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Post by choco on Jul 13, 2013 1:07:35 GMT 10
We just got handed a rescued Rainbow lorikeet, possibly a baby( beak is a dull orange colour still, and a fair few pin feathers). At the moment it is fairly tame, will come and eat food from the spoon, but not let anybody touch it. Anyway, I am a bit concerned about the possibility of PBFD. I have had no experience at all with this disease. The tail feathers are very fragile, a different one seems to be breaking every other day or so. I caught him/her in its cage today and the feathers were very rough to feel. Is this normal for a lorikeet? This is the first rainbow I have handled, so I am not sure about the feel. But all my other parrots have fairly smooth feeling feathers.  |
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Post by avinet on Jul 13, 2013 17:49:25 GMT 10
We just got handed a rescued Rainbow lorikeet, possibly a baby( beak is a dull orange colour still, and a fair few pin feathers). At the moment it is fairly tame, will come and eat food from the spoon, but not let anybody touch it. Anyway, I am a bit concerned about the possibility of PBFD. I have had no experience at all with this disease. The tail feathers are very fragile, a different one seems to be breaking every other day or so. I caught him/her in its cage today and the feathers were very rough to feel. Is this normal for a lorikeet? This is the first rainbow I have handled, so I am not sure about the feel. But all my other parrots have fairly smooth feeling feathers. It does sound a bit suspicious - Rainbow feathers feel much like any other parrot - quite soft and smooth. Also tail feathers breaking is a bad sign. Does it have a full set of flight feathers or has it lost flight feathers? Can it fly? I would be suspicious of PBFD - I would certainly keep it well away from your other birds until a diagnosis can be made. Fortunately Lorikeet PBFD seems to be a slightly different strain from that other parrots catch, and hence perhaps less infectious to other parrots. Also it is a virus that a healthy adult bird with a well developed immune system is unlikely to become infected by. Most birds catch the virus while still very young in the nest before their immune system is properly developed. However better safe than sorry and so keep it isolated for now. cheers, Mike |
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Post by choco on Jul 16, 2013 0:52:08 GMT 10
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I am not sure if the bird can fly, I have no seperate aviaries at the moment, so bird is in a smallish cage away from the other birds.
After doing some more looking and reading I am almost sure it is infected. There are a fair few little yellow feather coming through on the birds back as well.
Who does testing for this disease in Australia?
Cheers Paul
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Post by avinet on Jul 16, 2013 10:05:59 GMT 10
Hi Mike, Thanks for the quick reply. I am not sure if the bird can fly, I have no seperate aviaries at the moment, so bird is in a smallish cage away from the other birds. After doing some more looking and reading I am almost sure it is infected. There are a fair few little yellow feather coming through on the birds back as well. Who does testing for this disease in Australia? Cheers Paul Any avian vet should be able to diagnose PBFD without testing. The signs are pretty clear cut. Where do you live - we might be able to suggest a local vet for you. I would take the bird into the vet as a found wild bird, they would most likely then asses the bird for free and if it is treatable be able to pass it on to a wildlife carer. You really don't want to have a bird sick with PBFD around if you have other birds. cheers, Mike |
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Post by choco on Jul 17, 2013 5:12:08 GMT 10
Hi Mike,
I live in the bottom corner of SA.
4 hours from Adelaide and 4.5 hours from Melbourne.
I think we have one vet locally that may have enough experience to diagnose this, but will call around and see if any have some sort of avian experience, and their procedure for wild rescues.
I think I know a couple of people that would take it off my hands if it is infected.
Will let you know in a week or so how things pan out.
Cheers Paul
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