One of my budgies has a crusty cere. He is a male I'm 100% sure of that. It doesn't look like a female's cere though. Its completely blue and dark purple but at the bottom of it where it touches the beak its a little craked and dried up crusty looking. I don't have any pictures. At first I though it was dried up corn or something he ate.. any ideas of what it could be?

 

Thanks

Post a picture. If you are certain it is male, then the other option is it has the beginnings of scaly face mite. BUT to be sure we need a clear cere photo.

I just took these pictures..

 

They just ate corn so their beaks are a little dirty.. But you can see what I'm talking about clear enough I hope.

 

 

 

I just noticed this a couple of days ago.

 

Hope those help, Thanks.

No feedback again?...

Looks like the beginnings of scaly face to me. Either ivermectin from the vet or apply oil with cotton swab making sure not to get it in the nostrils.

Thank you Kaz :question:

 

will vaseline work? I've read that if it isn't too advanced vaseline will do it is this correct?

 

This really upsets me though. Is there any other reasons other than mites that could cause that to his cere?

My birds are indoors and I live in a cold state. I've never seen mites in my life so I don't get how he could have them.

 

None of the other birds show any signs of them either.

 

One more thing.. this bird is in a breeding cage right now and they have eggs. He was in perfect health when I put him in.. he has developed this in the past two or three days so I don't really get it.. Any advice on that?

No need to panick Cielito scaley face mite is very common and will come in with new birds they cannot be seen by the naked eye and often go unnoticed until the scale on beak and cere builds up to a point were you can see it. It takes 6 to 12 months for an infestation to build to the point that it can be noticed by us.

 

On the photo on the cocks beak running down from the cere (above the corn residue) you can see some small furrows and some small holes right near the margin of the cere. This is caused by the mite. Check your other birds for these too.

 

They can also appear on legs and vents of the birds so it's worth cheking and treating there too.

 

Vaseline will kill mites that are on the areas being treated as it fills in the little holes in the beak and cere and suffocates the mites in their homes but it will not treat mites living in other areas of the birds body! Ivermectin can be used to eradicate scale from your birds entirely but you will need to treat them all at the same time with a spot-on treatment AND follow up with a second treatment 3 weeks as well as treating the perches weekly with something like Avian Insect Liquid or replacing them entirely.

 

Hope this helps.

Thank so much it really helps.

 

Do you know where I can get Ivermectin other than the vet? There's no avian vets close to where I live. I rather use Ivermectin to be sure they are completely free of mites and I will replace their natural perches. What about the rope perches and toys? Will scrubing the cage with vinegar help?

 

And also about how much does Ivermectin cost? I'd like to have an idea.

 

I got this cock around march of this year and I quarantined him... no idea he would have mites.

Will the Ivermectin affect the eggs or possible chicks in any way? if I have to get the mother treated as well?

 

 

My last question.. how does a mite look like? If I'm gonna check every bird I'll have to know what it looks like lol. I've never seen one in my life.

 

 

Thank you so much for all the help and sorry for all the questions.

 

 

Edit: I also read that giving them garlic (in the from of powder sprinkled on their seeds) would keep mites away.. Is that correct?

Edited August 24, 200915 yr by Cielito

Do you know where I can get Ivermectin other than the vet?

 

I normally get it from a produce store. The avian vet would probably not give it to you as it is not a registered avian product. Go to the health section of this forum and there is a big pinned topic on the pro's and con's of using ivomec.

 

And also about how much does Ivermectin cost?

 

It is not too expensive, you can normally get it in pretty small bottles from your club (who bought a big bottle and divided it up for club members). Maybe it would be worth joining one so you can share knowledge and ideas with others from your area, this way you will easily find out little bits of information like that easily!!

 

Will the Ivermectin affect the eggs or possible chicks in any way?

 

Ivomec wont affect anything in the aviary as long as it is used correctly, lots of us use it on chicks in the nests.

 

 

how does a mite look like?

 

The mite is microscopic, it burrows into the cere and dermis of the skin around the legs. You can't see it with the naked eye, but as nubbly said you can see the tunnels it makes when burrowing. They lay their eggs in the tunnels under the skin which sometimes causes an inflammatory response. Basically if I were you and you only had 20 birds I would suggest using the spot on treatment (putting a drop on the skin on the back of each birds neck) on every bird in your aviary. This way anyone who the cock has been kissing or sharing food with will be covered and you will hopefully not have to worry.

 

Do a bit of looking around on the forum, the health section has a lot about scaly face mite and also about ivomectin.

 

Have a read and if you have any more questions I am sure people will be more than happy to help :thumbs_up: Good luck

Edited August 24, 200915 yr by KAZ

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

 

I'd love to join a club but there's none in my area..

 

I will call the vet tomorrow and see if they could sell me some Ivermectin. I lose nothing by trying lol

 

Does anyone know if there's a place where I can buy it online?

 

 

Well today I did deep cleaning of the whole room where the birds are. I replaced all the natural branches and washed the rope perches. I washed the toys and swings in a chlorine solution and let them dry in the sun.. I don't know if that helps get rid of mites? I scrubbed the cages as well.

 

I checked every inch of every bird and I didn't see any signs of mites on any of them so is only that one cock who has them. I put vaseline on his beak and cere carefully and he bit me hehe.. he doesn't show any signs of having mites anywhere else but his cere. The hen that is with him doesn't show any signs either.

 

Once I get the Ivermectin I will treat all of the budgies. Should I replace the branches again? Will a chlorine solution kill the mites if I wash the branches instead?

 

What does Ivermectin do to the mites? do they die or what?

 

Can the mites affect other animals in my home?

 

Last question.. I've seen some "bird protectors" they sell.. they are supposed to keep mites away.. do they work or would it be a waste of my money?

 

 

Sorry for all the questions. I've never had to deal with mites before. Do you think I'm being too paranoid? be honest

Edited August 25, 200915 yr by Cielito

Do you think I'm being too paranoid? be honest

 

Yep!!!

 

Vet will want you to come in with the bird (unless US vets work differently to over here of course) but you are right - no harm in asking.

 

I think you can get Ivermectin on-line. Look for Ivomec Cattle Pour-on but I think the smallest quantity you can buy is 500mL and it's not really all that cheap when you only need to treat a handful of birds. Might pay to ring around some of the avicultural societies and see if you can buy some off them in a smaller quantity.

Ivomectin kills mites, they die - yes.

 

Sorry, not sure if washing branches in chlorine solution (bleach) would kill mites. Persumably as they live mainly on the bird but can sometimes live on perches for a time (from what I've read anyway). I use a surface spray like Mortien Professional pack (no idea what an equivelent in the US might be - sorry - a synthetic pyrethroid surface spray) to kill blood mites on perches and breeding boxes (different form of mite that lives off the birds but feeds on their blood at night). I would assume any scaley mite that has ventured off the birds would be killed by this too.

 

Have not heard of "bird protectors" so I can't comment. Can you post a link so we can see what they are?

 

edit: just had a search and found out "bird protectors" are like a little disc you hang in the cage that acts like mothballs, emitting a vapour that prevents mites and lice. Dunno if they are any good. They are certainly not common over here.

Edited August 25, 200915 yr by nubbly5

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

 

I'd love to join a club but there's none in my area..

 

I will call the vet tomorrow and see if they could sell me some Ivermectin. I lose nothing by trying lol

 

Does anyone know if there's a place where I can buy it online?

 

 

Well today I did deep cleaning of the whole room where the birds are. I replaced all the natural branches and washed the rope perches. I washed the toys and swings in a chlorine solution and let them dry in the sun.. I don't know if that helps get rid of mites? I scrubbed the cages as well.

 

I checked every inch of every bird and I didn't see any signs of mites on any of them so is only that one cock who has them. I put vaseline on his beak and cere carefully and he bit me hehe.. he doesn't show any signs of having mites anywhere else but his cere. The hen that is with him doesn't show any signs either.

 

Once I get the Ivermectin I will treat all of the budgies. Should I replace the branches again? Will a chlorine solution kill the mites if I wash the branches instead?

 

What does Ivermectin do to the mites? do they die or what?

 

Can the mites affect other animals in my home?

 

Last question.. I've seen some "bird protectors" they sell.. they are supposed to keep mites away.. do they work or would it be a waste of my money?

 

 

Sorry for all the questions. I've never had to deal with mites before. Do you think I'm being too paranoid? be honest

 

Last question.. I've seen some "bird protectors" they sell.. they are supposed to keep mites away.. do they work or would it be a waste of my money?

Bird protectors have been proven to be toxic for birds. They are of no use at all for scaly face mites or any other kind.

 

http://birds.about.com/od/birdcages/qt/miteprotectors.htm

 

I checked every inch of every bird and I didn't see any signs of mites on any of them

You wont see scalyface mites.......they are microscopic and cannot be seen.

Edited August 25, 200915 yr by KAZ

Thank you Kaz.

 

I was looking for the tunnels they make when burrowing as nubbly said. I figured it would look something like his cere does..

 

 

I called the vet today.. they don't sell Ivermectin but they told me where to buy it so I'm making a trip today and see if I have any luck.

 

I've been doing some research on scaley face mites.. I read that they don't live off the bird so it isn't necessary to treat the cages.. is that correct? I read that you only have to treat the cages with red mites.. as they hide in corners and what not.

Do you have a Blain's Farm & Fleet Store where you're at ???

 

 

They sell it there......

Thank you Kaz.

 

I was looking for the tunnels they make when burrowing as nubbly said. I figured it would look something like his cere does..

 

 

I called the vet today.. they don't sell Ivermectin but they told me where to buy it so I'm making a trip today and see if I have any luck.

 

I've been doing some research on scaley face mites.. I read that they don't live off the bird so it isn't necessary to treat the cages.. is that correct? I read that you only have to treat the cages with red mites.. as they hide in corners and what not.

 

In the USA I believe ou can buy ivermectin type product called SCATT...............same thing.

 

http://www.pets-megastore.com.au/product_i...?products_id=13

 

For scalyface mite I do not believe you need to do cage and perches. Its within the bird not external to the bird.

Edited August 25, 200915 yr by KAZ

They have been known to live off the bird for short periods. So treating the perches is a good precaution.

 

Having said that - I didn't treat my perches and thought I had erradicated scale from my birds completely but then after reading that scale can remain unnoticed for 6 - 12 months AND I treat my birds at least 2x per year it's possible they are still there but just in very small numbers constantly being controlled by the treatment I use....... who knows.

Edited August 26, 200915 yr by nubbly5

I went to a producers store and found this:

 

 

It was the smallest bottle they had.. I didn't buy it since I want to know if its the right stuff first.. what do you think?

 

It says Phoenectin and under it says Ivermectin Pour-On for cattle. Is this what I'm looking for?

I would think it would work...

 

But this is what I use >>>>>>> Ivomec Pour On

Edited August 26, 200915 yr by BudgieB

Both 5mg/mL Ivermecin Pour-On.

 

Same stuff just different names.

 

Ivomec was the first registered brand name of Ivermectin - after it came off patent other companies were allowed to copy and sell it so it now comes in many different brand names produced by a few different companies. The one you have found is one of those copies (we call them generic products in the industry) but still identical to Ivomec Pour-On. Most of these copies are significantly cheaper than Ivomec too - so it's good to shop around so long as you can get an identical product.

Edited August 26, 200915 yr by nubbly5

So I should go buy it then? Its only about 14$

 

And how to use it? How much for every budgie? Will I need to dilute it?

 

I don't want to kill any of my babies!

Yep very cheap compared to what we can buy here!!!!!

 

Get an eye dropper and put one drop (undiluted) onto the back of the budgies neck straight on the feathers. (I have by mistake put on more than one drop - like 5 or 6, without any issue).

 

Over the years I've been using it (on over 200 birds) I have not had one death from Ivermectin Cattle Pour-On but have heard that occasionally like people certain birds can have an allergic reaction so it's not impossible but very unlikely.

 

They will scratch at the spot initially but within the day will no longer notice it.