Quarantine Procedures

[Strawblady2000]

Hello!

As we all know, every time we bring a new bird home, there is the possibility of bringing in more than just the bird...that's right...parasites, and illness that is unseen at the time of purchase.

Im not sure if y'all use a quarantine procedure or regimen, but if you do,. will you share? Although quarantine cant stop everything...lots of keepers had had many birds infected unknowingly when new birds are mixed with their existing ones.

So...what, if anything, do you do to ensure your new additions are safe to release into your flock?

Personally, I do not like to medicate unecessarily...but there are a few standard things I do. I understand name brands here are different from there, but generally, the treatments are the same type of product.


I first spray the birds down with S-76. It is a mite and lice spray to make sure there are no critters on the birds.

Then, I offer an electrolyte/vitamin B supplement for a few days to offset the stress of moving.

Then, I offer s-76 mixed into the water to take care of airsac mites if present. I prefer S-76 for the spray and water because it is safe enough to use with chicks in the nest...hence no pesticide.

After that, I run a course for protozoal parasites. I use Ronex, but there are different things out ther. As sometimes protozoa can lie dormant until a bird is stressed, I make sure they are clear of it. This takes 7 days.

Then, I repeat the S-76 in the water for 1 day.

Then, I treat for coccidiosis. It is also protozoal, but it takes a different med to rid them. This takes 5 days.

Then I run a final day of S-76.

Then I use a 1 day wormer solution for intestinal parasites.

The next week or 2 is spent observing the bird. Usually viruses will rear their heads by then. Same with bacterial problems. Antibiotics are never used UNLESS a bird falls ill during this period and it is suspected to be bacterial.

From day one, their diet consists of seed with supplements, herb salad, and introduce soft/egg food made fresh daily.

I know it seems drastic. I also know many people choose a more naturalistic approach. Also, it depends on the availability of things in your area, as I know antibiotics are very hard to come by over there.

Please let me stress that the over-use of antibiotics is a major factor in drug-resistant bacteria...and anyone using them should definately only do so when absolutely needed.

[kenny]

hi nikki
you dont say in your post wether or not you isolate the new arrivals,as most of the people on this site will probably agree that is a priority to begin with....that they are kept on their own even if they are kept within earshot of your other stock they must be kept on their own until you think that they are fit enough to be let loose with the rest of your stock.as one diseased bird will spread it round the rest of your stock faster than you can say infection.the rest of the stuff you have written is spot on as they must be boosted up.but maybe only if they need it as you say yourself antibiotics are overused so why dose a perfectly fit bird with anything if its fit enough.it may have a bad reaction to the medicine you gave it and then you would get a false impression of a bird being ill.i would just keep them separated and give them some extras in the seed and just keep a careful eye on them until you think they will be ok

ken

[Strawblady2000]

Kenny,

OOPS...I did fforget to mention the separation thing, lol. That is THE most important aspect and purpose of quarantine!

Observation is also key. Monitoring activity, droppings, etc. is important in determining the outward health of your birds. While many things can lie dormant, elevated stress levels can certainly predispose birds to secondary illnesses that come from the stress suppressing the immune system.

While I really cant emphasize enough about the antibiotic overuse, to me, it is important to rid the protozoal parasites as well as intestinal and feather mites.

Great points Kenny!

[Waxbillman]

some very detailed points made there.

i would never use anti-biotics for a new bird, i use probiotics, that boost good bacteria, making the bird stronger. i think anti-biotics are best left to the professionals who are very confident and know what they are doing, but again unless the bird looks ill then i wouldn't touch the stuff.

Matthew

[Strawblady2000]

I agree. Oddly, there are some people that use it as a PREVENTATIVE!!!! Of course, then it is wondered why bacteria become resistant and the med no longer works.

I've seen people pass advice to use tetracycline on breeding hens and new chicks!!! :shock:

Not only ahould that not be the first option, but it is unhealthy for the chicks and will also bring the hen out of condition faster than anything else!

[kenny]

hi nikki
please dont take this the wrong way,as it is not aimed at you personally but the run of the mill american citizen seems to be happy taking any kind of medicine that seems popular at the time .prozac,vallium and the like even if they dont need it so are you surprised if they start overdosing on any antibiotic they acn they their hands on without realising that they are getting immune to the affects

ken8)

[Strawblady2000]

Me take something personally? Are you kidding? :-D No way.

Nope. Youre right. There's a pill for everything nowadays. While many take them needlessly, they do help some people...but when addiction issues and abuse by those who dont need them comes up, the ones who truly do need it are the ones who pay the price. Some of the meds I must take would have you thinking I'd need a straightjacket, lol. But they actually KEEP me from needing one. LOL! I dont take all Im supposed to, but have learned ways to redirect myself in positive ways as opposed to solely relying on pills.

Our society is one of convenience and instant gratification based on utter capitalism. Yes, there is SO much more opportunity here than in many other countries...and yes we have vastly differing attitudes on many things. I can see where other people would think we can really be selfish a*******!

I can only really see this as I was raised bi-culturally. Many Americans dont even realize what the nation has become...and more importantly, what it looks like outside of the American box to others around the world....like dung beetles in a box, lol, looking for the next turd.

Okay, so back on antibiotics, lol. There are a few different kinds available for sale here with no difficulty at all. One thing that the newer breeders try to focus on is being proactive and not reactive. Proactive in doing what we can to keep birds healthy with diet, cleanliness, observations, etc. I sometimes adjust the PH of the water to help their bowels. Antibiotics should ONLY be used if a bacterial infection is suspected. Not just because a bird is fluffy.

Which brings to light one more question...has anyone ever used grapefruit seed extract? It is supposed to be a totally natural way to cleanse water, control yeast and fungi and gets rid of trichomonas. It does other things as well...if I can find the article, I'll post it.

Anyways...its about 5:30 am your time...time to go watch a movie or something, lol.

Hope no one took my post offensively. Not meant to be that way. Just agreeing with Kenny in that I fell the same about what he said. And yes, I still love my country, lol, but as Americans, we tend to be a bit uppity and catty.:-D z

LOLOL!!


Anyways...yes, Im really ranting now, lol...

[kenny]

hi nikki
you are lucky you can buy antibiotics,there is no way we can buy them in this country.you have to see a gp before you can get them here,i have seen that grapefriut stuff advertised but not tried it as yet!


ken

[Strawblady2000]

I have some emails about the GSE I can paste here...will do it after while. I'll have to rummage my inbox, lol.

Yeah, but the antibiotic abuse is also common. Is it something one would get into trouble for ordering from the net? Or if someone (a friend) shipped it to you?

[kenny]

hi nikki
i shouldnt think so,its just that in this country the doctors dont like giving them unless absolutely neccessary as they are frightened you build up an immunity to them thats why we have these superbugs in our hospitals (MRSA) that they cant kill as they are as i have said immune to any bug killing stuff

ken

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Kenny,

Here we can obtain antibiotics for small animals (birds, hamsters, etc) but for dogs, and other pets, a vet must give a prescription.

As far as people, docs write prescriptions for these very easily...but now they are really starting to make sure patients know that they are not a cure-all, such as for viruses, etc.

As far as drug resistance...if you have a specific bacteria and you take the antibiotics...lets say not all of it is killed...well the ones that initially were weakened but not killed by the anitbiotic become stronger and therefore much more resistant to that course of a-b's. So...you have a continued infection teaming with stronger bacteria that have built a resistance to the original medicine.

There is some controversy here about even having "antibacterial" soaps, etc. Most people do not handwash for long enough to kill the bacteria, and a similar thing can happen with the resistance I described above. But, it cant go without saying that somethimes, that is the only thing that will work.

Lol, I know, I know...it's like preaching to the choir, lol...tell ya something ya didnt know, right??

LOL!

Hope you ahd a good weekend, Kenny.

[kenny]

i had a great weekend thanks nikki i was keeping an eye out for the youngsters so i could sex them and i made some sliders today so i could ring them before the cock birds started to look like their parents.......on the antibiotics front in our hospitals here where i live at every door they make you use an alcohol gel to get rid of germs,as you say because people dont wash their hands as thoroughly as they should

ken