Since collecting him from my friend, I have been noticing that Bert's cere appears to be almost 'shedding' a layer. To begin with, it was smooth and there was none of this white layer, but has since developed so that it is fairly obvious when I look at Bert. I initially thought it was nothing to worry about, but since it doesn't seem to be going away, I thought I should ask.

 

I could only come up with one explination for this shedding- scaley face. I looked up some photos of birds with scaley face, but they really don't compare to what Bert's cere looks like. I tried to get a photo but I had a lot of trouble getting a clear close up, so I'll try to describe what I see. Where the cere finishes and the beak starts there is a white layer that appears to be flaking off. The flaking is also apparent further up the cere, closer to his nostrils.

 

I appreciate any input

Do you have a picture please to post, it is normal for the cere to flake here and there. I know Merlin's does especially if he has been rubbing on his perches. Again, a picture would really help us here.

Sounds like to could be scaly face, but as Elly said, its a bit hard to tell without a photo. The first sign is a white line along the join between the beak and the cere.

Without a picture I would say its scaley face.

Where are you located? If one of the bird sales is on mear you soon there are almost always people selling small bottles of the ivermectin spot on for $3-4 each. A great investment

It sounds like it is scaly face. As Elly, Liv and Ikon said it's hard to tell without a picture. If I suspect scaly face mites I put some olive or vegetable oil on the apparent infected area. This seems to clear it up really well and is a relativly cheap way of doing this as most people cook in some kind of oil.

It sounds like it is scaly face. As Elly, Liv and Ikon said it's hard to tell without a picture. If I suspect scaly face mites I put some olive or vegetable oil on the apparent infected area. This seems to clear it up really well and is a relativly cheap way of doing this as most people cook in some kind of oil.

 

I use a very small amount vaseline just a dab will do

ive noticed that my budgie Bing also has abit of flaking and irregularities on his cere with a white line connecting the cere and beak, but dont all budgies have a white line connecting their cere to their beak? it could also be that his cere is changing depending on what age Bert is???

Thanks for your replies. I was wondering if what Elly and Andrew posted was more the case of Bert's cere. I would immediately put it down to scaley face, only that his cere doesn't really compare to any photos I've seen. I will try to get a clear photo tomorrow for a better diagnosis. I don't know anything about the disease, but if it is passed on from bird to bird, this would be likely in Bert's case, as he was previously living in an aviary with other birds.

 

Thanks

Bert I personally think that scaly mites presents differnent in each bird I have had two birds with it but the condition does not look the same also alot of the pictures on the net are of really advance cases so your might not look that bad yet. Looking forward to the pictures!

I can't for the life of me take a clear photo of his cere, so I'm going to treat Bert for face mites, just in case. Melbournebudgies suggested a product called 'ivermectin spot on'. Is this treatment applied directly to the affected areas? As LisaVenn suggested, will cooking oil work as effectively as a store bought medication? Thanks for all your help guys!

It is applied to the back of the neck much like those spot on flea treatments for dogs. It is a specific suitable strength for birds and I get it in a little bottle from the bird sales when they are on for $3. Let me know if you have trouble finding it

Edited July 22, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies

I've never had Scaley face so i can't coment - I hope that it isn't though!

I can't for the life of me take a clear photo of his cere, so I'm going to treat Bert for face mites, just in case. Melbournebudgies suggested a product called 'ivermectin spot on'. Is this treatment applied directly to the affected areas? As LisaVenn suggested, will cooking oil work as effectively as a store bought medication? Thanks for all your help guys!

 

On your camera setting there should be a close up or macro setting this is where it needs to be set along with pushing the shutter button 1/2 way until it focus and then click.

 

As for putting on the oil, vaseline etc...be careful when you apply you don't block the nostrils.

also if you have an iso setting that you can change, the higher the iso setting, the easier it is to get clearer shots, however the quality gets alot worse when you get up to the 1000 an 1600 range.

 

also if your camera has scenes (like mine) you can use the sport scene to capture fast moving objects, as budgies heads move very fast, or you could show us a video??

Seeing that you only have one bird I would go with the oil treatment, as it will be cheaper, I would use a thin oil, I think that is safer than Vaseline, as there is more chance that it could block the nostrils. Just use any oil maybe a cooking oil or olive oil rub it into the cere area trying to not get much in the nostrils & also rub some into the legs & feet, as they can occur in that area also. Do a couple of times a few days apart, if it isn’t scaly face it won’t do any harm as long as you’re careful.

If your going with the oil, Which is the better option for the time being, when applying to the cere use a cotton Bud ( tip) and pull most of the cotton off it so that it is small - then dip and apply

Less chance of getting it in the Nostrils