Aussie Finch Forum

How does the wild gouldian survive with airsac mites?

werty wrote:How does the wild gouldian survive with airsac mites?

It doesn't it dies,some say the demise of the wild gouldians was caused by airsac mites others give different reasons but include airsac mites as well habitat,predation and lack of nest sites due to the more aggressive longtail finch. Craig

Craig52 wrote:

werty wrote:How does the wild gouldian survive with airsac mites?

It doesn't it dies,some say the demise of the wild gouldians was caused by airsac mites others give different reasons but include airsac mites as well habitat,predation and lack of nest sites due to the more aggressive longtail finch. Craig

I have been doing some reading on the save the gouldian website

They were saying they thought the air sac was killing them off but once thry supplied nests out in the wild the population started to rise

So if air sac mites killing them why are they still out there

Because like any disease the birds as a population are able to cope with them better over time i.e. the more resistant birds survive to breed. If you remove the stressors e.g. looking for nest sites- and also increase the breeding opportunities then the population increases. On the other hand if the population is stressed- food shortage, competition for nests etc then diseases which the birds normally cope with overwhelm them.

Myzomela wrote:Because like any disease the birds as a population are able to cope with them better over time i.e. the more resistant birds survive to breed. If you remove the stressors e.g. looking for nest sites- and also increase the breeding opportunities then the population increases. On the other hand if the population is stressed- food shortage, competition for nests etc then diseases which the birds normally cope with overwhelm them.

so if you keep your gouldians well fed and looked after you don't have to treat them for airsac mites?

as anyone tried breeding gouldians with no airsac mite medications?

werty wrote:

Myzomela wrote:Because like any disease the birds as a population are able to cope with them better over time i.e. the more resistant birds survive to breed. If you remove the stressors e.g. looking for nest sites- and also increase the breeding opportunities then the population increases. On the other hand if the population is stressed- food shortage, competition for nests etc then diseases which the birds normally cope with overwhelm them.

so if you keep your gouldians well fed and looked after you don't have to treat them for airsac mites?

as anyone tried breeding gouldians with no airsac mite medications?

werty, your second last paragraph answered your question but in saying that keep an eye on newly purchased birds.Keep them separate to your own healthy stock and treat them if you think they may have airsac mite,symptoms are excessive beak wiping,audible clicking and asthma like symptoms in really bad cases.
I think a lot of breeders get bogged down and worried about airsac mite and other problems that might be,with todays medications for ASM the offending bird can be removed and treated and/or the whole flock can be treated at the same time with little or no effects to them. Craig

Craig52 wrote:

werty wrote:

Myzomela wrote:Because like any disease the birds as a population are able to cope with them better over time i.e. the more resistant birds survive to breed. If you remove the stressors e.g. looking for nest sites- and also increase the breeding opportunities then the population increases. On the other hand if the population is stressed- food shortage, competition for nests etc then diseases which the birds normally cope with overwhelm them.

so if you keep your gouldians well fed and looked after you don't have to treat them for airsac mites?

as anyone tried breeding gouldians with no airsac mite medications?

werty, your second last paragraph answered your question but in saying that keep an eye on newly purchased birds.Keep them separate to your own healthy stock and treat them if you think they may have airsac mite,symptoms are excessive beak wiping,audible clicking and asthma like symptoms in really bad cases.
I think a lot of breeders get bogged down and worried about airsac mite and other problems that might be,with todays medications for ASM the offending bird can be removed and treated and/or the whole flock can be treated at the same time with little or no effects to them. Craig

Do you think by treated them for air sac mites we are producing weaker birds?

No,as i said treat any bird/birds showing symptoms IF it shows up in your stock,its NOT real common these days. Craig

Antibiotics create weaker birds. They help the weaker survive and pass on their genes and also create resistant strains of bacteria. This is how you lose them ASM is easily treated and if you quarantine all new comers before they go to your flock you should be right.

The other advice you have been given is good advice.

elferoz777 wrote:Antibiotics create weaker birds. They help the weaker survive and pass on their genes and also create resistant strains of bacteria. This is how you lose them ASM is easily treated and if you quarantine all new comers before they go to your flock you should be right.

The other advice you have been given is good advice.

Maybe instead of treating new birds in quarantine that show symptoms, just get rid of any birds that show the symptoms