Worming and dusting your birds
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It is always a good idea to have a few practical health aids standing by. These should include an antiseptic spray in case your bird injures itself, a hospital cage, another cage set up in a quiet part of your house where you can transfer any of your outdoor birds throughout the winter, and a ‘pick-me-up powder’ to sprinkle on food that will help your bird back to health. And, of course, always have the telephone number of your local veterinarian to hand.
If you have, or you are planning to keep a parrot, it would be a good idea for you to become aware of the various diseases associated with parrots. To reduce the likelihood of
problems arising from the outset, be sure to buy your bird from a healthy collection or from someone who has a good reputation for keeping birds at a high standard.
One possible problem with parrots is obesity. A good variety of seeds, nuts and fruits offered in moderation will keep your bird fit and healthy. The key words here are ‘in moderation’, because you must be careful not to overfeed your bird.An obese bird is prone to heart attacks and can experience various other problems. Occasionally, you may come across a bird that seems to eat very little but still puts on sufficient weight; it is this type of bird that you should keep an eye on in terms of feeding strategy.
Your birds will need worming once, if not twice a year. Once a year is fine for birds kept indoors, but for birds kept in an outdoor aviary, where they could be in contact with wild birds, twice a year is essential. The best time to worm your birds is two months before they are due to breed and/or just after the breeding season. If you worm them during the breeding season, they may stop incubating the eggs or abandon their chicks. Worming can also affect the fertility of the eggs. Various products are available, but if you are a beginner it is best to seek advice from your local veterinarian on the most suitable one for your birds and how to administer it.
At some stage you will need to dust your bird to remove any feather mite or lice that it may have contracted. You do not need to dust birds on a regular basis, although you should check them frequently. Suitable dusting powders are available from your local pet store or veterinarian. When dusting your bird, pay particular attention to the areas under the neck and under the wings.
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Tags: Best Time, Chicks, Eggs, Feeding Birds, Fertility, Health Aids, Heart Attacks, Key Words, Likelihood, Moderation, Nuts, Obesity, Outdoor Aviary, Outdoor Birds, Outset, Parrots, Seeds, Veterinarian, Wild Birds, Worm