Bird Flu

[MrSquak]

Living in China i'm kinda worried about this bird flu outbreak. Tango and Talon don't ever come into contact with other birds, but i'm exposed to thousands of people of questionable hygiene every day when I take the subway to and from work.

Does anybody have any idea if birds can catch this disease back from an infected human?

Also, I'm in Guangzhou which is in the south of china and the outbreak seems to be centered around Shanghai, but i'm still worried about the little guys.

 

[LoveMyParrots]

I'm not very sure if birds can catch the disease, maybe ask your avian vet.

Shanghai and Guangzhou is a bit of distance, hopefully it won't get to you.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I think all birds can get it, but certain birds are more prone. People at the highest risk work with large quantities of poultry

I wish I could help more, I know very little about the bird flue.

 

[aliray]

According to our local news and paper there have now been 24 cases in china but no human to human transmission. It seems to be people that work with or are exposed to poultry or ducks and geese type birds. So I don't think you need to be worried at this point I live in the usa so that is where I am getting the news from

 

[MrSquak]

Well I hope it's nothing to worry about, gotta keep the featherheads safe.

Unfortunately I don't have an avian vet here, I wouldn't see a local doctor here myself (thankfully i'm close enough to Hong Kong to get treatment there in an emergency) and the human medical industry is at least better regulated than the veterinary industry. They don't know anything and just want to sell you things, my friend lost a cat because a vet sold them meds which caused a drug interaction.

There are some nice things to say about china, but medical ethics, whether for the treatment of humans or animals is not one of them.

 

[P.Y]

Hi MrSquak,
I'm living in GZ too, you are safe here, at least safer than in Shanghai. And if you follow the rules below, your parrots' safety is also gurrantteed.
1, don't trust any avian vets here throughout the mainland China, none is qualified, you are on your own. Or if you do read Chinese, ask question on Chinese bird BBSs. Members there are more experience.
2, avoide any contact between your parrots and other birds, especially wild birds. And don't eat poultry for the next three months, which means don't go to any poultry market, not even near or pass by, or bring poultry back for home cook dinner.

You get superman's immunity, that's the bonus living in China, lol.
Look what we have been through, from Sars, H1N1 to this HxNx or whatever, Iphone dosn't even come out that fast.

 

[MrSquak]

Thank you very much for your good advice, P.Y!

It's a shame to hear there are no qualified avian vets in China, but I'm not surprised. That is why I value this forum so much, because it is our best bird resource.

Fortunately, the Huadiwan pet market has a great selection of birds, toys, and cages and some of the breeders there are pretty good I think. I look for the ones who keep one or two older birds for themselves so i know they are also bird lovers and not just trying to make easy money off bird sales.

 

[P.Y]

You know Huadiwan ? Looks like you've been in GZ for a while.
First, you cannot get a good price if you don't speak cantones, for example, people from other provinces. Needless to say foreigners like you, unless you get local company.
Second, the quality of birds there are not that good, and most of the Alexandrine and other parakeet parrot babies are wild birds. They are cheaper in price than handfed babies, but if we love birds, then don't buy wild birds. It's more like a market for starters.
I often take my Derbyan to huadiwan for a walk.

 

[MrSquak]

Ive been living here about 2 years.

Is there another place to purchase birds besides the Huadiwan market? Also accessories and toys?

I know that sometimes prices can be higher for foreigners. I am certain that both my birds were hand-fed, but I think you are right that many birds there are not tame at all and are wild caught.

 

[P.Y]

Let's accept that the accessories and especially the toys for parrots are of unacceptable high price. You have two other choices, buy them from taobao, sure you know that, you been here two years. Or do it yourself, make them by you own hands. Or you could always buy dog's toys for your parrot, it's much cheaper and no difference in nature.
I bought my derbyan from a local breeder. 2000 RMB, like 200 or 300 higher than huadiwan, but it's healthy and handfed and I know the birthday of my parrot.