Preventative care

[Randomusername]

Do you need to treat an indoor bird regularly for worms and air sac mites? I keep running into conflicting information. My bird goes on the front porch (unscreened), but mostly is kept in the house. If so, is there something to use which is easily obtained at a pet store of feed store? If I get a new bird, should I treat it with anything? I did so much research prior to getting my canary but it obviously wasn't enough! I'm so glad all you experts are here!

[Sally]

Personally, I don't treat for anything preventatively, except that when I get new birds, they all get one treatment of Scatt and one treatment of wormer. My birds are kept indoors, so I don't treat any more for worms. Birds that are outdoors probably need to be on a regular wormer.

[Stuart whiting]

If keeping birds indoors there's absolutely no need to treat them with a multitude of medication like wormers etc because the birds are not out side,
However what I tend to always do with new birds is to always spray em with a known quality anti mite spray,

Other than that yer birds should be fine over the years I've also had birds indoors with no problems although I will say go careful with central heating because this can send birds into a moult unnaturally and become stuck in the moult for long periods,

I used to keep my birds in a spare room that had no heating by making sure the radiator was turned permanently off

[Randomusername]

Cool. That's what I was thinking.

[jimenezl]

Personally, I don't treat for anything preventatively, except that when I get new birds, they all get one treatment of Scatt and one treatment of wormer. My birds are kept indoors, so I don't treat any more for worms. Birds that are outdoors probably need to be on a regular wormer.

Hi Sally,
Can you please share which wormer you use?
Thanks,

[Sally]

jimenezl I happen to use Worm Away by Morning Bird. There are other brands out there that are good too.

http://www.morningbirdproducts.com/prod ... maway.html

[jimenezl]

Sally, that's what I have, and will probably use on my 'new' birds soon. Do you give a probiotic or anything following this treatment, like electrolytes (Gatorade) ?

[cindy]

I use Scatt or topical ivermectin 1%, I like wormaway opposed to the vetafarm worm out gel.... wormaway is much easier to mix.

They also get a course of ronivet s 12%

I also run Endocox, it is a two day treatment the first week and repeated again two days the following week (preventative/treatment for coccidian, birds can carry it and shed it without any outward signs)

My quarantine time is anywhere from 60 to 90 days. The avian vet our daughter works with recommends this.

Morningbird and AviTech both make probiotics and electrolytes.

[Sally]

jimenezl I don't give a probiotic after this treatment, as it is minimal--one treatment of Scatt (1 drop) and one treatment of Worm Away. I don't do any other preventative treatments, as I don't believe in over-medicating birds. However, I am offering electrolyes during this period. I use a product called NV Powder, which is a Dr. Marshall product, for about the first 5 days that I have a new bird. This is just to help them through the stress of transition to a new home, new food, new water, etc. Other companies make a similar product, I just happen to like this one.

[debbie276]

I do the same as Sally, Scatt and worm away is the only medication I offer unless something comes up during quarantine.

Best of luck with your birds

[jimenezl]

Thanks Cindy, Sally,

I used the Mite spray on them, and gave a Baycox treatment a week after I got them, along with Vitamins in their water for a few (interspersed) days. Now I give vitamins once a week. I may make my own electrolyte solution for emergencies and any new birds (if) I get.

[jimenezl]

Just prepared the WormAway as per the directions, 1/2 tsp to 5 fl oz of drinking water. What's not clear is if the birds have to drink all the water for the treatment to be complete? For how long do I leave that treated water?

[cindy]

It is suggested you change out the treated water daily, are you using drinkers or a cup? If using drinkers you can fill them part way up so not to waste the treatment if they typically do not drink a full drinker of water daily.

[jimenezl]

Okay, I think you're saying that they need to drink the full 5 oz but to change the water daily to preserve the treatment's efficacy? Whoop i.e.!! math problem!

[cindy]

They need to drink as they normally do when the water is not treated. do they finish a full drinker in one day?