My only avian vet within a couple hours' drive has moved. I am considering going back to the same clinic and seeing a vet that was working under her and could probably consult with her, but she is not an avian vet.

I'm pretty sure I know what is wrong with my flock, I just want to be prepared when I go in so that I can recognize if the vet is on the right track.

It started with one hen, appeared healthy when I acquired her but after the stresses of breeding, became ill with what I believe is a respiratory infection. She had thick discharge from her nares which coated her beak and pants when exerts herself. Now I am worried that all the babies will also be sick. She and her mate and another pair and all their offspring are in a large indoor aviary/flight cage.

First, I know that usually meds in water are not effective because budgies don't drink much. Is there any way to treat a whole aviary without capturing each one twice a day? It will be time consuming, but also stressful for them to be caught in a large cage they can fly about in, none of them are tame. I will do it however, if no other option exists.

Also what is an appropriate medication and dosage for american budgies with respiratory infections? Again, because this is not an avian vet I want to be sure I go home with the correct medication. I've scoured forums but can't really seem to find where people mention what their vet prescribed.

Thanks for your expertise!

You are going to need baytrill from the vet for the respiratory infection if it is that. The female should be in a hospital cage right now with warmth and away gfrom breeding and aviary stresses. Respiratory infection would be a singular thing......Specific to the bird infected and not contagious to the others. You do need it diagnosed and you need to be sure of any symptoms in the aviary as well.

 

Youy say it startted with one hen and she has these symptoms...But why are you saying you think you know whats wrong with the whole flock ? Whats going on with the others ?

 

Ps there is no breed of budgie called an american budgie .......It is an adoPted name by pet stores to describe a pet sized budgie.

Edited October 5, 200915 yr by KAZ

Thanks for the advice. It started with one hen and she is still the worst off, breathing the heaviest after flying, etc. However now most of the birds in this flight are showing tail bobbing and open mouth breathing after exertion. Perhaps it could be air sac mites? So, I don't think I can really put them all in hospital cages. The flight is indoors though with the AC vent blocked off so it is warmer in that room than the rest of the house, no drafts. They are definitely no longer breeding, I removed the nest boxes after the clutch in which she displayed symptoms. Perhaps air sac mites makes more sense, she would have given them to her offspring through feeding. I've read this can be detected through listening to the crop for clicking noises or fecal exams. The whole flock is showing the same symptoms, the hen was just the first to exhibit them and is more severe.

 

I do realize they are all the same species, I only specified that they were american (or pet type) budgies in case the size difference was enough to effect dosing vs. the larger english budgie.

Thanks again!

You could be right about the airsac mites too. Recently an imported cockbird I had in quarantine was showing the same symptoms. I put spot on ivermectin on the back of his neck and the very next day he was better with no audible breathing sounds. Have you access to ivermectin spot on where you are ? I think you can buy it over there in the form of SCATT.

Edited October 6, 200915 yr by KAZ

Yes I do. As I read I can use the pour on for cattle, one drop. So I did this today. Man, it's a job catching them all! I'm afraid I riled them up a bit catching them, but it had to be done. I also realized it would NOT have been a feasible option to catch them all 2x a day for 10 days if they needed antibiotics. During this I also noticed the clicking sound in some of them.

So, hoping to see improvement. If nothing else, they've never been wormed before either so it might take care of something else I was unaware of.

Fingers crossed! Have the job of disinfecting everything tomorrow.

Any ideas of what I can use as a disinfectant for the cage? I soaked all the feeders and water bottles in a bleach solution for half and hour and then ran them through the dishwasher. There is no way I can take apart the cage though so I need something bird safe that will get rid of the mites. I was going to use white vinegar but I don't know if that will kill mites?