HELP!!

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Tinus
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HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

This morning I took my 2 pet ringnecks out for a walk in the part, got back, and the moment I put my little white baby down I saw this thing running 3-4 times across hes back, at first I thought it was a spider, I got absolutely ice cold, panicked and yelled, took him to the bath and washed him off but didn't see any bugs come off him nor could i see anything on him (the bird was also very panicked by now). A minute after i dried him and put him down i couldn't believe what i saw, the thing was still on him, running around on him and hiding under hes wings, i took him back the the bathroom to go try wash him again, i was so close to tears at this point and so scared like i couldn't even put into words, my mother came in, saw the thing under hes wings and managed to get it off him, but the thing then FLEW away..

As relieved as i am that this was NOT a spider, I REALLY need to make sure what it was, the best explanation I can give about the thing is this:

1. BIG for a lice, approximately as big as a fly
2. dark grey in color
3. flat-ish
4. it runs extremely quick, and hides beneath the feathers
5. it seems it can attach itself really tightly like i said i washed him off as good as I possibly could yet the thing was still on him
6. it seems it may have bit little Chico under hes wing, there was a little bit of blood.
7. the damned thing could FLY! >.<

Guys i checked online but i couldn't really find a picture of exactly how this thing looked, I would like to beg on my knees for every possible piece of advice you can give me at this point, and if you could confirm exactly what it was PLEASE guys, honestly I'm so scared and nervous at this point.. I'm spring cleaning the entire place right now and getting my hands on some dip or spray for lice, but i think this thing was a little bit big for a lice.
zentoucan
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Re: HELP!!

Post by zentoucan »

first thing DON'T PANIC.
animals can sense when someone is panicking and that's not good for the animal. also when you panic you lose the ability to think straight and make mistakes. Have you given your birds a full inspection. Some blood sucking insects can be really difficult to remove. There are thousands and thousands of blooding sucking insects so it could weeks to identify the insect. In the wild, birds usually have lice with little health issues. If you feel that concerned then take the birds to the vet for a check up and he might be able to identify what it was. I would be careful in using dips and lice sprays, again speak to the vet and see what they recommend. There is no need to be scare, nervous or tearful. the birds are fine I gather.
sanjays mummi
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Re: HELP!!

Post by sanjays mummi »

At first I thought it might be a tic, but tics don't fly. Is there an insect repellent for birds?, so you can put some on him before he goes "walkies"
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

It's Sunday so I couldn't find a vet open, however I was advised by another IR lover (hes also a pharmacist) that this was infact a lice that they tend to pickup from wild doves, I got an antibiotic salve to put on under the ring where Chico was bit and was advised to buy a spray called "Karba" spray (or something like that) which i will do asap. Aperantly this form of lice's bite really hurts so I'm really glad i managed to get it off and treat the current wound, i suppose these things have to happen for us to learn from it and prep myself for the future. I would still however like if the guys with the real knowledge about these things could confirm this was infact a form of lice..
MissK
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Re: HELP!!

Post by MissK »

-MissK
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

It was definately something very similar to this but grey
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

I would say the first link was the closest as well
electronegative
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Re: HELP!!

Post by electronegative »

Hey, I read this lady's blog on her parrots, and I remember she wrote an article on finding a parasite on one of her cockatoos:

http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/having-a-bad-bug-day/

It was a hippoboscidae fly, which you said is the closest to the one your bird had. Jesus, that gave me the shivers. Hope your bird is okay.
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

Hi, thanks for the replies guys, with the info I got from missK I did some more research and found one that looks probably exactly like the one i got on mine:

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos- ... 4141-28081

I'm buying spray the first thing I do today now knowing when and how to treat and prevent these damned leeches from living off my babies, any other advise would still be very much appreciated and once again thanks for showing interest in my post!
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

molossus wrote:Tinus it sounds as if you have pigeon fly issues. they are flat, fast moving, flying blood suckers and can be easily dealt with. go to any pigeon supply specialist and they will help. treatment can be Ivomec spray , karbadusting etc.
these are bloodsucking parasites that have been known to cause psuedomalaria in birds.
repeat a spray and alternate dusting programme biannually.
By reading tons of forums and doing research I found that our pet IR's can hide the fact that they are actually quite ill and thus we see a lot of sudden deaths, I'm so scared that that damned parasite may have carried over some form of disease to my boy, at this point both of them still seem perfectly normal, infact, they scurry a lot less, seemed to have slept a lot more peacefully last night as well as i was constantly monitoring them. A pharmacist friend of ours also gave me and antibiotic powder which i disolve in their water, i also treated the would where the damned thing seemed have bit little Chico under the wing, but they seem to be fine, i just have to be sure..
MissK
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Re: HELP!!

Post by MissK »

Hi Tinus,

Glad you're finding steps to take. I would be concerned about where you picked up that bug - was it out on the excursion, or was it closer to home, and a coincidence of when you found it? If your birds had been "scurrying" and now do it less, could this parasite have been with you longer? In any event, you would be well advised to note the advice from Molossus.
-MissK
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

I think this thing may have been on him a while before the little outing, the previous night already i noticed he was sort of jabbing hes wings every few seconds and even took him out of the cage but didnt see anything, thats the thing with these damned bugs, they hide so well beneath the feathers and they dont even wash off with water, you just dont notice them.. not that thats an excuse, but i did lack the knowledge. Got myself a nice big bottle of karbadust today, with clear instructions on how to treat and prevent the buggers from living off my boys, the only thing im still worried about is possible transmitted deseases.
Skyes_crew
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Skyes_crew »

Hey Tinus...

I did a little research. If it was a pigeon fly, then I would see about getting your birds to the vet for some blood work. It seems the pigeon fly carry a disease called haemoproteus columbae. It is usually only found on pigeons and doves, but i would rather be safe than sorry. How are Paulie and Chico doing?
I am owned by my birds...and I wouldn't have it any other way :D

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Skyes_crew
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Skyes_crew »

Good to know :) it kind of scared me reading about it because we have so many doves and pigeons on our island and the study I read was out of Hawaii. I fight every day to keep those darn doves away from my cages.
I am owned by my birds...and I wouldn't have it any other way :D

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Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

Thanks you so much Molossus! Really do appreciate the info and suggestions, my boys mean the world to me, I've organised some disolvable antibiotics which also have added calsium effects and so on to their water, they both seem really healthy and happy, but you can never be too sure..
MissK
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Re: HELP!!

Post by MissK »

I fight every day to keep those darn doves away from my cages.
Well, there's your excuse...... I'm sure these guys could use the services of a dedicated breeder, and they might even bring you a tax advantage: http://birds.audubon.org/species/hawhaw You might have to construct a big wall to keep your other guys at ease, but it would be well worth it.

:D
-MissK
Skyes_crew
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Skyes_crew »

I have yet to see one wander down this way. They have been spotted on the north shore occaisionally. I would try the hawk cry audio, but it would probably scare my other birds too lol.
I am owned by my birds...and I wouldn't have it any other way :D

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MissK
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Re: HELP!!

Post by MissK »

That's why you need a breeding pair!
-MissK
Skyes_crew
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Skyes_crew »

I can't see chris allowing that :lol:

Ps...sorry for going off topic Tinus. How are Paulie and Chico doing?
I am owned by my birds...and I wouldn't have it any other way :D

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Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

molossus wrote:Tinus this is not aimed at you ... but to birdkeepers as a whole.
do not give your birds antibiotics just because. this has a negative impact on the overall development of the bird and compromises its own immune system. to a point where birds are completely reliant on medication , seeing as their immune system is lost and antibiotics will have lost its efficacy.
only administer antibiotics when necessary as is recommended by any vet worth their salt.
Actually i thought it was antibiotics but it wasn't, its something called eltroxin that helps with stuff like itching, their plumage etc (extremely small amount) mixed with caluba (calsium) powder which i only take a knife point to dissolve in filtered water for my birdies, but again that's valuable advice which I will keep in mind. So should I replace little Chico's water with soda water for the next 3 weeks or so? and also, specific kind or just plain soda water i can buy at the store?
Tinus
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Re: HELP!!

Post by Tinus »

Will do that today still! thanks again!
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