Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23 
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Post by macarony89 on Oct 31, 2014 17:10:50 GMT
Ok so these little guys are my dad's but he says "its normal" and just no. I will be taking over now and I need as much help as I can get! I semi know what I need to do. I cleaned everything. I want to put vaseline or olive oil until I can get some more permanent treatment. The big problem is...
1) I'm scared to hold the bird. I don't know how to hold them especially those poor fellas are scared to death and flutter everywhere  :eek:
2) What treatment would be best? I can't find anything in U.S...
3) Vet is not an option. My dad isn't going to pay for it and I can't afford it. :confused:
Any advice would be good... |
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Post by Hezz on Nov 1, 2014 1:22:51 GMT
Okay, firstly, are you sure they have scaly face? Seems like your dad knows, but this is considered 'normal' ...... am I right? So no, it doesn't need to be normal and can be very distressing for the birds. Treated properly it will not impact on their health in the long term. The product you need to get hold of is ivermectin 0.1% and this is the important part, 0.1% concentration, as it is available in many different concentrations, used for bigger stock, like sheep, cattle etc. In US it is mostly known as Stromectol. And no, you cannot buy a higher concentration and dilute down as it isn't a water-based product. You should be able to buy this on-line; it is not a particularly expensive product, either. Sorry, but there is no other way to do this but to hold them; all it takes is a drop of the liquid onto the skin (feathers parted) of the back of their necks. Having one person to hold while the other drops the drop is by far the easiest way to do this. A vet isn't necessary, but you are going to have to treat all birds, and totally wash and disinfect all cages, perches, toys, food and drink containers, everything! And do each time you dose the birds, which will be once a week for three weeks, at least. I forgot to mention that in the treatment paragraph.  I will have a look and see if I can find a site on-line to help you, but you have a look as well. |
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Post by Hezz on Nov 1, 2014 2:31:04 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Nov 1, 2014 2:51:35 GMT
Sorry, but after a fair degree of looking on-line, and possibly reading between the lines, I am now wondering if this is a prescription drug in the US. The only places I can find on line are UK-based and will ship to Europe but not US ...... one site says they cannot ship prescription drugs outside of the ECU. This means you would need to source it through a vet. Calling all US members ........ do any of you have a solution to this problem??? Has anyone bought any on-line or locally? |
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Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23
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Post by macarony89 on Nov 1, 2014 3:11:00 GMT
Thank you!!! I think im just gonna buy from one of those suppliers from uk.... Thanks again for all your help. How do I post pictures?!! I have fairly good pictures but have no idea how to post...
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Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23
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Post by macarony89 on Nov 1, 2014 3:11:18 GMT
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Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23
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Post by macarony89 on Nov 1, 2014 3:56:10 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Nov 1, 2014 7:29:29 GMT
Oh, yes  ...... definitely scaly mites and they've been there for a while!  I am very happy that you are on the ball with this and prepared to do something about it. While scaly face (also affects the legs, as you have seen) in the early stages doesn't present too many health issues in the short term, long term and untreated is another matter altogether. Check out some of the images in the link below. www.google.com.au/search?q=untreated+scaly+mites&client=firefox-a&hs=oTp&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZIlUVKjBOs2B8gXpnYGACA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=633Vaseline is better than olive oil, being thicker and therefore more likely to block the holes that the mites have made, but I suppose there is no reason you couldn't do both! first with the olive oil and then the vaseline; the oil should run into the tunnels (hopefully drown the little buggers) and the vaseline to block the air and seal the holes. You must be careful though that you don't get oil in the birds' nostrils. Is it mainly the one bird affected, or is he simply the worst? Your photos are great, thank you, lovely and clear. Good luck with getting the Ivermectin; make sure they do ship to the States before you commit yourself. |
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Post by stace on Nov 1, 2014 7:57:36 GMT
To hold your bird use your thumb and index finger or second finger to hold gently but firmly around the sides of the head, kind of above the cheeks - make sure it's the bony part of the skull - not the soft part of the neck where you might cause breathing problems.
The back of the bird is lying gently in your palm. The length of your thumb sort of keeps one wing restrained while your other fingers wrap around the other wing and body so they can't flap.
They will probably struggle but as long as you hold them firmly by the sides of the skull and keep your hands wrapped gently and don't panic, they can't get away.
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Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23
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Post by macarony89 on Nov 1, 2014 20:10:24 GMT
Ok thanks! Wish me luck lol and it's just that one the other might be starting to too but signs yet
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Post by Hezz on Nov 2, 2014 0:12:00 GMT
To hold your bird use your thumb and index finger or second finger to hold gently but firmly around the sides of the head, kind of above the cheeks - make sure it's the bony part of the skull - not the soft part of the neck where you might cause breathing problems. The back of the bird is lying gently in your palm. The length of your thumb sort of keeps one wing restrained while your other fingers wrap around the other wing and body so they can't flap. They will probably struggle but as long as you hold them firmly by the sides of the skull and keep your hands wrapped gently and don't panic, they can't get away. This is good if you are giving medicines etc, but pretty useless when it comes to reaching the back of the bird, sorry, Stace. To access the back of the head you are better off turning the bird over so it is sitting almost in the palm of your hand, legs on your little finger, thumb across its back and other fingers in front of its head. This works for me, but my birds are tame and used to being held, and they still wriggle  , then use your other hand to part the feathers, and have the person ready with the dropper to drop on command. |
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Post by stace on Nov 2, 2014 1:03:36 GMT
To hold your bird use your thumb and index finger or second finger to hold gently but firmly around the sides of the head, kind of above the cheeks - make sure it's the bony part of the skull - not the soft part of the neck where you might cause breathing problems. The back of the bird is lying gently in your palm. The length of your thumb sort of keeps one wing restrained while your other fingers wrap around the other wing and body so they can't flap. They will probably struggle but as long as you hold them firmly by the sides of the skull and keep your hands wrapped gently and don't panic, they can't get away. This is good if you are giving medicines etc, but pretty useless when it comes to reaching the back of the bird, sorry, Stace. To access the back of the head you are better off turning the bird over so it is sitting almost in the palm of your hand, legs on your little finger, thumb across its back and other fingers in front of its head. This works for me, but my birds are tame and used to being held, and they still wriggle , then use your other hand to part the feathers, and have the person ready with the dropper to drop on command. It's pretty easy, actually, hezz. There's a big V gap between your finger and thumb at the back of their head. Works for me. Since the birds aren't tame and she's not used to catching them, I'd think that catching them from the front leaves their wings open to damage if you don't know what you're doing. |
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Post by Hezz on Nov 2, 2014 7:31:00 GMT
Ok thanks! Wish me luck lol and it's just that one the other might be starting to too but signs yet All birds will need to be treated, regardless. And it would hardly be surprising for another to be showing signs what with the degree of infestation that the male is showing. He may take more than the three doses to clear him completely, but once each week until you are sure is not going to overdose him. |
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 2, 2014 12:17:11 GMT
I find the method Stace suggested is better for me. The bird can't bite your fingers and you can administer the drops with only one person present. Just blow the feathers gently while putting the drops on the back of the neck.
It's called the banders grip if you want to look it up. It is used by people who ring wild birds for identification.
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Oct 31, 2014 1:42:51 GMT
macarony89
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 23
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Post by macarony89 on Nov 3, 2014 14:10:51 GMT
So I did it. I got him to put some Vaseline. He got away poor little thing flew right into the wall and now he's bleeding what do I do!!!   |
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:eek:
I will have a look and see if I can find a site on-line to help you, but you have a look as well.
...... definitely scaly mites and they've been there for a while! 
I am very happy that you are on the ball with this and prepared to do something about it. While scaly face (also affects the legs, as you have seen) in the early stages doesn't present too many health issues in the short term, long term and untreated is another matter altogether. Check out some of the images in the link below. 
, then use your other hand to part the feathers, and have the person ready with the dropper to drop on command. 
