The majority of pet owners are confused regarding the need of quarantining their new parakeets. We will clarify the need of quarantining the new bird and its benefits. This post is the continuation of the previous post where we made pet owners aware of what should they know before adopting a new budgie.
Even after thoroughly inspecting the budgie before adoption you are required to quarantine your new parakeet as it can have several underlying contagious diseases which can cause harm or even death to your existing flock of birds.
I know no one can even imagine harming this cute little birdie therefore let’s learn today how to isolate the new budgie before introducing it to the existing flock.
How Do You Quarantine New Budgie?
Keeping your new budgie in isolation might be frustrating to you but it is a blessing for your other pet birds. We know as a pet owner you might have to put more effort while taking care of the new bird but it will be worth it.
Let us dig deeper and understand how to quarantine your new parakeet.
Prepare a Separate Cage
Firstly you need to set up a separate cage for the new budgie that is clean and disinfected. Make sure the cage is large enough for the bird to move around comfortably, with plenty of room for food and a water dispenser.
Place the Cage in a Separate Room
Remember to place the new budgie in a separate room away from any other birds in the house. This will help prevent the spread of any potential illnesses or diseases. Diseases are airborne therefore make sure that your existing birdroom is not connected in any way to the new budgie.
Monitor the Budgie’s Health
Keep a close eye on the new budgie’s health during the quarantine period. Look for signs of illness such as lethargy, heavy breathing, scaly mites, feather mites, loss of appetite, or abnormal droppings. If you notice any concerning symptoms, take your bird to the nearest vet.
Hygiene is the Key
Make sure to wash your hands before and after handling the new budgie or anything related to the new bird. This will help prevent the spread of any potential diseases to or from the bird.
Quarantine for at least 45 Days
It’s recommended to quarantine a new budgie for at least 45 days before introducing it to any other birds. This will help ensure that the bird is healthy and free from any potential diseases before being introduced to the rest of the flock.
Benefits of Quarantining New Budgies
There are several benefits of keeping your new budgies in Isolation but the main reason is to protect your existing birds from all diseases your new budgie might be carrying.
A new budgie might be a carrier of the most common disease that can spread to your other birds as follows,
Pox Virus
This virus spread gradually and takes time to be visible on birds. Pox virus forms a wart on the bird’s skin, especially on the unfeathered areas such as legs, feet, eyelids, and near the base of the beak.
You are advised to take your bird to the nearest vet as there is no known treatment for this disease in the birds.
For treatment of Pox Virus in the past, I used Variolinum 200 for my birds. I diluted 1.5 – 2 ml in 1 liter of water for 12 – 15 days.
Mites Disease
There are different mites disease that can spread very fast in the whole flock are,
Feather Mites
Feather mites are tiny parasitic mites that can infest the feathers and skin of budgies and other birds. These mites can cause irritation, itching, and feather damage in birds, and in severe cases, can lead to feather loss and other health problems.
Scaly Mites
This is caused by tiny parasitic mites that live on the bird’s skin and around the beak and feet. These mites can cause a variety of problems, including scaly and crusty patches on the skin, and itching.
These mites feed on the bird’s beak and make it hollow and resulting in the death of the bird if not treated timely.
Airsac Mites
Airsac mites are tiny mites that can infest the respiratory system of budgies and other birds, causing irritation, inflammation, and other health problems. Airsac mites live in the air sacs of the bird’s respiratory system.
These mites make breathing difficult for the bird and result in the death of the budgie.
Treatment for Mites
First and foremost is prevention, regular cleaning, and disinfection of the bird’s environment, as well as maintaining good nutrition and providing a balanced diet can help strengthen the bird’s immune system and reduce the risk of infestations.
There are some popular medications used for mites. It is possible to treat if you detect the disease early which will protect your bird from extensive damage. Some popular medicines are “Scatt by Vetafarm” and “Endecto by Dovital”.
Parrot Fever (Psittacosis)
It is a bacterial infection that can affect birds, including budgies, as well as humans. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci and can be transmitted from infected birds to humans through inhalation of infected dust or droplets.
Symptoms of parrot fever in budgies may include respiratory problems, such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, as well as lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Antibiotics are advised for the treatment of this disease. Doxycycline is extremely effective for Parrot fever.
Can I Put a New Budgie with an Old One?
Yes, you can put a new parakeet with an old one but only after quarantining it for 45 days to protect your old budgie.
There are other matters to discuss before introducing your new budgie to the old one which we will discuss later.
Final Words
Remember Quarantine is necessary and you should do this without any excuse.
You should not ignore quarantining your new parakeet as other birds can get a contagious disease that your new pet is carrying. This is similar for all pet birds.
Sometime pet owners avoid this to save some cost of purchasing new cages but they are unaware of how much cost they will incur when visiting the vet.
