What to test for when adopting

[BirbFriemd]

I'm looking to adopt a bird (probably poicephalus) from a rescue in my area and am concerned about whether or not the bird will have a clean bill of health coming from a foster home, especially if it has a somewhat unknown background. My mom, in particular, is absolutely paranoid about diseases (she doesn't live with me but she does own the house I rent...and therefore has final say over if I can get the bird). I don't have a specific bird picked out yet so I'm operating on hypotheticals only, here, but I was hoping someone could suggest what things I should seek tests for before going through with the adoption. So far the list of "diseases of concern" includes (in no particular order):

• Aspergillosis
• Bornovirus
• Cryptosporidium
• Psittacosis
• Beak and Feather diease
• Avian tuburculosis
• Avian flu
• Polyomavirus
• Campylobacteriosis
• Salmonella
• Giardia
• Sarcocystis
  

Can anyone give me a sense of what things would be smart to test for upon adopting, and which, if any, would be a waste of time/money?

I know the rescue does a full physical upon intake, but not sure if they test for diseases unless the bird appears sick (I've asked but haven't heard back yet). The bird I adopt will have been in a foster home, potentially with other birds, for some time.

I appreciate any help!!!!

 

[saxguy64]

Wow, quite a list! Thank you for doing your research ahead of time! I think my first recommendation is to talk with your trusted avian specialist. They will be your best resource, and should be more equipped to guide you on this. Depending on the vet, and what lab they use, individual tests can add up and get expensive in a hurry. Some may offer a "package deal" so to speak, that is a one price for a common group of tests, including standard blood work. My vet has a new (to you) bird set of tests that includes full physical exam, fecal, gram stain, lots of blood levels, and a handful of disease tests like ABV, PBFD, etc. You can add more of the disease tests for a discounted rate if you request them at the same time, and your vet may recommend specific ones based on the exam and other information available.

Now, for the bird... Do you have a preference in species? Would you consider adopting one that chooses you if it was different than what you expected? I only ask because, if you have the opportunity, parrots are so much better at choosing us than we are at choosing them. They see YOU. Not the external you, but the energy, or however you want to call it, that makes you who you are to them. I'm a firm believer in rescues, and spending the time to find the right match is well worth the effort. I'm proudly owned by the most amazing YNA in the world, because she decided it had to be. Best decision ever!

I wish you well in your upcoming adventure! No doubt, you will have more questions, so ask away. It's what we're here for, and we have lots of knowledgeable folks, happy to help in any way we can. Please keep us updated when the time comes. When it does, we love pictures too

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[BirbFriemd]

Wow, thanks for the super fast reply! I definitely plan on asking a vet, but I'm trying to get info from as many sources as possible since my mom is SO worried. But good to know that a standard "new bird" check-up might include things like ABV.

As for the species, I am a bit limited by my living situation (three housemates, so trying to go for smaller, "quieter" species...lol...) and because I am essentially a first-time bird owner, so I know I am not equipped to take on anything like a 'too or an amazon. Same goes for any bird with big behavioral or health issues. I feel bad discriminating but I know taking on a bird with too many special needs would not be a good thing for me or for them. So in my ideal world, I'd take whomever falls for me, but it's not really possible given my current life setup That said, within my limitations, I want the bird to have a say in the match, and I'm willing to wait for that special connection!

I'd love to hear from anyone else what their adoption "pre-screenings" were like (medical and in terms of meeting birds and finding a connection)!

 

[saxguy64]

I like your patient attitude! Always better to let it happen than make a rushed decision. I see you had a budgie in the past. An excellent choice, and often grossly under rated, since many people don't spent the time working with them like they might with a larger bird. They are just as intelligent, and have just as big personalities as the larger species. You might also consider a cockatiel, as they are known for being very social, wonderful companions, with tons of personality. I've had two, and would absolutely do it again if I had the space!

If you have a good rescue organization near you, they can be really helpful in finding a good match with you. Our nearby refuge actually requires a number of visiting hours to make sure you're a good fit for the bird before you can adopt them. Impulse buyers get turned off by that, but I personally love it. It's in the bird's best interest, and often saves them from being rehomed yet again. If you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of rescues. There are so many birds out there that deserve a loving home, but are tossed aside because of bad decisions and poor planning. Every one of mine has been a rescue/rehome. They're so worth it!

 

[noodles123]

You will want to find a certified avian specialist in your area if you are getting a bird. Exotics vets don't have the same knowledge, testing capacity or diagnostic tools. Sadly, a lot of breeders (even decent ones) don't do a ton of testing---many will allow you to take your bird to a vet for a physical exam within x days of getting the bird, but that is pretty basic and tells you very little about anything under the surface.

My experience was weird and I wouldn't recommend it- the guy I rescued her from at the organization reportedly did some mail-in swabs for polyomavirus and psittacosis ( avian chlamydia)...I was told to take her to a vet within 48 hours of getting her home and that exam would be covered. I was unable to do so without traumatizing her completely, so I missed that opportunity. I was able to find a very strange exotics vet to come to my house and look at her, but she was pretty scared, so he basically just felt her keel and I had to cover that cost.
She also developed a bacterial infection (likely due to the stress of travel/transition etc) and so so that was something else that I paid for within a few weeks of bringing her home.
Turns out, she had an undetected liver condition and I only discovered that after fighting my vet to do blood work (which she felt was unnecessary). Again, something she had when I got her that they did not know about because no one did blood work.

When you get your bird, whether or not they cover the costs, I would strongly advise that you get a CBC run (you may have to cover the cost- it just depends). This will not tell you everything, but it is an essential baseline for organ function etc. Psittacosis and polyoma testing should definitely be done by the breeder (in my opinion).

In terms of other major issues- ABV, PDD, and PBFD are some major diseases that can be spread by seemingly healthy birds over the course of their lifetimes. They require their own special panels. Sadly, the same virus may not result in symptoms within 1 bird, while killing another (and sometimes it can take 10+ years for symptoms to develop after an exposure). They are tricky to test for and not cheap (false negative results are not uncommon), but it's really important to know if your bird has these if you plan on exposing them to other birds ever--they aren't going to harm you, but they can definitely be spread to and from other birds (with or without symptoms-via feather dust, droppings, nasal secretions etc) and the circovirus that causes PBFD can last for a long time in carpets, HVAC systems etc. So, that is just something to be mindful of if you are boarding your bird, arranging play-dates or planning to ever get another bird ---FYI most boarding facilities do not require these tests to board birds, as they are too expensive...so...yeah....

 

[SailBoat]

Amazons enter our home and take over in a very unorthodox manner as we take in only the old, ill and /or abused, more correctly stated yesterdays trash. They can be classified as never, ever wanting to interact with another Human. The sources vary widely from rescues and pet stores wanting to clear out the back corner, but most commonly from an Avian Professional's Clinic that has had someone pay the bill and leave without the Amazon.

Our starting point is commonly picking-up the Amazon and beelining it to our Avian Professional's Clinic for a New Bird, Full Examination. A full spectrum (CBC) blood screening and stool testing and evaluation is common when working with a true Professional. The detailed physical examination and what illness are common in our area and the source of the Amazon. Some Breeders, Rescues /Pet Stores are known sources for specific 'issues' defines what testing is needed.

Such first examinations commonly start in the mid $500 USD range and can go up depending of the findings of the physical examination. With the exception of those Parrots, which have clearly defined female and male indicators, we always DNA Sex Test.

I'm a strong believing in allow the Parrot too choose! As stated above, they are far better at it than we are and since the greatest percentage of bonding is the Parrot excepting you, by letting them choose, you are a long ways toward having a bonded relationship.

NOTE #1: Find your Avian Professional FIRST!!! After all you will want a longterm relationship with a Clinic that has the same Love for your Parrot as you will have, correct!

NOTE #2: Parrots, regardless of size are expensive! Assure you have the resources to fully care for your Parrot before you go out looking for that Parrot that Loves You!

 

[noodles123]

Also- know that if you are sick, you can pass certain illnesses on to your bird...Strep, for instance and certain types of bacteria. Whenever you are sick, it is very important to wash hands and not allow your bird up in your face etc, and never let a bird eat off of your plate/fork after you have eaten from it, as germs in our saliva (even if we feel healthy) can technically make them sick in some circumstances. Similarly, kissing on the lips etc should be avoided. Lots if people do these things, but it's really unwise.
On a related note, the saliva of cats and dogs =particularly harmful to bird----especially cats. A cat bite or cat scratch can kill a bird from infection more easily than the bite/wound itself (which is why even the smallest injury from a cat to a bird needs to be addressed immediately, even if the wound is very minor).

If anyone in your home has respiratory sensitivities or asthma, a powder-down bird (including cockatiels) should be avoided. Bird dander can be a real irritant, and the powder-down varieties produce a dust that is essential to their health, but often upsetting to sensitive human lungs.

They are ALL very expensive and very very very messy. The larger the bird, the higher the cost and mess, but even the small ones can put a serious dent in your once-clean home and wallet lol. They will poop on things, so consider how your mom will respond to that and how you want to prevent damage, as keeping the bird locked up isn't an acceptable means of mess-containment.

Another thing to be mindful of is that you will not be able to paint or spray for bugs or do many home-improvement projects in a rental once you have a bird (no glues, stains, paints, polishes, carpet shampoos, insecticides, scented products, standard household cleaners etc). Cleaning with standard household cleaners will be totally out of the question, so if your mom is really into Lysol, Bleach, Windex, ammonia, soft-scrub, Scrubbing Bubbles, air fresheners, and other common disinfectants (the list goes on), you will want to convince her of a bird-safe alternative ahead of time, because their respiratory systems are way more delicate and specialized than that of mammals'. F10 SC is a very safe avian veterinary disinfectant that kills a wide spectrum of viruses and bacteria (can be used to sterilize surgical equipment at the proper concentration), so from one germ-o-phobe to another, she might appreciate it more than something more "natural" that won't kill certain nasties. FYI- if you look into F10, the yellowish clear kind is no-rinse, but it is a concentrate, so you get a lot more bang for your buck than you would think for such a small bottle (I do 2ml to 17oz water and that ratio is pretty good at killing most stuff and it makes GALLONS---plus, it's good for 6 months after you mix it with water, unlike many other cleaners whose efficacy degrades within 24-48 hours of mixing w/water- you just will need a chemically resistant spray bottle to store the mix in and you can get one with ounces already marked on it at Wal-mart for a few bucks)...Oh- and the green variety of F10 is soapy, so it has to be rinsed off (it is also a concentrate), which is why I do not like it, because I do not rinse my home when cleaning indoors lol (you can use it if you prefer, but rinsing is required). If you use the yellow/clear kind that I use, you will want to figure out a way to stay on top of crusted on poop though, because the no-rinse f10 is just a disinfectant, not a surfactant, so it won't break down grime any better than water would. You have to remove debris before using it to clean. Toothbrushes can be useful, as can baking soda and certain scrubbers, as long as you never mix chemicals and pay careful attention to not destroying the powder-coating that you may have on your cage. In case it was not clear, I use F10 in my house/counters/toilets etc, as well as on the bird's cage.

Also- no candles, scented oils, aerosols, Glade Plug-ins, wax warmers etc...and no air fresheners in your home or car. Fabreeze has also been linked to bird deaths.

 

[BirbFriemd]

Wow! So much great advice here. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me, everyone. Keep 'em coming!

To respond to a few of the points raised:

Budgies and cockatiels...put simply, both of these species have more emotional baggage for me than I want in my first bird in almost 20 years. Tiels are also ruled out because of the powder down issue. My brother and I are not allergic to birds as far as we know, but our other housemates, who knows? I'd rather not take the risk, even if the bird is a more permanent choice than a housemate. (Also, I'm currently not attached, but I'd like to minimize the risk of having to choose between the bird and a partner down the line...)

Vets:
The organization I'm adopting from has a really helpful list of avian specialists in my area, so I have both a regular clinic (local) and a 24 hour hospital (~50 minutes away) picked out already. I haven't visited either place because COVID...but do plan to enquire about what tests they can do and how much they cost. It sounds like if they are limited in their testing capacity I may have to take the bird to multiple places, which isn't great but I'LL DO IT!

@Noodles, I'm really sorry your experience was so full of bumps. So far my experience with the org I'm adopting from has been slow, but smooth, and I honestly really appreciate how thorough they make the screening process. You have to take a bird care class from their experts before even submitting an application!

Cleaners and scented products:
Hoo boy. My mom has already rid the house of pretty much anything that has a label she doesn't understand, and we clean primarily with dish soap, white vinegar, and only very rarely a little squirt of soft scrub or bleach (only in the sinks, really). If I use bleach in the bathroom or kitchen with the fan on (and the bird is in another room with the door closed) will that be risky?

This F10 product sounds too good to be true, haha! I will definitely look into it. Mom will be relieved to know there is something that can kill all the nasties she's worried about and *I* am happy this means I won't have to use bleach on the cage and then fret about if I gave it enough time in the sun to degrade before putting my bird back in!

As for candles and such, they aren't allowed per our lease. Same with air fresheners (except in individual bedrooms, and even then only something like an essential oil diffuser would be allowed...I am also wary of this and plan to do more research. I would never use one in the same room as my bird). Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are also banned, and highly-scented detergents. And, of course, non-stick cookware!!!!

Lastly, expense:
I am very fortunate to say that money is not a worry for me, at least with in the realm of "normalcy". I can definitely afford a first thorough vet check and annual checkups, and treatment for occasional illnesses or incidents. But I do want to be sure that I get a healthy bird and that medical treatments won't pile up....

 

[noodles123]

Wow! So much great advice here. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me, everyone. Keep 'em coming!

To respond to a few of the points raised:

Budgies and cockatiels...put simply, both of these species have more emotional baggage for me than I want in my first bird in almost 20 years. Tiels are also ruled out because of the powder down issue. My brother and I are not allergic to birds as far as we know, but our other housemates, who knows? I'd rather not take the risk, even if the bird is a more permanent choice than a housemate. (Also, I'm currently not attached, but I'd like to minimize the risk of having to choose between the bird and a partner down the line...)

Vets:
The organization I'm adopting from has a really helpful list of avian specialists in my area, so I have both a regular clinic (local) and a 24 hour hospital (~50 minutes away) picked out already. I haven't visited either place because COVID...but do plan to enquire about what tests they can do and how much they cost. It sounds like if they are limited in their testing capacity I may have to take the bird to multiple places, which isn't great but I'LL DO IT!

@Noodles, I'm really sorry your experience was so full of bumps. So far my experience with the org I'm adopting from has been slow, but smooth, and I honestly really appreciate how thorough they make the screening process. You have to take a bird care class from their experts before even submitting an application!

Cleaners and scented products:
Hoo boy. My mom has already rid the house of pretty much anything that has a label she doesn't understand, and we clean primarily with dish soap, white vinegar, and only very rarely a little squirt of soft scrub or bleach (only in the sinks, really). If I use bleach in the bathroom or kitchen with the fan on (and the bird is in another room with the door closed) will that be risky?

This F10 product sounds too good to be true, haha! I will definitely look into it. Mom will be relieved to know there is something that can kill all the nasties she's worried about and *I* am happy this means I won't have to use bleach on the cage and then fret about if I gave it enough time in the sun to degrade before putting my bird back in!

As for candles and such, they aren't allowed per our lease. Same with air fresheners (except in individual bedrooms, and even then only something like an essential oil diffuser would be allowed...I am also wary of this and plan to do more research. I would never use one in the same room as my bird). Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are also banned, and highly-scented detergents. And, of course, non-stick cookware!!!!

Lastly, expense:
I am very fortunate to say that money is not a worry for me, at least with in the realm of "normalcy". I can definitely afford a first thorough vet check and annual checkups, and treatment for occasional illnesses or incidents. But I do want to be sure that I get a healthy bird and that medical treatments won't pile up....

I do not use bleach in the same house with my bird- or other unapproved cleaners. I am sure it could be done with extreme caution, but it's risky IMO (unless you have great circulation, use VERY little, and cannot smell it--period). I just don't like the idea...and I can smell a spray of it across a house (my mom tried to use a squirt of a bleach cleaner once when I was visiting, and I had no idea she had used it (as it is not allowed when the bird visits), but within 2 minutes, I was across the house saying, "did dad use bleach? why do I smell bleach?!"..It was literally 1 squirt in a bathroom cleaner that contained bleach (not pure bleach) and I smelled it immediately from 100+ feet away (down hallways and through a closed door)...so, I'm not a fan...I don't use the stuff and I can sniff it out like a drug dog lol.
The F10 if great- it isn't natural though (it's safer for birds than many products that contain essential oils and are marketed as "natural" though. It is a quat cleaner, and the USA label makes it sound way scarier than it is---it's allowed in Europe and the USA, but many dangerous chemicals that we allow in the USA are banned in Europe, so that alone means it is safer than many cleaning products. I inquired about the USA label and noticed that the wording was verbatim to all other chemicals sold for similar purposes. The company also confirmed that this was a legality/FDA thing (for USA only), and not a true caution statement in terms of product risks etc. I almost didn't use it after reading the label the first time I ordered some, but it is honestly very safe (I have gotten it on my skin in concentrated form--no irritation). My bird actually ingested some once (in diluted form- long story) and she was fine..DO NOT ALLOW YOUR BIRD TO DO THIS! LOL--it was an accident and a stupid one, but it's safer than most cleaners--you want to let it dry before your bird touches it, but you can clean stuff in the same room with your bird while using it. Vets will actually use it to nebulize birds with certain respiratory issues, if that gives you an idea of how safe it is in proper dilutions.

PS: Don't heat large quantities of vinegar around birds---some people like to run it through coffee pots and dishwashers and I have read at least a few stories about people killing birds this way--another involving someone making dill pickles on the stove top with hot vinegar.

 

[SailBoat]

Since you are between partners and do not want to be faced with a choice between a future partner and a Parrot -- is this the best time to bring a Parrot into your life? Parrots are highly individualized choice as a fairly large segment of the population are not into them.

 

[noodles123]

Since you are between partners and do not want to be faced with a choice between a future partner and a Parrot -- is this the best time to bring a Parrot into your life? Parrots are highly individualized choice as a fairly large segment of the population are not into them.

This is something to consider for real- parrots are like the "baggage" (I use that term colloquially) of having a kid with all sorts of unique needs. It's easier for a future love interest to understand special circumstances and time commitments when the "child" is human (but even then, many people are afraid to date those with children if they are just getting started in a relationship or don't already have children of their own--not a total blanket statement, but as a rule, kids often freak people out-not everyone, but many)...I can confidently say that my bird led to the end of a multi-year relationship with my ex (and honestly, good riddance, BUT, it's a lot to put on someone who may wish to travel and use teflon/candles etc and may or not want to be a bird dad/mom--he didn't want to be a human dad anytime soon-so the bird came as a shock to his system, even though I was VERY reasonable and talked to him about it ahead of time).

When dating, you tell your suitor you have a parrot and they think "oh, that's cool, does it talk??"--what you should say is, "flying toddler that lives for 15-100 years with extreme allergies to the world +chainsaw and mega-phone, sometimes talks" <---at least, for most parrots...

Most people do not understand the true level of commitment it takes. I tell people about my parrot and all of her needs very soon after meeting them, because it's like a mom with kids (she comes before a new relationship to me, but I am not going to lie...she has definitely complicated things for me in the dating world). No more sleeping in...no more spontaneity and a lot less travel...it's just annoying to have to grill a new love interest on their household cooking/cleaning routine when you are getting to know them lol! but it is important... Also, based on the bird I have, I will never get to travel like I did before.. Thankfully, I did a LOT of travelling when I was in my teens and 20s, but I still have a hard time explaining that I can't just go on weekend getaways etc...Having a bird is way more complicated than a dog or a cat, because even if you take them with you, you have to think about fumes, temperatures and portable housing (in addition to the stress of the trip).

 

[BirbFriemd]

Since you are between partners and do not want to be faced with a choice between a future partner and a Parrot -- is this the best time to bring a Parrot into your life? Parrots are highly individualized choice as a fairly large segment of the population are not into them.

If someone isn't into birds...they're not gonna be a good match for me anyway!