Feather follicle condition

[paul1966]

Gday all, I been using f10 disinfectant as advised by a vet. To treat my old birds 10 birds have lost many feathers, all but one ...has not been effected.. seems this feather follicle bug can’t shake it. And when birds get sprayed, one seems to die. Stress of been caught and sprayed. Birds have no other problems, they seem quite happy. But it’s not a pretty sight poor gouldians. .

[finchbreeder]

Why are you spraying them at all? It is the time of year when healthy birds moult. Bird vet experts are at Murdoch Uni - nice and close to you.
LML

[paul1966]

Seen a vet up forest dale 18months ago probably longer. I haven’t sprayed them for 4 months, with winter and all. But they have been treated once a week for 4 weeks and no joy. The vet took a sample of the crusty parts and looked at it under the microscope, and said feather follicle disease. These gouldians are getting on 6 plus years maybe more. But it’s strange all have this disease, except one whom is I great condition

[Rod_L]

Have you got a picture of the sick birds?

I have never heard of feather follicle disease. Did the vet say what it was caused by, (eg: bacterial, fungal or viral infection)?

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Is the vet a bird vet?
I ask because lots of vets have basic training in bird first aid but don't know a damn thing about treating sick birds. Whereas birds vets are specialists that have extra training in birds and they are the ones to go to.

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What are you feeding the birds?

[Shane Gowland]

I've heard of PBFD being referred to as "feather follicle disease", but other than one reported case mentioned in a scientific paper, I've never heard of it affecting finches.

[Craig52]

I can't believe you are spraying your birds with a disinfectant, it would be burning to skin of the bird and would be making it look crusty.
For heaven's sake stop it now as that is cruel. If you are talking about gouldians, some do lose all of their head feathers and look horrible whilst they are breeding but it is a genetic problem and bought on by stress. In saying that, they should be be moulting now or very soon and will look brand new around December. This condition of losing their feathers can not be fixed as the feathers won't grow back until the next moult.
If you can upload a pic of them we would be able to give a better diagnoses. Craig

[Talven]

There is another virus called Marek's Disease Virus that comes up when googling for feather follicle disease. I didn't look into it much as the article was a scientific paper and not much info for the layman. I think it just affects chickens but as I said I didn't look into it much. There is a similar disease to PBFD that affects doves so I suppose it's plausible that a similar but unrelated disease that would affect finches is out there too.

I wouldn't imagine a disinfectant directly applied would do much to help the birds fight off a viral or bacterial infection, as you said it's very stressful for them. I would certainly seek a second opinion from another vet. I would use the disinfectant on the cage/enclosure that you keep them in to help prevent any sort of spread of whatever may be affecting them. Wait and see how they look after they have had a chance to moult if they seem quite happy. You may find whatever it is has run it's course and the new feathers will come in OK.

[noah.till]

There is another virus called Marek's Disease Virus that comes up when googling for feather follicle disease. I didn't look into it much as the article was a scientific paper and not much info for the layman. I think it just affects chickens but as I said I didn't look into it much. There is a similar disease to PBFD that affects doves so I suppose it's plausible that a similar but unrelated disease that would affect finches is out there too.

I wouldn't imagine a disinfectant directly applied would do much to help the birds fight off a viral or bacterial infection, as you said it's very stressful for them. I would certainly seek a second opinion from another vet. I would use the disinfectant on the cage/enclosure that you keep them in to help prevent any sort of spread of whatever may be affecting them. Wait and see how they look after they have had a chance to moult if they seem quite happy. You may find whatever it is has run it's course and the new feathers will come in OK.

Mareks disease is only found in Backyard puloultry like chickens from my understand
This whole case does not sound right to myself
Thanks
Noah Till

[noah.till]

Really only parasites and bad viruses could have caused any of these problems in my opinion from my understanding , do you have an update Paul?
Thanks
Noah Till

[paul1966]

Finally picture. Yes there moulting, but there so crusty, hence f10 1ml 250ml of water spray each bird once a week... as directed by a vet ...anyway they haven’t been sprayed for 5 to 6 months,still this crusty stuff. Haven’t lost any in this time. These birds are quite old easy 5 years. All singing away, only one gouldian has not been infected as is in great condition..I had added new stock years ago from a couple of different backyard breeders, but the gouldians have been like this for 1 year.they have a good diet,greens seed crumble. Egg, they rarely eat the egg. Any advice.