Should I Replace Nesting Boxes Due to Mites?

[deanne]

A few of my budgies have mites that are not visible anywhere in the environment.  Two have previously been treated by a vet with Ivermectin (not available over the counter in my country).  Should I replace the wooden nesting boxes with new ones in case mite transfer is occurring in there or will replacing the nesting boxes confuse my pairs and hens?

My birds are in an outdoor aviary that has a wooden frame, wire mesh and various perches, etc.  I intend on replacing the WHOLE aviary with a metal one in early 2021.

[wocal]

Minute 6:43 talks about mites and what you should do. He does suggest throwing the box away.

[Morgan]

Definitely replace the nest boxes, unless you can figure out what type of mite they are exactly (red mites are nocturnal and sleep in the wood during the day for example so replacing the boxes would solve your problem, but I’m not sure about other mites) you might be able to figure out how to get rid of them another way - but I think your best bet is to remove the boxes and anything else made of wood, including all perches, and replacing them after the infestation is gone.

If you put up similar or identical nest boxes in the same place after making sure the infestation is completely gone (or else the mites may just move into the new boxes), it shouldn’t confuse your birds at all. If they have babies in the nest already, you might need to put them in a new nest and put them with their parents into a separate cage so they can’t get reinfested.

You may also want to look into getting separate flight cages and breeding your pairs separately from the whole flock anyway. This has a few advantages - reducing the spread of mites or other diseases and pests between nests and the offspring, eliminating fighting between hens for mates or nest boxes if this occurs, and knowing for certain which cock is dad for each set of offspring - because budgies will mate with more than one partner if they want to.

Also check out that video that wocal posted. Hope this helps and good luck with your mite problem! They are nasty. We had them in the chicken coop and whil the chickens were out all day my partner scrubbed it down twice a day for two weeks about and even used a small torch to singe between all the gaps in the beams to help eradicate them. The cold weather will get the rest soon if he missed any.