This is my new male that i purchased yesterday.

 

He is in quarintine, but i just wanted to check what the dark marks are above his cere. I am hoping they are just from a fight or moulting....

 

Thanks

Liv

 

haha helps if i add the picture hahaha

 

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by **Liv**

There are those that say it shows signs of carrying psittacosis. I am not sure I totally believe that, but research may bring up some surprises in that area. Its definitely staining from a respiratory thing as you will see the stains are from each nostril. Not anything to do with moulting or a fight.

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by KAZ

Thats not good :hap:

 

I have him and Lady in the same cage too (because they were living together anyway)

Scooter is still in the other quarantine cage, but is due to come out on Saturday. I might take him out now and pop him in with the others as he is fine, and let Lady have scooters cage.

 

I have had a close look at him. he is not sneezing or showing signs of fresh discharge (other than the old looking stain) His breathing is normal and i have read he will need antibiotics to treat it.

Thats not good :hap:

 

I have him and Lady in the same cage too (because they were living together anyway)

Scooter is still in the other quarantine cage, but is due to come out on Saturday. I might take him out now and pop him in with the others as he is fine, and let Lady have scooters cage.

 

I have had a close look at him. he is not sneezing or showing signs of fresh discharge (other than the old looking stain) His breathing is normal and i have read he will need antibiotics to treat it.

Those in show breeding circles treat these symptoms with doxycycline...only available from a bird vet. Make sure your quarantine area is minimum 5 metres from all other birds.

There are birds that carry psittacosis but do not display the clinical signs or symtoms. The staining above the cere is the most often discussed symptom show breeders talk of when assessing a bird that is a carrier of psittacosis.

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by KAZ

Thats not good :hap:

 

I have him and Lady in the same cage too (because they were living together anyway)

Scooter is still in the other quarantine cage, but is due to come out on Saturday. I might take him out now and pop him in with the others as he is fine, and let Lady have scooters cage.

 

I have had a close look at him. he is not sneezing or showing signs of fresh discharge (other than the old looking stain) His breathing is normal and i have read he will need antibiotics to treat it.

Those in show breeding circles treat these symptoms with doxycycline...only available from a bird vet. Make sure your quarantine area is minimum 5 metres from all other birds.

 

I have them well away from my flock - but oh i am getting scared - I am reading that it is transmittable to humans. it can be active in poop for 3 months, it can be carried in feather dust etc etc etc ARRRR!!!! what a nightmare!!!!

Thats not good :hap:

 

I have him and Lady in the same cage too (because they were living together anyway)

Scooter is still in the other quarantine cage, but is due to come out on Saturday. I might take him out now and pop him in with the others as he is fine, and let Lady have scooters cage.

 

I have had a close look at him. he is not sneezing or showing signs of fresh discharge (other than the old looking stain) His breathing is normal and i have read he will need antibiotics to treat it.

Those in show breeding circles treat these symptoms with doxycycline...only available from a bird vet. Make sure your quarantine area is minimum 5 metres from all other birds.

 

I have them well away from my flock - but oh i am getting scared - I am reading that it is transmittable to humans. it can be active in poop for 3 months, it can be carried in feather dust etc etc etc ARRRR!!!! what a nightmare!!!!

I will see what I can find out in concrete evidence on these symptoms. I have had psittacosis but that was contracted from birds actively infected with psittacosis in full blast, so I think you are safe for now. You may have to get him tested. BUT I will see what I can find out in the meantime. Could just be a respiratory thing.

Remember a carrier can carry a disease but not get sick from it themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.avianbiotech.com/Diseases/Chlamydia.htm

 

 

 

 

Psittacosis

 

Psittacosis is also sometimes called "Parrot Fever" and "Chlamydiosis." It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be passed to humans; therefore it is reportable to the U.S. Department of Health. It is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, which is like a bacteria (in that it responds to antibiotics) as well as like a virus (in that it will grow only on a tissue culture, not on bacterial media).

 

Psittacosis is a weird disease, in that many birds can survive 10 or more years with it without showing any signs or symptoms. However, it can also kill a bird in a couple of days. In some birds it is very powerful, and in other birds is a mild annoyance. In some birds it can be treated easily, and in others it must be treated aggressively, and then then the treatment might not be successful.

 

Transmission

 

Young chicks are especially susceptible to Psittacosis, and many vets will automatically test them for it. Any bird with a lowered immune system (even if they're just under stress) is more susceptible. The organism that causes Psittacosis is shed in nasal secretions and in the feces from infected birds, recovering birds and carriers. Once outside the body, the organism can live for a long period of time, drying to form dust and infecting others as they breathe. Fecal and oral contamination are especially prevalent in crowded conditions (such as in pet stores), as well as in nest boxes. As a general rule, inhaled Chlamydia will cause severe disease, while ingested Chlamydia will tend to develop into carriers.

 

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

 

Your vet will do a Gram stain to be tested at a lab to confirm diagnosis. Treatment will include using Tetracycline to treat birds. The antibiotic can be given intravenously, orally or mixed with food. Calcium must be withheld since it binds the tetracycline.

 

Prevention

 

Keep your birds away from obviously sick birds! In fact, I prefer to keep my birds away from most other birds, period, since Psittacosis can lie dormant for many years. Keep your bird's environment clean, since the organism that causes Psittacosis can remain on cages and toys for a while. You can help prevent Psittacosis by avoiding: confining, crowding, transporting, dietary changes, exposure to other infections and forced exposure to infective excrement.

 

 

When I had psittacosis http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....;hl=psittacosis

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by KAZ

:fear okay, I am scared. I have Scooter in with Latte and Cookie and Barney - I cleaned his cage and have put Lady in Scooters old cage. EEEKK I hope she is going to be okay and not catch anything too

 

What about my kids etc...??? okay....... I need to breathe, and await your response Kaz, as i am starting to freak out!!!

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by **Liv**

:fear okay, I am scared. I have Scooter in with Latte and Cookie and Barney - I cleaned his cage and have put Lady in Scooters old cage. EEEKK I hope she is going to be okay and not catch anything too

 

What about my kids etc...??? okay....... I need to breathe, and await your response Kaz, as i am starting to freak out!!!

Sorry Liv...I was out feeding birds. I have posted a query re this topic on a show breeders forum for analysis of the birds staining. The staining being part of psittacosis symptoms ( carrier not active ) was put out there by a few members so we will wait and see how they answer the topic and I will get back to you.

NOT active psittacosis symptoms I dont think but those of a carrier...so please dont panic. Wait and see.

I only got psittacosis by handling a bird with wet eyes and poopy bottom who had psittacosis. Take a few slow breaths

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by KAZ

***Breathe in ---- Breathe out ----- Breathe in ---- Breathe out****

 

Better...

 

The thought of bringing illness to my flock horrifies me and to know that something could also infect my children reduces me to a quivering wreck :fear . - only because my family and my birds are my life .

 

Isn't a carrier someone who is basically immune to the desease but continues to spread it around to others. That just means HE is not sick, but can still make everyone else sick???

 

okay i need more deep breaths again

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by **Liv**

Remember Kaz you told me that about Merlin too when he came back from MIL, so Liv I can understand part of your panic. I have been keeping an eye on him closely and he hasn't shown any signs of sickness since he has been back now for 4 days.

No need to worry too much Liv...as he is acting healthy things look good for him. Its only some breeders who say its a psittacosis symptom. Others say allergies, dust and sinus issues...so its not all bad. And Chrysocome might be able to shed some more light on it for us...our resident vet to be

Remember Kaz you told me that about Merlin too when he came back from MIL, so Liv I can understand part of your panic. I have been keeping an eye on him closely and he hasn't shown any signs of sickness since he has been back now for 4 days.

No way would Merlin have had contact with psittacosis....other explanations are all breathing related. Pays to be careful....and a good time to educate ourselves

I REALLLLLLY hope its from simple allergies - that would be a fantastic outcome

I am going to say something frustrating - yes to all those Kaz. It just means that the bird has some kind of nasal discharge, probably from sneezing. It's gotten stuck to the feathers around the cere, dried and then matted over time. It's not a definite sign of any particular disease/condition- only that it is affecting the upper respiratory system as you said Kaz, and all those you mentioned could cause it. Infections, malnutrition and foreign bodies are also on the list.

 

How is his breathing Liv? Do you see him sneezing or having trouble breathing?

If it is some type of condition affecting his upper respiratory system then how would she treat it? Would she need a vet check to find out what exactly is causing it. [ sorry Liv for butting into your topic]

Liv, I wouldn’t get stressed out about it, I have noticed that symptom on some of my birds & other peoples birds & have always wondered about it, but to me it seems quite common & as yet haven’t seen it lead to something real bad. I have had birds with psittacosis before & never got sick myself, although it can be spread to humans, even though my Doctor told me it couldn’t. People in large cities are exposed to it every day from pigeons, as it’s also known as pigeon & parrot disease. In humans it’s known as Chlamydia. If your worried I just wouldn’t keep it in the house with your family, but wouldn’t let it freak you out.

How is his breathing Liv? Do you see him sneezing or having trouble breathing?

 

His eyes are clear and bright.

His vent is clean (even under the stress of a new home)

His droppings are the normal black with white dot

His breathing is visably normal - his tale is still when breathing and there is no noise etc

No sneezing

He is active and flighty

He is eating lots

His weight is normal (visably)

 

I will get him out soon and check him physically before I have my shower.

 

[ sorry Liv for butting into your topic]

 

Don't need to be sorry, its a great question

 

Liv, I wouldn't get stressed out about it, I have noticed that symptom on some of my birds & other peoples birds & have always wondered about it, but to me it seems quite common & as yet haven't seen it lead to something real bad. I have had birds with psittacosis before & never got sick myself, although it can be spread to humans, even though my Doctor told me it couldn't. People in large cities are exposed to it every day from pigeons, as it's also known as pigeon & parrot disease. In humans it's known as Chlamydia. If your worried I just wouldn't keep it in the house with your family, but wouldn't let it freak you out.

 

Thanks Norm. It is easy to freakout about infectious illness when young kids can be exposed

I am a little calmer this morning, but am still treating him carefully.

I am REALLY hoping it's from somthing minor.

 

Chlamydia .... I don't want to have to explain that to my hubby :

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by **Liv**

nor I

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by Elly

:(Laughing out loud): hahaha

 

okay on a serious note...

 

I have checked him over physically.

 

He is flighty but i noticed that he makes a low pitched squeak when stressed. I have heard other birds making that sound before too. like when a wing clipped bird plops to the ground and the wind gets knocked out of them for a moment. So i dont know if its anything, but it is worth mentioning just in case.

 

His weight is good. He is not skinny, but he could do with a touch more weight. He was in a big flight with lots of other birds before so that could explain his leanness.

 

His stains...

 

 

And the same picture again, but in full resolution Here

 

It is stained feathers. There is no mucas or moisture there. I looked under the feathers on his head and have found a LOT of small pin feathers comeing though just above his cere. You can not see them unless you run his feathers the wrong way. Bad moult perhaps?

I am holding off on worming him until i know it is not going to make him sick.

I am hoping for you liv that it isn't anything bad mate ...

 

all thngs are crossed for ya

Liv I go away for a couple of days and all of a sudden the world is falling apart... I hope that everything turns out fine.

Thanks Neat and JimmyBanks - I am hoping that he will be healthy too - or at most not infectious

okay Liv , I just refered to by Vets book and it says Feather stains above the nostrals is the sign of a Strep infection which occur on their own or after disease (psittacosis) and Stressful conditions (cold stress,showing,mites etc) .

I would think more so the stress conditions , I would do the quarintine time and if you arent happy with his progress and the stains dont go away then try the meds.

Ps , Ive seen worse cases of feather stains then this ,so dont be too alarmed.

Well i think my new bird IS infectious!!!! :hap:

 

 

This is my new bird with the stains above the cere ....

 

 

 

And this is BG today.... (sorry for the blury BG pics - my camera insisted on focusing on the wire )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BG has dark mucus coming from his right nostril. He is is another hospital cage and i have just turned his warm lamp off so he can get some sleep.

 

I am assuming the worst until i can get to a vet tomorrow. - Psittacosis!!!!!

 

At the moment it have my birds on complete lock down!

 

- BG was in the big aviary so I have moved my small aviary away from my big aviary to reduce the spread of airborne bacteria.

 

- My inside birds are (regretfully) not being handled as if any bacteria is on my person, they could be exposed. :hap:

 

- BG is in a completely disposable hospital cage that i made up myself, out of a nappy box and some aviary wire - and i am treating him with Avicycline C in his water.

 

 

- My new bird is in his quarantine cage and I am giving him the Avicycline C too.

 

- BG's Lady, seems to be okay so far and am wondering if she needs to be treated too???

 

All the birds are spread out with about 5m between them.

 

Please correct me if i am doing anything wrong :hap:

Edited April 13, 200817 yr by **Liv**

I think psittacosis takes a bit longer to transmit so fingers crossed BG has a cold only....but seems like a vet diagnosis is in order.

I hope you are right!

I thinking it's largely the weather that is causing all these problems. We are having really up and down weather, hot one day, cold the next. It's stressing my birds (and me).

 

I really do hope he just has a cold. it's the dark blacky-brown stuff coming from his nose that is quite distressing.

 

How do vet trips with birds happen? Do I take them in a box, or in a cage? can I take a few birds at the same time - i want to get my new bird checked too??

 

These show types - they are so precious and delicate! Pet types are hardy and strong - i have never encountered illness before. I take my hat off to the show breeders who deal with hundreds of birds every day! i feel overwhelmed with just 3!!!!! it's a tough job to keep these gorgeous guys healthy!!!