Mites and lice

Clare · Post by **Clare** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:36 am

I have just found three little mites/lice on Petey. He has never had them before and I haven't introduced anything new. I was wondering where they come from.

I gave him a bath, cleaned the cage and toys and sprayed him and the cage with mite/lice spray. Is there anything else I should do?

Post by **kyria** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:35 am

You have done the right thing. Not sure where they come from but my quaker pair brought some with them, I had them in quarantine and treated them during this time before introducing them to the flock.

Post by **Lauren** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:01 am

Oh dear. It happens.

I'd check Petey everyday for any more. I'd also re spray him and everything in a week just to make sure.

Luckily I havn't had any mite/lice problems with my 2 but I have the spray handy anyways.

Klaatu · Post by **Klaatu** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:15 pm

How horrible! I hate any form of parasite. I don't know where you are but, here in the states they have little cans of mite poison that you hang on the side of the cage. Of course the bird has to breath the same fumes that kill the mites so after deteriming that they are all gone I would throw the thing away. Mites would hide in the cracks and corners of a cage during the day and come out during the night to do their dirty work. I have also heard of a mite powder that you would but in a small paper bag and gently hold it around the neck of the bird so it's not getting any on it's head or nose and gently shaking it to coat the body. By all means soak everhting, cage, perches, utinsels, in hot bleach water along with the miteicide treatments. Dirty little blood suckers! :twisted:

Post by **Lauren** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:56 pm

Where do these little buggas come from if the bird is not kept with other birds?

Klaatu · Post by **Klaatu** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:56 am

They can be spread by hitching a ride on house flies.

Donna · Post by **Donna** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:43 am

Please don't try these things (powder or mite protectors you hang on cages) these thing are lethal and can kill a bird in a matter of minutes. Scalex is a spray for mites and lice made for birds.

[/quote]I have also heard of a mite powder that you would but in a small paper bag and gently hold it around the neck of the bird so it's not getting any on it's head or nose and gently shaking it to coat the body.[quote]

And where do you think this powder is going to go when the bird preens it's self?

Donna

Post by **kyria** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:33 pm

Yep definately only use mite sprays that are particularly made for birds and their environments.

Klaatu · Post by **Klaatu** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:11 pm

I have never used it as I have never had a mite problem. Just something I read YEARS ago. he he. Guess that's the answer right there huh? :wink: