I was reading somewhere a discussion about the fact that budgies in the wild would have to drink water that wasn't as scrupulously clean and hygienic as the way we offer ours. Peolple were suggesting that maybe this prevents our birds from gaining natural immunity to infections etc.

Similar to when I was a young Mum (many years ago) we were taught to sterilize sterilize sterilize,now however the thinking is that a bit of exposure to germs etc. helps a child's immunity.

What do people think?

Julie

I agree to a certain extent but I guess in the wild they are not as open as our pets are to human made illness's.. We have them in our homes and they are open to allsorts that wild ones arent... Even our water is treated with goodness knows what!!! I have a friend who gives his pets only rain water because of the chemicals used in our tapwater to clean it.. He hasnt got budgies but if he did Im sure he would still give them rain water.... :budgiedance:

What I've heard is that the more time we use medicine ie, for the flu, it actually causes our bodies to depend on them so much that they can't fight the flu off by themselves. Maybe it's the same for budgies.

interesting topic julie, here are my thoughts,

 

Of course in the wild budgies will be a lot more exposed to viruses and such like, but wild budgies that have descended from generation upon generation of wild budgie will have built up an immunity to certain bad germs and it will almost be a part of their genetics (as their parents were exposed to the same, and their parents and so on).

 

when we chose to take budgies from the wild and make them our own we protected them from such harm and breed generation upon generations of budgies this way. so all the pet budgies have descended from captive budgies that have not been exposed to many harmful viruses (through contaminated water and such). over the generations that have been bred the immunity of the birds has been diminished, the strength and capacity of the immune system getting weaker through every generation of captive bred budgies. it takes a very very long time for this to happen though.

 

therefore it can be very dangerous to expose captive bred budgies to illnesses and viruses to some which native budgies are used to and have the antibodies to fight.

 

there are actually very few viruses that can be transferred from human to bird and vice versa, and such cases are quite rare i believe. so effectively they are wrapped up in cotton wool when they are with us aviary birds can build up a better immune system than indoor birds as they are more exposed when they are young. those are just my thoughts on the subject and how i think it works.

 

would be great to hear some other theories about this...

its really gunny you should say thta Julie!

 

my 22 month old went out in the garden to play today. She was digging in mud under the swings. She was eating ice lolly too. She got so dirty she could have stuck to a tree. I was horrifed. I went outside telling her it was time for a bath. My neighbour (whos 80 next month) was looking overthe fence and said that it was good to let kids get 'mucky'. He said thats why kids have so many illnesses these days becasue they are kept too clean and don't get to build up natural immunity.

just thought id sharethat with everyone.

I have decided that in the best interest of my children i am not washing clothes or cleaning the house all week.

I have decided that in the best interest of my children i am not washing clothes or cleaning the house  all week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Can you really stand it that long????

i don't know. but im going to give it my best shot

:(Laughing out loud): :(Laughing out loud): :(Laughing out loud):

Hmm.....even i couldn't stand not cleaning all week and i'm lazy!

its really gunny you should say thta Julie!

 

my 22 month old went out in the garden to play today. She was digging in mud under the swings. She was eating ice lolly too. She got so dirty she could have stuck to a tree. I was horrifed. I went outside telling her it was time for a bath. My neighbour (whos 80 next month) was looking overthe fence and said that it was good to let kids get 'mucky'. He said thats why kids have so many illnesses these days becasue they are kept too clean and don't get to build up natural immunity.

just thought id sharethat with everyone.

I have decided that in the best interest of my children i am not washing clothes or cleaning the house  all week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

At last I have a reason on why I shouldn't tidy my room or get really dirty outside. :grbud:

Thanks Budgeover.

You're being a bad influence budgeover! :grbud:

its really gunny you should say thta Julie!

 

my 22 month old went out in the garden to play today. She was digging in mud under the swings. She was eating ice lolly too. She got so dirty she could have stuck to a tree. I was horrifed. I went outside telling her it was time for a bath. My neighbour (whos 80 next month) was looking overthe fence and said that it was good to let kids get 'mucky'. He said thats why kids have so many illnesses these days becasue they are kept too clean and don't get to build up natural immunity.

just thought id sharethat with everyone.

I have decided that in the best interest of my children i am not washing clothes or cleaning the house  all week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There have been studies that link the increase in Asthma in children to lack of exposure to germs. Apparently children brought up on farms have far lower rates of asthma than those brought up in the 'cleaner' environment of an urban home.

 

I suspect that like most things in life moderation is the key. I see no reason to be paranoid about germs. Food preparation areas should be kept scrupulously clean but most other areas just need the muck wiped off.

 

Speaking of which - "Beekle, when you walk on my laptop keyboard there are certain things you shouldn't leave lying around". Yuk.

Edited May 28, 200520 yr by AndrueC

interesting.

 

 

hehe. beekle is lovely.

This theory is a interesting one. In some parts of Asian country, people do not mind walking or playing under the rain (kids) and they do not get sick. Reason because they have gotten used to it since young.

I saw a documentary some months ago on research into intestinal worms (human). Basically the theory, now undergoing research, was that people in 3rd world countries have worms, and don't suffer allergies. A trial is currently underway, where people drink a solution containing worms (can't remember how often) and early studies show it is effective in practically eliminating allergies such as hayfever. Bit extreme, butthere you go.

 

There was also a worm that changes the way the brain thinks. It makes people lose their fear, and try extreme things, they normally wouldn't. The worm does this to ensure it's host returns to their environment (water I think) when the cycle has finished, to start another cycle. It was an amazing show.

I think I'd rather have the allergies!!!

just the thought of something thinking and controlling your behaviour is like something out of a scary sci fi movie! lin i am disturbed! (Laughing out loud)

 

how do people find out they have a worm? do they have to have a brain scan or something?

I was told by a doctor only a few weeks ago that there are so many illnesses in children today because we protect them too much. They are not allowed to get dirty they have central heating etc. He said himself children do not build up their immune system.

 

We also do not help our children with all the sprays and chemicals that are used for cleaning.

 

We should allow children to play in the garden and puddles and get dirty.

I couldn't agree more-which was what made me wonder about our birds also.

Julie

The worm that affects the brain is actually a stomach worm. It releases some chemicals that affect the part of the brain that senses danger. It has actually been found in people that have driven dangerously etc. Scary isn't it?

I saw a documentary some months ago on research into intestinal worms (human).  Basically the theory, now undergoing research, was that people in 3rd world countries have worms, and don't suffer allergies.  A trial is currently underway, where people drink a solution containing worms (can't remember how often) and early studies show it is effective in practically eliminating allergies such as hayfever.  Bit extreme, butthere you go.

 

There was also a worm that changes the way the brain thinks.  It makes people lose their fear, and try extreme things, they normally wouldn't.  The worm does this to ensure it's host returns to their environment (water I think) when the cycle has finished, to start another cycle.  It was an amazing show.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Bilharzia, schistosomiasis, etc. Fun stuff!!! I was a biology major, with a special interest in parasites, forensics, etc. Mmmmm....dissecting things. Ah, those were the days. okay, I'll shut up now.

I found the documentary fascinating! More info please! I love information about stuff like this. (Laughing out loud) Sounds strange, but I do. I have 3 boys, I think they've made me enjoy disgusting stuff!!!

Any parasite can affect the brain, but the bilharzia snail/schistosomiasis worm can cause big probs. In one textbook, a guy had a 3-foot-long schisto worm removed from his stomach. Yeeha! I think as long as you stay away from equatorial Africa you're okay. I don't remember too much of my old stuff...I'll try to find some links to gross everyone out.

My brother lived in Indonesia for several years teaching English, all the ex-pat teachers swore by yogurt to combat various kinds of food poisoning. I think that's probably true.

Cool, can't wait!

www.cdc.gov and then go to the parasitic division.

This next one has brain worms. Yay!

 

http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/EandS/ar...brainworms.html

 

Here's one more. Tapeworms are so amazing!!

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12322

Edited July 31, 200520 yr by morethanrubies

I'm beginning to wish I hadn't started this!