Bird Rescue ?

Just rescued a 5 yr old cockateal.  She appears to have a type of mite on her face.  She was living in horrible home, horrible diet, and lacking in general care. I am new to the "larger birds".  I have had small pets, dogs, cats, geckos, and such.  She appears happy.  I threw all her old stuff away, new cage, new toys, Food, new dishes, new diet....You get the point.  She will be loved forever and a day.  Any advise on how to help her with this?  She is cleaning the feathers herself...Going from the body to the end of feather with her bill.  I do know that she has a bug...I have seen them come off the head and found one the cage already.  Help please!!!!

[Tammy2009]

You will want to talk to a veternarian and get some anti-parasite medication to get rid of the mites.  If you can, bring a "sample" of the mite in a container so the vet knows what they are dealing with.  

Make sure you are continuing to clean the cage and only use toys that can be disinfected so the bird isn't getting re-exposed to the mites.  

Hope your cockatiel is feeling better soon!

[ineedhelp52]

I am a Congo  African Grey owner.   You that you can buy parasite and mite sprays that will get rid of all these pests on birds.  Just be sure to cover the birds eyes when you you use the sprays because it is harmful to their eyes.  The sprays work very well though.  My bird has never has these pests because I use these sprays as a preventative every few months.  Tammy is right t tell you to take the bird to see a vet because since the bird was on a horrible diet she may have a health issue which needs looked after.  Birds need regular check ups anyway.  Pellets are the best diet for birds by the way and add only 10% seed in their diet.    Birds as instinct hide their symptoms if they're sick.  They do this in the wild because their flock will abandon them if they are sick.  As pets, YOU are their flock and they will hide their symptom from you.   THEY ALL DO!  By the time you see any symptoms in birds it is too late to treat them, so periodic check ups are necessary.  I take my bird in 2-3 times a year for a complete blood.feces work up and exam.  For instance, If the bird gets a bacterial infection, it will eventually kill the bird.  They are fragile creatures but wonderful and very rewarding as pets and members of your family.  Good luck!