We bought this boy about two weeks ago. I noticed over the past week that his beak and feet are changing. He didn't use to have that brown edge to the bottom of his cere and his beak looks "flaky." His feet also seem to be more scaled. I was looking around the site and am wondering if it's scaly face. (Or am I hopefully just over reacting?) The pics I've seen on the site are of advanced cases, and I'm not sure what the start of scaly face looks like. He isn't hand tamed yet but managed to fly out of the cage when I was cleaning it. When I finally got him, his breastbone seemed more prominent than in our two females.The avian vet that is around here is only available on Tues/Wed. I've called around and found a feed store that sells ivermectin for small birds. Should I just wait to go to the vet? Wanted your expert opinions.

 

 

I'm so glad that I found this site! Sometimes I feel like a nervous, first time mother with these little guys as I've never had birds before.

Edited December 6, 201014 yr by 2pedersens

Hard to tell from the photo but sounds like it could be scaly mite. I'd just buy the ivermectin and put a drop on the skin of the back of the neck of all your birds and be done with it If things get worse then go to the vet.

Thanks! I guess my other concern is about my other budgies. They are currently housed in separate ends of the house as he's still going through quarantine. They've not been in the same room together either. How hardy are these mites? Will they live on the surfaces if they don't have an available host? Do I dose him and then bleach everything in the cage? Just want to make sure he doesn't get a recurrent infection and my girls stay safe.

 

Thanks

Thanks! I guess my other concern is about my other budgies. They are currently housed in separate ends of the house as he's still going through quarantine. They've not been in the same room together either. How hardy are these mites? Will they live on the surfaces if they don't have an available host? Do I dose him and then bleach everything in the cage? Just want to make sure he doesn't get a recurrent infection and my girls stay safe.

 

Thanks

 

Dont panic. They arent as virulent as people seem to think. If you have ivermectin spot on you may as well give them all a spot anyway.

Scalyface mites arent known for living anywhere but within their host. So scrubbing a cage mentally doesnt really help at all. If it was red mites then yes you would have to.

If you treat all your birds, they will not be hurt if they are mite free, and they will be better if they have scaley mites. One drop on the back of the necks to them all, problem solved.

Thanks for the responses. Went to go get the ivermectin from the feed & supply store and apparently the gal I talked to on the phone didn't know what she was talking about. They had ivermectin for cattle and horses with no indication of concentration. Went ahead and scheduled an appointment with the vet for tomorrow. He definitely isn't as robust energy wise as he was when we first brought him home and his cere around the nostrils are starting to look suspicious. Will ask for extra of whatever anti-parasitic medication they provide and dose the girls.

 

 

Edited December 7, 201014 yr by 2pedersens