On 11/22/06, Jo-Ann wrote:
> On 11/22/06, Kitty.J wrote:
>> Hi All! :)
>>
>> I have a question. Since when I do get my cockatoo, in the
>> future. Do I need to quaratine it? Like what if the bird
>> has recently been to the vet in the past 4months, and is
>> healthy, would i need to quaratine it? Not liek Im getting
>> pne from the petstore, where people of all sorts and kinds
>> com ein and may have a diseased bird at home that was
>> recently on there jacket. But a bird that I may rescue
>> from a couple that is no longer able to care for it and is
>> healthy... gosh I seem to be repeating myself, and think
>> Im not making myself clear enough... oi... lol
>> Mercedez
>
>
> I have been wondering the same thing. Even if you
> quarantine a bird in the house - wouldn't any air-bourne
> stuff get to the other birds anyway? What about getting a
> bird from a reputable pet store, bird store or breeder?
> What if you take the bird to the vet before bringing it home?
>
> I've been in bird stores where they will let other birds in
> to socialize with the new member of the family before taking
> him home.
>
> Mercedez, it's not too clear to me either.
>
> Jo-Ann
Jo-Ann and Mercedes I have found this info on Quarantining
your birds. This will help both of you.
The Importance of Quarantine
Written by Nicole, Oh Mowsie
Once upon a time, there was a cockatiel named Apache. She was
the only cockatiel in an all human family. Her family loved
her, but during work and school hours, Apache seemed lonely.
It was decided that Apache might be happier if she had a
friend to play with while everyone was away. Along came Neo.
Neo was a young cockatiel from a small home breeder. He seemed
in perfect feather and his parents looked healthy as well. The
day Neo's new mom brought him home, he seemed so scared. Since
he was very young, his new owner worried that he may be lonely
for his parents, so she placed his cage near Apache's cage in
the same room. That way they could call to one another and
become acquainted. Apache seemed curious about the new
cockatiel, but Neo just sat on his perch and shivered. A day
went by and Neo still shivered and looked fluffy. His nares
also looked stuffy. Though his mom moved his cage away from
Apache's, she worried that it hadn't been soon enough. His mom
called the vet, concerned that he may be sick. She was
immediately chastised by her Veterinarian for
not "Quarantining" her new bird and placing him in a separate
room from her existing bird, Apache the moment she brought him
home. "But.. he looked healthy at first".. came the bewildered
mom's response. After an exam at the Vet Clinic, it was
discovered that Neo was indeed ill, an upper respiratory
infection that required medication to treat. Luckily, it
wasn't infectious, so Apache was safe. BUT.. had it been
Psittacosis, or another invisible yet highly contagious
illness that doesn't always show up the first time you see a
bird, Apache could have been exposed to a highly infectious
illness with potentially deadly consequences.
Sound familiar? Have you bought a new bird into your home,
only to be chastised for not quarantining it from your
existing bird or birds? Have you ever thought of bringing a
new bird home and wondered what the big "quarantine issue" is
all about? Have you ever brought a bird home and
thought.. "Naw... she's FINE! Just look at her!" and been
tempted to skimp out on the quarantine? If any of these
questions apply to you, or if you are simply curious as to why
quarantine is so important, please read on.
The story above is not just a story. This happened to me and
Apache and Neo were my first two cockatiels. I now have six
and I quarantine each new bird who enters my home. Now I know
better, and I feel its important to share what I have learned
with others who are just starting out with birds or who may be
introducing another bird into their household for the first
time.
Birds are masters of disguise. When ill, its part of their
instinct to hide their illnesses until they are barely able to
stand to prevent being picked off by predators. Because of
this, a bird can look healthy when in fact, its masking
symptoms that may go unnoticed upon a casual inspection in a
store or at a breeders.
Often times, symptoms of illness may even lie dormant in a
bird who is not stressed (in its familiar environment),
however the stress of moving to a new home and eating new food
is enough to flare up a condition LIKE an upper respiratory
infection or Psittacosis (for instance) and the bird can begin
a downward spiral shortly after arriving in its new home. So
many times, you hear "He looked perfectly healthy at the
store, but now he looks awful, what happened?" Well.. he had a
dormant illness that flared up after the stress of moving.
That's what happened. Imagine taking that bird with a dormant
illness, assuming its well.. and tossing it in your cage with
your well flock and then it goes down hill a day later? Your
whole flock is exposed to whatever is wrong with that bird
now. THAT is the whole purpose of quarantine: to AVOID that
type of thing.
Illnesses like Psittacosis have a three-week incubation
period. That means, if a bird is exposed (in a pet store
environment for example) to this particular virus, symptoms
will usually begin to appear after three weeks. The standard
quarantine is 30 days. The theory behind this is that most
illnesses will have time to manifest themselves and the birds
will have time begin showing symptoms after exposure within
that thirty day time period in your home. Some veterinarians
even suggest 45 or 60 day quarantines. It is also highly
recommended that you obtain a well bird checkup within the
initial quarantine time period for your new bird to establish
a "base line" of health for your bird. If all is well, you
have an established place to work from if your bird ever
become ill, meaning, your vet is familiar with your bird in
its healthy state and knows what to aim for, and if your bird
is ill upon examination, your veterinarian can trouble shoot
any potential problems early on, and help your new bird
overcome them as well as ward off a potential nightmare if the
rest of your flock is exposed to your new bird in its ill
state.
NEVER assume your bird is healthy just because a breeder or
someone behind the counter at a pet store "says" so. Anyone
who says "Don't worry about quarantining your bird, he's had a
checkup"... Is a nutcase and not to be trusted. Can they give
you the complete history of the bird Can they tell you exactly
where the bird has been and what it has been exposed too in
its entire life? The lady who sold Neo "said" he was healthy
but I had to learn the hard way. Now, the ONLY person who can
tell me my bird is healthy, is the bird himself. And I'll only
believe him after he's spent his 30 days in quarantine, had
his vet check up and all looks well.
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