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Post by criswell on Apr 9, 2022 12:53:03 GMT
Dexter was much more settled yesterday and he's been very chirpy this morning too.
His new cage has been dispatched so should be here early next week.
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Post by mona on Apr 10, 2022 4:57:05 GMT
mona Maybe you could ask the company if they will test a swab from the cage. The company I used usually tests blood and feathers but when I asked they were able to do a sample from the cage. I just used a cotton bud/swab to rub over all the perches and Dean Stockwell's swing and favourite bell. If Milli does have it then it should show up from a cage sample, as long as you haven't just clesned the cage and it means you won't have to stress her. It sounds like Milli's feather loss has been a bit more rapid than Dean Stockwells. He did sometimes grow a few more feathers and most of the time he had pin feathers on his tummy and chest but they didn't grow into to proper feathers. She is loosing her feathers very rapidly. Her back (between the wings) is almost bald, so is her tummy. She is still going strong, eating drinking and playing. She has only one flight feather left, due to which she can't fly up. We have arranged ladders all over for her to climb back and she does. I'm giving her protein rich diet, multivitamins for immunity, trying to keep everything as clean as possible. She didn't want to come out of cage for a while, after realizing that she can't fly the same way. The only lab that tests for pbfd is in south india. They have a collection centre here and they would need to pluck her chest feather for that. I'm still not sure, if I want someone to have her chest feathers plucked for test. They don't do blood test for that. Someone told me that even with fresh feathers, sometimes it goes undetected. Not sure if I want to stress her out. They were all playing together, so entire flock is at risk. But all are adult birds, so hoping nothing goes wrong. I was going to adopt one more bird, but now I really have to think. To me, it does seem pbfd from all the symptoms I'm looking at. She has feathers growing all over her body. Poor baby. I read some stories of pbfd survivor birds, so I'm trying to stay as positive as I can. Reva isn't showing any symptom. Daize and berry are moulting at the moment and I'm skeptical about their moult too - but it seems to be a normal moult.
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Post by criswell on Apr 10, 2022 21:52:51 GMT
Poor Milli. It does sound like PBFD from your description. Dean Stockwell lived with his feather loss for almost two and a half years and he was about 3 years old when he died. There are stories about larger birds being kept alive for many years with regular treatment for the infections. When the vet first suspected PBFD I was so sad knowing the Dean Stockwell wouldn't have a long life, so he did do well to make it to 3 years old.
You are doing all the right things to boost Milli's immune system which will help, and keep an eye out for any signs of infection of any kind as she might need treatment to help her fight it. There is probably no need to get her tested as you may as well assume it's PBFD. It may be better not to bring any more birds in to your flock. The risk is much lower with an older bird but there is still some risk. There is a good chance that the rest of your flock will be fine. Dexter has had no symptoms but Randolph Carter did have slightly abnormal tail feathers a few months after Dean Stockwell joined them. I didn't get Dean Stockwell tested as it didn't change his prognosis but it will be nice to find out if Dexter is virus free so I can feel more confident about getting him a new friend.
Sending you good wishes for Milli that she stays well for as long as possible xx
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