Puff

Well, I had her fecal matter sent away and she has no parasites and no infection of any kind. She does still fuss but not so often now and she seems happier lately. I am mystified but extremely happy I had her checked. Thanks for input. Regards.

Thank you, this seems more probable. She continues to 'fuss' a few times everyday and otherwise seems okay although more quiet. I will get on testing right away.

Thanks for the input...even this has made me feel more confident that she doesn't have mites. I have looked with microscopes and everything so... what it is I don't know but I am sure she doesn't have mites which was my #1 concern.. (after resolving the flea thing).

I've been told that and I also that it is possible she has angina. Yesterday I cleaned her cage and poured boiling water over everything. Last night I did the white sheet with the flashlight and found nothing. I also took the bottom of her cage paper and examined it too. Nothing! Her face and legs look fine. I just don't see any evidence of mites - but her fussing is so worrisome. I'm sure you know what I mean. After 11 years you get VERY attached. I may have to face it.. she may be near the end of her life span.

If it is mites, what is the best course of treatment? As I mention, I have no access to bird supplies, vets etc in this small town. I read online about A.I.L. and have not yet located a place to buy it. Is there an organic treatment for mites? What would you do? I have a jewelers microscope so I can look reeeally close, I'll try the perches. I also took some of her bath water and examined it under a regular microscope and didn't see anything bug-like. By the way, thank you - I know this is tiring answering questions like this. I really appreciate it.

Hi everyone, I am a novice bird owner in that I have only ever had a couple of birds when I was young and now I have had Puff for 11 years. She was a 'rescue'. My friend found her and 2 others in a garage about 11 years ago and talked the lady into giving them up. Then she had too many birds and gave me Puff. We (my son and I) have had her for 11 years and she has been a happy bird. She usually has her cage opened first thing in the morning and she goes to a huge mirror on and off through the day. We have a chinchilla and occasionally dogsit. (Chinchilla's do not get fleas etc because their fur is so thick). So the problem: about 3 months ago (beginning of summer) she began to fuss every once in a while. It lasts for only seconds and it seems as though she is being bitten. She desperately looks at her tummy or over her shoulder or some part of her body and picks or scratches. She might then talk off flying as though she is trying to get away from the irritation. That is it! Then she is fine, sometimes for hours, sometimes longer. This happened anywhere from 0 - 3 or 4 times a day until recently. Now she is beginning to fuss more often. Last night she really was distressed for 15 or 20 seconds. She isn't pulling out feathers but she picks at herself and cries out when this happens. It worries me. She has white paper towel on her cage bottom and I see no evidence of blood there, although the last time I cleaned it, it had tiny, minute bright red spots (spots is too big of a word - smaller than a pin head) under her one perch - only a few of them. Is it possible she is harboring a flea? She is not hand friendly and at her age I don't want to traumatize her by catching and examining her, she has never had that treatment before. We have no vet within 2 hours of here, only a large animal vet. Otherwise she seems happy and healthy. I would say this maybe tiring to her though, she has more naps and seems more tired on fussy days. Thank you for listening and for input. We love her and I would like to relieve this and get her out of her distress! I will also add she isn't actually losing feathers.. only the regular molt about every 3 or 4 months.