Last year Kaz contacted Mr Gerald Binks, a renown budgerigar breeder and author, seeking to gain some further insight on a series of a topics. He was kind enough to handwrite responses to some questions, in quite extensive depth.

 

I have taken these handwritten letters and typed them up here for everyone to read and learn from. Mr Binks provides a great deal of useful information as well as some thought provoking questions.

 

On behalf of everyone here, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr Gerald Binks, not only for the information he provides but also for the time he has put into providing this information. Also a big thank you to Kaz, who sourced this information from an expert in the field.

 

There are multiple articles. Please read and offer comment. (If there are grammatical errors or typing errors, they are my fault, and they occurred in the digitising process, and for this I offer my apologies)

 

 

A Serious Matter Affecting us All by Gerald S. Binks

 

“There are times”, as Margery Kirkly-Mason, the great lutino breeder, once said to me ,”when I think I know nothing about budgerigars”. Very profound words from one of our former great fanciers. This came to mind the other day when I happened to glance at the floor of one of my flights. I could see an area where my birds get their carrot and eggfood mixture had what appear to be a pale reddish hue. I’d see it before, but took it to be spillage from the mixture, but this time I woke up to the fact that it was something else.

 

I took a spoon and scraped some up and placed it on the bench. A few moments later I put a X5 eyepiece to it and I was staggered to see the mass moving with minute fodder mite. I explored further in difficult areas of this flights floor which hadn’t been cleaned out for over four weeks, instead of the usual two. I came across that brownish powder which adheres to the flight floors. I examined that and the results were identical. All in all, the whole one inch coating of sterilised sawdust, carrot and egg food spillage scattered grain and grit, was alive! I was both staggered and horrified, but then I got to thinking my aviary was no different to other aviaries, and I was perhaps among those who are more fastidious than others.

 

The grey matter then turned to problems which occur in aviaries these days, as well as former times. One problem we all see is the bird which is wet around the face, clean back end and regurgitating. If not attended to, the bird gets enteritis and you have a good chance of losing it. I surmised that there a very good chance of these birds ingesting seeds scattered on the floor which were coated with fodder mite.

 

What would be the effect on them, especially if large numbers were consumed unwillingly? Almost certainly the birds’ gut system would be affected quickly and I guess the PH would be altered as a result of consuming acidified bugs. If that is the case, and I think I’m right, then this would account for the sickness I’ve described. Furthermore I’ve noticed this wetness with birds usually starts in May and diminishes in September/October in the Northern Hemisphere. May to September are the warm months when conditions are right for all bugs to proliferate and produce in big numbers.

I think I may have hit on a matter which affects the whole fancy. On the other hand, I may be totally wrong so I’m open to other fanciers’ ideas on the subject.

There is no doubt in my mind all aviaries have these pale brown masses on aviary floors, cage floors, under the loose seed and in the bottom of dishes that aren’t cleaned out regularly. Purely by accident I put a lens on mine, but I doubt if many have done the same. I use that excellent product MONOPROP in all my sed bins, so that kills off any microfungi and anything which can be described as live. Once fed however, the fodder mites seem to appear and start breaking down food by feeding on any debris around, especially where there is any dampness present which I will guess accelerates reproduction.

 

I, of course, cleared the flights immediately, noting nothing in the other flights that has been cleaned 10 days before! I sprayed all the floors with an anti-mite spray before putting in fresh sterilised sawdust. I would think that a coating of duramitex on all floors, perhaps bi-annually, would help enormously, but this won’t keep in dishes and one has to be clean there, if you wish to avoid problems.

 

I have another observation to make. I would warn all those who use any of the proprietry egg food mixtures which are sold in dry plastic packs to be wary. When it is open and air admitted, it too can be very quickly disintegrated by fodder mites. I’ve complained to one company and sent a bag back. They said they couldn’t see anything, but I know mites were present in big numbers. I felt, had they admitted there was a problem, their business could be in trouble, and all they was to send me a new bag. I believe such products are fine if you use them up very quickly, but large bags, once opened and even if put in airtight containers after opening, do definitely break down. Then members of the fancy you could perhaps be feeding contaminated soft food to your adults and chicks! It this ONE reason why chicks die for no account? I can’t be sure, but it is important we all think about it.

 

In conclusion may I suggest we all fanciers get hold of a X5 or X6 eyepiece. You can get them from any opticians for a few pounds. Even if you don’t see any mites, they are still useful for looking at the closed ring number. Lastly when you get your eyepiece – keep your eye open and take samples now and then around the aviary and in all the area which budgerigars can get their beaks to.

Edited January 15, 200916 yr by KAZ

Another good article. Thanks!

Thanks that is a great article and lesson to take note. Thankyou :rofl:

A cautionary tale that will be heeded. :rofl:

a very interesting read :rofl:

Eeeeewwww!

 

I sweep and then vacuum and mop with a 50% vinegar solution about once a week so I've never seen this 'brown mass' he speaks of but I'll definately keep this in mind if I'm short of time in the future

Great Idea Kaz

yuckk that really gives us insentive to clean regulary doesnt it!!

Any body know about these fodder mites,or are they a pommy thing,never heard of them.

My birds are on deep litter & only cleanerd out, every 6 months if they are lucky.

Thats the flights,breeding boxes at the end of each round.