TA&M with bird lice

[quailchick]

Someone gave me a TA&M that I keep in the house, and I saw tiny bugs on my table. I microscoped one and it looks like it is lice, the bird may have other bugs too and I wouldn't know it. I don't have a way to do a dust bath inside...I could take her outside temporarily for a dust bath though. I have read the old posts so far and I am confused now about what to do. DE seems out of the question to me. Please give me advice on how to treat indoor quail. I am not allowed to have her outdoors in our neighborhood, so she lives in a guinea pig cage in our dining room. Tired of finding the lice crawling around my house!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Its a common misconception that DE will kill lice and mites.... It wont...... It is good to help prevent them from getting comfortable, but it wont kill what is already on your bird. I use common sevin dust for your garden.... iv used it for years and my birds get it every spring. Then again if anyone comes up with any bugs.... I have even put quail in a brown bag like "shake n bake" chicken... They come out look'n like little ghost but no more bugs..... If you look at that birds vent and under its wings you would get that itchy crawly feeling im sure...... hit these places hard.... wear gloves, dont breathe it and do it outside..... good luck. Bill

 

[quailchick]

Thanks, how much sevin dust?

 

[Fat Daddy]

Just a couple good shakes, its a powder, dust him. Turn the bird upside down and hit the vent area and under the wings. Rub it down to the skin. I would not allow children to handle this bird. Remember Sevin is a pesticide. I would keep this bird out of my immediate living area for a while.

 

[Sill]

Yes on the sevin dust. Don't forget to do the cage too! The bugs will crawl off your bird and hide in the cage, feeders, bedding, etc. Do a good cleaning, wash everything possible with hot soapy water then dust the cage, furnishings and put in fresh bedding if you use that.

 

[quailchick]

Thank you both. Is there another option that is less toxic? My bird is in my dining room and my cat, dog, kids are around it. We eat very near the cage, which is why the bugs got on the table.

 

[dc3085]

There really isn't an effective option that is less toxic.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Two other options come to mind..... Dont know why it didnt come to me sooner........ Move the bird to the hot grill for approx 35 mins or the freezer for a day or two.... Either would be much better than living with a buggy bird!

 

[quailchick]

Thanks, but this bird is a pet. I found this info below online...any thoughts?

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/mites.html

lice are easily treated by the use of 5% carbaryl dust, pyrethrin spray or ivermectin. Several doses 7-10 days apart may be necessary to eradicate lice as they hatch out on the feathers.

 

[quailchick]

I will clean the cage again several times. The lice were all over the dining room and even in my kitchen cupboards!