Quarantine Medication Routine/Ongoing Medication routine/
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Tiaris
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- Posts: 3517
- Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
- Location: Coffs Harbour
I agree that a regular preventative treatment program for the common and most likely infective agents is a crucial part of having a healthy finch collection, but to initiate a blanket bombardment of all new acquisitions with a full range of medications on the off chance they may have all known infestations is ridiculous. Observation and common sense are the most vital components of any effective quarantine. That is my main point. The notion of over-medicate first and ask simple commonsense questions later as to body condition, activity levels, feed uptake, faecal consistency,etc. is where I have a problem.
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MadHatter
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- Posts: 478
- Joined: 14 Sep 2010, 13:45
- Location: Ferntree Gully, VIC
Your point is well taken Tiaris, my last post was in reply to sierranomad. Your post went up while I was typing...
I agree that in a quarrantine program there is no substitute for careful observation for signs of illness, but on the other hand, there is somthing to be said for doing all you can to prevent disease from getting into your flock in the first place. There is always the possibility for a physically healthy specimen to be carrying a sub-clinical infection to which your existing flock has no immunity. So we end up with the same issue as we have with routine treatments - whether to medicate routinely, and perhaps needlessly; or if not, what is the alternative?
To which my advice is the same in either case, if you are concerned about over-medication, then at least get faecal samples done routinely and for new birds before they are introduced to your flock.
Just to be clear; I'm not suggesting that feacal sampling is foolproof, in fact it probably carries a higher risk than the preventative medication approach as the results will vary considerably depending on the freshness of the sample and the expertise of the technician. But it will provide more information than your eyes alone will do.
I agree that in a quarrantine program there is no substitute for careful observation for signs of illness, but on the other hand, there is somthing to be said for doing all you can to prevent disease from getting into your flock in the first place. There is always the possibility for a physically healthy specimen to be carrying a sub-clinical infection to which your existing flock has no immunity. So we end up with the same issue as we have with routine treatments - whether to medicate routinely, and perhaps needlessly; or if not, what is the alternative?
To which my advice is the same in either case, if you are concerned about over-medication, then at least get faecal samples done routinely and for new birds before they are introduced to your flock.
Just to be clear; I'm not suggesting that feacal sampling is foolproof, in fact it probably carries a higher risk than the preventative medication approach as the results will vary considerably depending on the freshness of the sample and the expertise of the technician. But it will provide more information than your eyes alone will do.
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Tiaris
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- Posts: 3517
- Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
- Location: Coffs Harbour
I agree entirely & think your answers on this thread have been very constructive - no gripes at all. My point is to forum members generally not yourself.
My thoughts with the whole quarantine thing are basically that the best insurance against introducing diseased birds to your own collection (and the only approach to take in acquiring good quality stock) gets back to how we acquire birds in the first place.
To only source birds from breeders who you know and/or trust to have good quality, healthy birds kept & bred in hygenic conditions and subject to regular preventative treatment for the usual nasties is the best 1st step. When acquiring them find out what stage in the preventative program they are up to so you can adjust them into your own preventative routine if need be. Buying sight unseen from someone whose birds/avairies you haven't seen and impulse buying birds from petshops or birdsales from people who won't or can't answer a few basic questions about the birds in question are best avoided at all costs. These basic rules will be the best step you can initially take to preventing diseased birds entering your collection.
My thoughts with the whole quarantine thing are basically that the best insurance against introducing diseased birds to your own collection (and the only approach to take in acquiring good quality stock) gets back to how we acquire birds in the first place.
To only source birds from breeders who you know and/or trust to have good quality, healthy birds kept & bred in hygenic conditions and subject to regular preventative treatment for the usual nasties is the best 1st step. When acquiring them find out what stage in the preventative program they are up to so you can adjust them into your own preventative routine if need be. Buying sight unseen from someone whose birds/avairies you haven't seen and impulse buying birds from petshops or birdsales from people who won't or can't answer a few basic questions about the birds in question are best avoided at all costs. These basic rules will be the best step you can initially take to preventing diseased birds entering your collection.