www.birdkeeper.dk

.... WHEN PARROTS BECOME A PASSION

Theme: Clinically disease-tested collection of birds

Gone are the days when the "good old advice" from various books on cage birds stating that you should physically examine a bird prior to acquisition and observe its behavior and droppings; this is unfortunately not sufficient these days. Serious infectious diseases that are incurable are a serious threat to a collection of birds nowadays, not least because some birds can be so-called healthy carriers of one or more diseases. Therefore, all parrots in my collection are clinically tested for disease, and no new birds enter my collection until they have been quarantined and tested for disease.

Many aviculturists state that their birds have been tested, which most often means that the sex of the birds has been determined using a DNA test.


Years ago, I went several steps further in an area that I find significantly more important than the gender of a bird, namely around the birds' health and long-term possibility of survival: My collection of parrots is now systematically clinically tested for a number of serious infectious diseases that can be fatal.


All my parrots - from the smallest Lovebird to the largest species - are tested, as you as an aviculturist cannot be sure that a bird is healthy simply on the basis of a visual physical examination combined with observations of the bird's behavior and droppings. This is due to the fact that certain serious infectious diseases can be spread via so-called "healthy carriers", i.e. birds that at first appear to be healthy and well, but which are active/passive carriers of one or more diseases. The disease in such birds can break out when the bird's immune system becomes weakened, e.g. in connection with the stress of a relocation.


All my parrots are therefore kept in a completely “closed” environment, and they do not come into contact with newly acquired birds, unless these have spent 6 - 8 weeks in a separate quarantine in a physically separate location, during which a veterinarian specialized in bird diseases examines the individual parrot and takes samples of blood, feathers and cloacal swab, etc. The samples are then sent for testing at internationally recognized veterinary laboratories that have competence in the diseases below. During the quarantine, the vet also analyzes the parrots' droppings under a microscope to check whether they have a normal, varied bacterial flora and whether there are parasitic eggs/endoderm parasites, e.g. in the form of coccidia. As a prophylactic measure, the newly arrived parrots - as a safety measure - are also treated for worms. Due to the risk of a possible risk of infection, I never bring my parrots to bird shows, bird markets, etc.


My birds are tested for the following disease:


  • Avian Borna Virus (ABV)/Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD),
  • Avian Polyoma Virus (APV),
  • Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) and the bacterial-based disease
  • Chlamydia psittaci (CP) - Chlamydophila psittaci or Ornithosis/Psittacosis.


All parrots are tested to see if they actively are ill using PCR-based tests, just as the parrots are tested to see if they have previously been exposed to diseases and therefore can be active/passive carriers of infection (serological tests).


There are currently only commercially available curative medications for the treatment of Ornithosis, which is a bacterial-based disease and therefore can be treated with antibiotic preparations. The other diseases mentioned are incurable, virus-based diseases that are usually fatal. If parrots sitting in my quarantine show positive test results for virus-based diseases, they are immediately euthanized and the necessary cleaning and hygiene measures are then taken.


I have initially deliberately chosen to disregard Pacheco's Disease (Avian Herpes), as it is an acute disease with high mortality over a few days, but if parrots are purchased from Eastern Europe, this test is mandatory.


When purchasing adult parrots that are rare, X-rays are also taken of their respiratory system, typically in relation to Aspergillosis.


My collection of parrots is also subject to regular checks by a veterinarian specialized in bird diseases. This takes blood samples, feathers and examines the birds' droppings on a random sample basis.


In addition, what is completely unique in my way of keeping and breeding parrots, is that all processes connected to the keeping and care of the parrots are documented in writing, so that the rules for dealing with the parrots are completely clear, so that you as a person do not subsequently accidentally transfer diseases to the birds. A veterinarian specialized in bird diseases has contributed in order to ensure that measures, procedures and routines are an expression of Best Practice all over. In addition, any need to implement further disease prevention measures is always discussed with the same vet on an ongoing basis.

 


Jorgen Petersen

 


Conceived/Updated: 12.02.2016 / 14.01.2024

 

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