How to Keep Pet Birds from Getting Lice

Birds in the wild have little tricks they use to keep from getting lice but not all problems are lice related. There are many problems that can occur with the feathers of a pet bird and the bird should be taken immediately to the veterinarian if viral diseases such as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, (PBFD) are suspected. Bird owners fear external parasites on their feathered friends, so, it is important to remember that lice are rare in pet birds with the exception of a type of mite that may be found in parakeets. And if a bird does have a problem with lice, in most cases, the problem only exists with the bird and they won't bite humans or other pets.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray water bottle
• A bowl for water
• A bowl of sand for dusting

How to Keep Pet Birds from Getting Lice

1. Compare the vulnerability of different types of pet birds before making your selection and purchase. Some pet birds do not suffer from lice infestations very often, while other types are very prone to these types of attacks. Buying a bird that is less vulnerable will make a considerable difference all the way around and make your job as pet owner much easier.

2. Gather up a dish full of ordinary sand from your yard or garden spot. Put it into your bird's cage so the bird can dust itself with it. This may cause a bit of a mess on the floor, not only of the cage but of the room in which the bird is housed as well but it is much better than your pet bird having fleas or lice.

3. Keep a bowl of clean water in the cage that is separate from the bird's drinking water so it can have a bath. Most birds love to splash in water and caged birds are no exception. After they bathe they will preen their feathers and distribute natural oils throughout their plumage as a natural form of protection against lice. Another much less messy method is to take a squirt bottle of water and spray the birds to inspire them to preen.

4. Using commercial lice sprays is another option for the bird owner, but if it is used at all it should be used only as a last resort. Be careful when you spray the chemical on the bird's feathers that you avoid getting it into its eyes or into its airway as birds are very sensitive. Covering the bird's entire head is a good idea during the spraying process.

5. Keep the bird's cage as clean as possible by removing the droppings from the bottom of the cage to keep the insects from being interested in moving into the cage. This also prevents the bird from walking in it's own droppings and picking up bacteria on its feet which can lead to parasites.

Tips & Warnings

• It is a good idea to only use the chemical delousing agent when absolutely necessary but make sure you keep fresh water and sand in the cage at all times so the bird can take care of itself.
• Don't worry about lice infestations spreading to other birds in your home as most bird lice are restricted to a particular species of bird so they will not transmit to other pet birds of different species that are kept nearby.
• If a bird has feather issues it might not necessarily be due to lice or mites. They can be caused by a bird over-preening its feathers, by viral diseases like PBFD, or pulling out of feathers, or by bacterial skin infection, plus metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism, protozoa infestation, and toxins, not to mention nutritional problems. If the cause is not immediately obvious, take the bird to the vet for diagnosis and treatment.
• Be careful of chemical delousing agents. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the label carefully.
• Some chemical agents contain mothball type chemicals which have been known to cause liver cancer in fowl, so be cautious when deciding on infestation eradication methods.
• Do not smoke around your pet birds, and don't handle the birds if you do smoke. The tars from your fingers gets on their feathers and causes trouble, plus, the smoke-filled air is very bad for any animal, particularly one that cannot escape it.

Resources

• www.essortment.com
• www.exoticpetvet.net

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