Quarantine?

[dkandb]

Hi,
We just got a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure from an old pet shop owner who wanted to try to have a bird as a pet again but realized he didn't have time. He got him from a breeder and hand weaned him and he is now 6 months old. He was the Only pet in the household. He's healthy but hasn't been vet checked. He is going through his adult molt. We were wondering how long should we keep him quarantened in the other room away from our cockatoo and budgies? We would like to bring him into the room with the others soon. IT's been 36 hrs. so far. Please respond soon! Thanks

 

[Abzeez]

4-6 weeks or longer to ensure the parrot has no illness.

 

[Ratzy]

4-6 weeks or longer. Any less and you risk your bird's lives.

 

[kerry]

I just had a new Red Fronted Macaw to the Avian vet 2 weeks ago & the vet said that the bird should be quarantined for 2 month ideally. Minimum for one month.

 

[dkandb]

That's exactly what we have read, but I asked because I also read that if the parrot comes from a a single bird home kind of situation that a week quarantine to none at all is appropriate. It got me thinking..

 

[Abzeez]

My avian vet said 4 to 6 weeks. Its all a matter of opinion. Single parrot or not it could still have something your parrots could catch.

 

[Echo]

Well, quarantine means 40, and so it is advised to wait 40 days to make sure that the bird doesn't show any signs of illness before introducing him to healthy birds. However, that rule was before science became so efficient at finding underlying illnesses and we didn't have the means to test birds, so the waiting game was what we had. However, waiting even 40 days doesn't mean that your bird is 100 % healthy as we all know that birds can hide illnesses for a very long time until symptoms show up. Nowadays, when you acquire a bird, you can have him tested for all kind of illnesses. The 4 major ones are : Psittacosis (contagious to humans), PBFD ( deadly to Parrots), Pacheco's (Fatal virus that can rapidly spread and infect an aviary) and Polyoma.

All new birds should see an avian vet for a well-bird check-up. I have mine tested for these 4 diseases as well. The results usually come back in about 1 week. If the bird tests negative for theses diseases and is given a clear bill of health, then he can be introduced to his new flock.

 

[Ratzy]

Even if he is given a clean bill of health, you should still quarantine for the recommended length.

 

[Echo]

Sure. The bird needs to then be in a different building than your house as a door is no protection. The viruses/diseases mentioned are airborne. Quarantine means 40 days with no air exchange whatsoever between the new bird and the existing flock. Keep that in mind.....

 

[Abzeez]

Sure. The bird needs to then be in a different building than your house as a door is no protection. The viruses/diseases mentioned are airborne. Quarantine means 40 days with no air exchange whatsoever between the new bird and the existing flock. Keep that in mind.....[/QUOTE]

Although this is true, I know I don't have another building to put a new parrot. So do the best you can. Put the new bird as far from the other birds as possible.

 

[Echo]

True, most people don't and are taking a risk regardless. If the new bird does have an airborne disease, it is best to know asap, hence the tests. EVERYONE should have these tests done. Believe me, I had a PBFD scare and I then realised that the quarantine most people do is NOT a quarantine against these airbone deadly diseases! We need to be careful and trully have another area to quarantine....like a detached garage at least(which I use now for quarantine until all is cleared). After the deadly diseases are checked for, your only worry is hopefully a cold which is easier to diagnose and not too dangerous for your fids.

 

[Echo]

The scare I had was condemning my whole flock!!!! Thankfully, it was a wrong positive and my flock is well and healthy! Never been so scared in my life!!!

 

[dkandb]

We don't have an avian vet in our podunk town, yes I have used varoius searches. I have new one in bedroom and the rest in the living room right next to it. Small house. there is a vent that connects both rooms, no closure, so I'm not quite sure how effective I'm being. I lost one bird recently, my budgie Demetri. I got him from stupid petsmart just four months ago and now that he's gone and I look back, I believe he was not in good health since the beginning. Everyone else is still doing good and everything has been sanitized since he passed and he was seperated when he began showing signs. The whole thing is just frusterating, you feel like you never can win. But I treat my birds holistically so I believe that has given them the strength to not succum to whatever took him. More-so preventative medicine than anything. I guess that's all just a side note.

 

[mele]

I also wait 4-6 weeks or longer even after a clean bill of health from the vet. Better safe and all that