Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    We used to use those Bird Protectors when I worked in the Pet Store.
    They seemed to do good.  If we had a cage with mites we would hang 
    that in there and in all the other cages too and we didn't seem to 
    have an ongoing problem.  The Protectors are nice too because you
    don't have to put any sprays on the bird.  You can find them in the
    pet store....they are round metal disk shape that you hang in the cage.
    
    Good Luck,
    Renee

    I never had problems with mites (other than scaly) but remember hearing
    one person's opinion that if these were bad for the bugs they were bad
    for the birds. What I understand is these contain nothing much more
    than moth Crystal and that in a confined space (under a bird cover)
    they could be detrimental to a birds health.
    
    I am offering this as a warning and that you should research this or
    wait for more experienced bird people to comment. I am not saying that
    you should not use them and hope noone will take it that way and ATTACK
    me.
    
    Doug

    
    I have to agree with Doug about the bird potectors.  I just got my
    first issue of Canary and finch world and they mention using a
    combination of Listerene and ? for mite prevention.  I'll check it out
    tonight and post what I find tomorrow.
    
    Good luck, it doesn't sound like much fun.
    
    MaryAnne

    
    The article in Finch and Canary World was written by G.A. Abbate, Sr. 
    exerpted without permission
    
    In the article he sights his observations of birds in the wild chewing
    on eucalyptus and then preening the entire body.  He conclude that it
    must be a natural method of parasite control.  
    
    He sprays his bird room regulary with a pyrethrin base spray.  Every 14
    days he sprays the crevices, corners and cracks and with a fine mist he
    sprays directly towards the birds from  a 3-4 foot distance.
    
    When he bands chicks, he rebuilds the nest discarding the old nesting
    material and sprinkles a generous amount of pyrethrin based powder
    between the nest and liner.
    
    He gives the birds bath water twice a week.  To each gallon of water he
    adds 1 Tablespoon of Listerene (contains eucalyptus oil).
    
    I can't vouch for any of this but it's food for thought.  The phone
    number for F&C World in case you want to call for more info is 
    408-655-3500
    
    MaryAnne
    

    
    One of the specific birds mentioned in the (previouly noted) article
    was cockatoos.  The author refers to them on the eucalyptus brances
    chewing away and then doing the total preening.  I know that when
    birds have feather picking problems they are checked for parasites but
    I have to wonder if there isn't more to this eucalyptus thing.
    
    MaryAnne

    Did they give an example of what a pyrthrin (sp?) base spray is?
    Is it a common household thing?  
    
    Renee

    
    No mention was given as to a particular brand of spray.  Years back
    there was a company that put out a pyrethrum spray that was advertised
    in Bird Talk as being safe for use around birds.  I had cases of it as
    I was selling it but darned if I can remember the name of the company
    right now.  There is a company called Safer that makes pretty good
    products.  They may be worth checkin in to.  
    
    I guess I've been really lucky, I've only had to deal with scaley
    mites.  It seems that mites must be a real problem in canaries/finches.
    Is this truely the case or, even though this guy has discovered a
    preventative is he doing something wrong in the first place to have
    this problem?
    
    MaryAnne

    I bought pyrethrum years ago and remember the best and most inexpensive
    source was K-mart.  There are also pyrethrum products for dogs and
    cats,but don't know if they are safe for birds. 
    
    I beleive pyrethrum is derived from Chysanthemums (Flowers)
    
    Doug

         How do you tell if one's birds have mites?
    
    					- Andrea

    
    Camicide is the name of the spray I was thinking of!

    I found the mites when I noticed the birds seemed to be scratching
    excessively (like a dog or cat does with fleas).  Then  I saw one
    crawling on the bottom of the cage (the floor is white, the mite was
    red from drinking the bird's blood).  They come out at night and when
    the bird shakes, they can fall to the floor of the cage.  They also
    will crawl into a crevice (like where the perch hooks onto the cage,
    and I'm concerned about them hiding in the j-clips I have on the cage).
    The only way I can figure the mites came was from a bird I brought in 
    (I didn't quarantine it first, dumb mistake).  I noticed them on the 
    finches first.  
    
    I bought some spray at a local pet store.  I'm a little nervous about
    using it on the finches as I have Gouldians and they are sensitive.  Is
    the  Camicide something I can get through Bird Talk?   
    
    Thanks again Folks!
    
    deb

    I haven't used their products yet, but I found the following items
    listed in the recent catalog from:
    
    		GREAT COMPANIONS pet supplies catalog
    	          	1-800-829-2138
    
    NATRA PET BIRD CARE PRODUCTS
    "Natra Pet Bird Bath Plumage and Skin Conditioner is formulated
    completely with nature's own herbs.  No chemicals, no alcohol, just a
    soothing mist with just a touch of natural preening oils.  Natra Pet 
    Mite Mist kills both mites & lice while conditioning the feathers and
    skin.  Formulated in a pure aqueous base.  Natra No PicK Mist addresses
    the problem of birds with feather plucking disorders."
    
    NATRA BIRD BATH
    8  OZ  $3.95
    16 OZ  $5.95
    32 OZ $10.95
    
  *******************
    MITE MIST
    8 OZ   $7.25
  *******************
    
    NO-PICK MIST
    4 OZ   $5.95
    
    They also offer a variety of their own seed mixes, name-brand feeds
    (such as Pretty Bird and Lefeber's) and assorted toys at what appears
    to be good prices.
    
    
    Linda