QUARANTINE for healthy cage-bred birds - What do you do?

[Sunbay]

There seems to be differing opinions/controversy on quarantine medications for obviously healthy, cage-bred birds.

I do S76 for 2 days, in drinking and bath water. Then follow-up with Ronivet, followed by probiotics. Is that overkill?

Or, is 4-in-1 a better choice instead of the Ronivet?

Or, nothing at all, if kept separate and watched for one or 2 weeks?

I have a healthy, young pair of STRAWBERRY FINCHES on the plane, picking up later today. I want to make sure I do best by them.

I do the S76 flock 2-day treatment on everyone, monthly. I am wondering if even that is too much for non Gouldians and canaries.

I realize wild-caughts are a whole different situation. I am talking about healthy birds, from a reputable breeder.

What do you all do?

(I did not find a relevant article in the "Finch Info Center").

Thanks,

Lauren

[Angela&Shalamar]

I believe in the less is more approach. Any meds can have side effects and any animal can develop a side effect or reaction to any med at any time. Also overuse of antibiotics is as problematic in animals as it is in humans Even worming/antiparasitic meds when overused can cause development of resistance in the things they are meant to control. If the animal comes from reputable breeder I see no need to treat for anything unless a problem develops. The exception would be if they are raising them outside then treating for possible mites from wild birds might be prudent. Even my local pet store where I've gotten most of my birds unless someone seems ill I'm just doing a basic quarantine and a good diet. I also do 2 week quarantine at a minamium no matter where the animals came from.

[cindy]

Quarantine is a must no matter where you got the bird from, even if the bird is from someone you know and trust...the time quietly spent in quarantine gives the bird time to settle down, get use to the routine and to new smells and sounds.

As far as meds...that depends on who you get your birds from. Buying at a show and from certain vendors/brokers there ( I have seen swapping going on amongst vendors and some birds are not bred at there aviary but brought in from elsewhere). Finches always get dewormed, Ronex 12% and if bred outdoors round of Coccicare.

I asked my vet about using Ronex on hookbills and she said it is so rare that they get parasites it is more bacterial infections and yeast that is a concern.

Most remain in quarantine for 3 to 4 weeks, watching for symptoms. Often though some illnesses do not show until a bird is going through breeding.

[Martie]

I take a less-is-more approach as well, but do always address potential mites. Here - that is Scatt. Having had an infestation once, I have no desire to go through that again, and have seen no ill effects on new birds.

I give them a quiet place to rest from their trip and get used to their new food and surroundings - and then deal with issues if I see them.

Cindy is so correct about where the birds come from. Even my best friends' birds are quarantined. You can't know what might be incubating in any bird - nor what they might pick up on their way to you while stressed from a trip. We can't prevent every disease that might be lurking - bringing in new birds is always risky - but we can get many major issues.

[finchmix22]

I always treat new finches with one SCATT treatment ( a drop to the thigh, under feathers) and give five days of Ronex 12%. Then, I keep them in quarantine for 3-4 weeks to watch for signs of illness and see that they are adjusting well. Then, to my whole flock, I treat once to twice a year with Coccicare, as a preventative, as some forage on the floor of the cage and may accidentally ingest droppings or drink from water that gets soiled during the day. I only give Probiotic if I have treated with an antibiotic first. To replace gut flora after the use of the antibiotics. That is like humans eating yogurt while taking antibiotics to prevent yeast infections.

[Acelin_Wolf]

Is treating for worms so common? I've never considered that birds can get internal parasites. Should I be treating for that? I guess I've always skipped quarantine because I've always had healthy birds/I'm lazy/they're all in the same room even if I quarantined them.

Where do you all get these meds? (Links if you have them would be great! I would like to look into this more).

I bought herb salad because I hoped that some of the herbs would be good for preventing disease, as advertized.

[paul-inAZ]

I'm also a therapeutic minimalist and go with the less is more school. Treat when you have something to treat. Any drug that works can have side effects or chances are it doesn't work.

As far as herbs and other magic potions I would suggest not reading internet opinions but looking for hard data on the benefits of herbs. They may not harm anything but I'd be very skeptical about believing that they do any good. Just look at all the "strengthen the immune system" claims in the dozens of supplements people take. Not an iota of solid evidence for that in any of them.

[RC#1]

Acelin_Wolf Ladygouldianfinch.com has a boat load of different medications and they do a good job of describing the appropriate meds for the sick birds symptoms/illness.