Spot like things on my Budgie's feathers should I be worried

[somber]

Circling the spot things:



I have never noticed them before, but I haven't really looked, so I don't know for sure how long they've been there. I only noticed because when I uncovered the cage, he had some poop stuck to his bottom. Are they mites, should I take him to the vet? He does scratch a lot all the time, he always has. Thanks.

[nour90]

did these spots... move?

[skysmum]

These are Feather mites, they eat into the feather quills. You can treat these with Ivermectin 0.1% which can be brought on line or you could try the Beaphar Anti Parasite for birds from a pet shop. Both are spot on's and you have to part the feathers between at the back of the neck near the shoulders and put it on the skin.

[somber]

Can they be caught by humans?

[skysmum]

No don't worry, they will only live on the bird and feed on the feathers but if left untreated they will wreck his beautiful feathers and be very irritating for him. The treatment will sort it out. Beautiful bud by the way .

[skysmum]

Ohh and if you have any other birds with him they will need to be treated and his cage, toys and perches deep cleaned and disinfected, if you have a steam cleaner this will do the trick on the cage.

[somber]

Would the vet be able to fix the mites on him, because I doubt he would let me put the treatment on him myself without some sort of force that I don't think I would be able to do.

[skysmum]

Yes but it would take three visits as you have to apply one drop a week for three weeks. The best way to apply at home is to get someone to hold him while you apply the drop.

[somber]

Okay, thank you for the help.

[skysmum]

Your welcome

[Hezz]

It may also be nothing to worry about. Because the bird is light coloured these spots show up easily. I have seen similar on my white budgie with no affect to her feathers and I KNOW she doesn't have mites as she gets treated every six months. I have also seen similar spotting from damage to the feather while the feather still has a blood supply. I find these feathers tend to fall out faster than a normal undamaged feather. And if it is blood, it doesn't necessarily wash out either, I have found.

[somber]

Yeah, I tried to see if they looked like they had moved, if they have, it isn't apparent to me. There are loads and loads of those spots on the underside of his wings. I would prefer to take him to a vet to see if he actually has mites before treating him for them, so I don't put him through the stress for no reason.

[Hezz]

Most budgies will find the stress of a vet visit much more than a simple dose of ivermectin. Ivermectin is hold the budgie and apply a drop; the vet is going to be doing a tad more holding than that, I am afraid.