Quarantine kit & protocol

[Nicole R.]

Has anyone used the quarantine kit and protocol from ladygouldianfinch.com? It includes:

Amoxitex
Vitalize
Ronex
S76
Worm Away
Avian Insect Liquidator

I am considering ordering it as I have my first shipment of finches arriving soon. Does anyone have input on whether there are any steps that are missing/extraneous?

My concern is with dousing newly arrived (and presumably stressed) birds with the AIL spray right in the shipping container as the protocol advises. Seems like the potential for chilling them could put a stressed bird over the edge.

I do have a reptile warming rock in my new setup so they can huddle there for warmth. Rock surface temp is 90-100 degrees F. I bought that instead of the ThermoPerch because the latter seemed too big in diameter for finches.

Thank you for your advice!
Nicole

[Sheather]

I'm not good about quarantine but I do spray every bird coming into my group with ASL and it's never chilled anyone.

[wildbird]

I would never spray or medicate any bird without a good reason to. Only if they are showing symptoms of disease or parasites. All medications are drugs and can cause side effects.

[Sheather]

AIL is preventative - definitely would rather spray a new bird than let even one red bird mite into my house!

[Sally]

I would agree with the AIL, S76 (I happen to use Scatt instead), wormer, and Vitalize for stress. I personally don't administer antibiotics unless I know what I am treating for (I rarely do), and I haven't used Ronex in my quaratine in the past.

I tend to follow a simpler quarantine protocol as described by Laraine at ladygouldian.com.

[ac12]

I use a procedure that Tiffany laid out, and it works for me.

Here is the medications that I use
- mite spray, when they come into the house
- SCATT or S76
- NV powder
- Baycox
- Ronex/Ronivet-S
- WormAway

Depending on which I use SCATT has a 40 day quarantine period, S76 has a 48 day quarantine period.

If you PM me your email, I can send you the Excel spreadsheet of the medication schedule.

BTW, I am a small time breeder, and I cannot afford to have any bugs get into my small flock, so that is why my quarantine procedure.

[Nicole R.]

Thank you all. Antibiotic stewardship is very important to me, both for humans and for critters. I don't want to unnecessarily or injudiciously medicate. However, I am also trying to be prepared in advance of receiving my birds. I am having some buyer's remorse, as I have read some horror stories about the retailer I ordered my birds from (and we spent a fortune. . .) On their website, they recommend having antibiotics on hand in case birds arrive sick. They don't specify which, which is a problem for many reasons, some of which you all have addressed above. That should have been a red flag for me, but it's too late now. I just want happy, healthy birds as keeping finches has been a long time dream of mine.

[Nicole R.]

Sally, thank you for the redirect to Laraine's articles. I appreciate that these were thoughtfully written. Very educational and helpful.

[Sally]

Sally, thank you for the redirect to Laraine's articles. I appreciate that these were thoughtfully written. Very educational and helpful.

Laraine McGinnis has long been a respected breeder, and she devotes a lot of time to helping people with sick birds. I have followed many of her protocols.

Thank you all. Antibiotic stewardship is very important to me, both for humans and for critters. I don't want to unnecessarily or injudiciously medicate. However, I am also trying to be prepared in advance of receiving my birds. I am having some buyer's remorse, as I have read some horror stories about the retailer I ordered my birds from (and we spent a fortune. . .) On their website, they recommend having antibiotics on hand in case birds arrive sick. They don't specify which, which is a problem for many reasons, some of which you all have addressed above. That should have been a red flag for me, but it's too late now. I just want happy, healthy birds as keeping finches has been a long time dream of mine.

When you get your birds, whether arriving at the airport or at the post office, take a small flashlight so you can see inside the box and count the birds to make sure they are all there and active. When you get them home, have something like NV powder or the Vitalize to put in their water right away. These are electrolyte solutions which help with stress. Have a heat lamp (as simple as a 60w bulb in a gooseneck desk lamp) ready, and aim it at one end of the cage. This will give an area in the cage where the birds can get that extra warmth yet move away if it gets to be too warm. Heat is one of the best medicines!

For seed and water, you want to make sure that all birds can find them and eat and drink. Everyone uses different containers, and some birds have difficulty getting used to seed hoppers or water/seed tubes. Place small bowls of seed and water on the floor of the cage, or if your cages come with those open seed cups, those will do. Keep a close eye on the birds, and contact the retailer immediately if the birds appear puffy/sick.

We look forward to seeing photos of your new birds! If you need any help with specifics for them, we are all here to help.

[Sally]

I forgot to add, if you don't have either NV powder or the Vitalize, you can substitute plain Pedialyte, it has electrolytes.