risk having the plate/screws fail, then having to do a major repair job to put it all back together at some time in the future, no telling when it might happen, but as it is his right hand, which gets so much use, it's likely it will happen. Along with him going through all of that and all of the pain, yet again, when he is "down" so is the whole family because I can't do much of anything anymore, either. So if it comes to this, we will have to rush it into happening, so it's still summer and the kids are home to help and not needing to get to school or anywhere, since I can't drive anymore.

It would break my heart to give up all my little friends, and awful to think of them going in unpleasant ways, but there are definitely worse things to deal with.

[Nanajennie]

Oh Ginene, I am once again so sorry my dear. I am praying for peace and restoration in you life. It is true, it is no ones fault. Not yours or anyone elses.

best wishes, I wish I could offer advice and wisdom, but I can only say "This too shall pass" Hang in there and call or email if you need to scream/vent/cry etc...

xoxoxoxo Nana

[Ginene]

Nerien

Last Thursday was the 3-1/2 year mark from our big auto accident.

Its horrible that no matter how much time passes, you and your family will forever be reminded of this day because of all of the medical issues it has left you with...I will keep all of you in my prayers...I do hope your summer is a peaceful one.

Thankfully Hansel is great...I never thought it could have come from him. If so, he would have gotten worse, as "carriers" don't suffer from the illness. They just carry it dormant in their bodies, pass it to another bird and then that bird get the virus. If the bird survives the virus, its immune system develops anti-bodies after the virus runs it coarse. Otherwise, the bird just dies from the virus. Survival depends on the strength of the immune system of each individual bird. That's why the babies and older birds would die from this virus. This is how the vet explained it to me, but I know you have a background in sciences, so maybe I'm mistaken. Does it make sense to you???

I am praying for peace and restoration in you life. It is true, it is no ones fault. Not yours or anyone elses.

Thanks Jennie...I appreciate the prayers. This is difficult, but with each day that passes, my outlook improves. If my babies live...its a great sign. She only had the 1 lesion for a day or so before I caught it...so maybe it is just really bad for the 4 birds she was with in the cage. I don't really know...but all I can do is wait and watch for signs of any illness (and scrub like a maniac ).

[Ginene]

***UPDATE***
Unfortunately, Romeo was euthanized yesterday. After discussing this with Teresa, my Vet, as well as other people/professionals who have/work with birds, the decision was made for the good of the colony. We are all absolutely sick over this...

I continue to do more research on the web and have learned a few more things...Despite the fact that this virus lives in its dry form on everything for up to a year (some research says years), we should be out of the woods by the end of September (3 months). Who ever makes it thru this period of time should be fine. They will develop antibodies to the virus from the exposure.

I spoke with Laraine @ ladygouldian.com and she is praying for my colony and my family as well...I will keep her updates and provide her with lab results and pictures so she is able to add the information to her Troubleshooting Link.

The rest of the flock continues to live...the only thing different that I have noticed is that 2 of my society finches (Hershey and Pudding) each have a tiny pin dot on the underside of their beaks. I noticed this last night and am keeping a CLOSE eye on them. Sadly they are fostering my 2 hand fed chicks...

Thankfully, everyone else seems ok, but they aren't as friendly as the societies are, so it is much more difficult to examine them as they don't sit still when my face is near their cages.

I would like to purchase an avian pro-biotic for my flock, if anyone has a recommendation. This will help in the event any birds go on anti-biotic for associated infections. Thanks.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know what's happening here. And of coarse, I will not be rehoming any of my babies, should they survive this ordeal.

[debbie276]

Praying for you and the birds!
thanks for the updates
all the best