 So you want to be a Gouldian owner. Before you even begin, you should know that the No. 1 Killer of the Gouldian Finch is the Air Sac Mite. It does not have to be deadly. Ignorance and lack of information leaves you without the knowledge to protect your bird. I had been raising the Gouldian for over two years when an experienced breeder came to my home to purchase three pairs. He asked me if he could catch the birds from the cage. As he caught each bird, he held it to his ear. After his third catch, he announced to me that my birds had Air Sac Mites. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He proceeded to explain it to me and has since then become my best bird breeder buddy. By learning about Air Sac Mites and how to treat them, you will not lose your birds to this killer.
Air Sac Mites have been reported in several bird species but is most commonly found in Lady Gouldian Finches and Canaries.
Air Sacs
Each bird has nine principal air sacs with several diverticula within its respiratory tract. They are not connected to each other. The air sacs communicate with the bronchus and with several air filled bones such as the femur and humerous. The porous nature of these bones aids the birds flight. It is in these air sacs where the mites habitate.
Symptoms
 Some birds can be infected by the mites and appear healthy. The nature of the symptoms depends on several factors: volume of mites and degree of inflammation, not only in the air sacs but also in the lungs, bronchus and trachea. A clinical sign of air sac mites is open mouth breathing, which has a characteristic clicking sound. In a heavy infection some birds can be observed gasping for air. Other signs include coughing, nasal discharge, tail bobbing, weakness and weight loss. As far as it is known, the complete life cycle of the Air Sac Mite is approximately fourteen to twenty one days.
Transmission
The method of transmission of Air Sac Mites is not well known. Some believe it occurs through direct contact via the oral route from one bird to another. The most common transmission occurs when infested adult birds feed regurgitated food to young nestlings. Transmission can also occur through drinking water from contaminated water bottles in flight cages.
Unsafe Treatment
Here in the US, aviculturists have used Ivermectin designed for sheep, cattle or horses on their birds. Read the statement by David R Homer BVSc, Technical Services Manager, Merial (Aust) Pty Ltd. (7-11-2003)
Reprinted with permission from Vetafarm Products Australia
Sheep, Cattle & Horse Ivermectin
We see many people diluting Ivermectin sheep, cattle and horse products with water and this is not recommended by the developer of Ivermectin, Merial. The following note is self explanatory.
IVOMEC sheep liquid is formulated as an emulsion with the Ivermectin dissolved in a solvent and this solution then held emulsified in water by a delicate balancing act with various additives including surfactants. Once you add more water to the mix you then change the balance and at some stage the emulsion will collapse and the Ivermectin will crash out. How much dilution cause this… don’t know but it will happen. We have a concentrate product called Jetamec which is formulated to take more significant dilution but it is registered only as a jetting fluid for sheep.
As far as pour ons and injections are concerned-they are all solvent with no water-any dilution with water is ill-advised. Reprinted with permission from Vetafarm Products Australia
Treatment manufactured for birds
We used a terrific product for treating Airsac mites that really worked. The product was developed for birds in Australia by Vetafarm. We no longer need to use a horse, sheep or cattle wormer on our birds.
SCATT
The product is called SCATT. The active ingredient is Moxidectin. This drug kills the mite by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses in the mite causing its paralysis and death. Birds, like mammals do not have the same nerve transmission system as mites so the drug is harmless to them. During my six month test period for air sac mites in a couple of my Goulds, I treated once with SCATT and found I did not have to treat again. The mites were gone! And stayed Gone! The manufacturer recommends for best results re-treatment should be carried out 3 to 4 times per year.
NEW! Treatment for large flocks in their drinking water!
If you have a hard time catching your birds or the total number makes it impossible for you to treat with Scatt we now offer a new treatment, S76 developed by Dr. Rob Marshall, the author of "Gouldian & Finch HEALTH" and co-author of The Guild to Gouldian Finches. S76 is a two day treatment administered in the birds drinking water. It is extremely safe and can be given in hot weather and throughout the entire breeding season.
SCATT versus S76
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| | | The life cycle of the airsac mite is 14 - 21 days. SCATT remains active in the birds blood stream for three weeks. In most cases this allows one application to kill the airsac mites. During the 21 days Scatt will kill the adult mites and any eggs that might hatch.
S76 when diluted in water only remains active for 7 to 8 hours. Therefore S76 needs to be administered in the drinking water two days per week for three weeks (21 days) in order to kill the life cycle of the airsac mites.
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Stress on you and your birds
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| | S76 for flock treatment involves less stress for both the birds and the breeder because it is an in water treatment which does not require the birds to be captured and handled.
To Use SCATT one has to catch each bird and apply a drop of product directly to the skin.
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Stress on delicate internal organs
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| | S76 is in the birds blood stream only for the 24-48 hour period that it is in the drinking water and thus only affects the other internal organs for a short time.
SCATT remains in the birds blood stream for 3 weeks (normally only one application is necessary) placing more stress on the birds internal organs.
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Treats multiple parasites
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| | S76 eradicates airsac mites, worms and external parasites, but also contains health stimulants. S76 has a bactericidal effect in the back of the throat where it will kill any unwanted bacteria, improving the overall health of the bird.
SCATT eradicates airsac mites and red mites.
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Safety Concerns
S76 can be used on the birds at any stage of their breeding cycle. It will not cause harm to the health and fertility of mature birds, fledglings or eggs.
SCATT is not recommended for use on birds younger that 6 months of age.
Scaly Face Mite
Both products are effective for treatment of the Scaly Mite.
Scaly Face Mite
The scaly face mite (Knemidokoptes pilae) is found primarily in Parakeets (Budgerigars), though it can turn up in canaries and finches as well. The mite is found on the corner of the beak on either side, the vent and the legs, and can be diagnosed by identifying the clinical sign of their presence on the bird. This mite burrows in the shin, causing a powdery appearance. If you look closely, you will see a honey-comb pattern of holes in the skin, representing burrows and tunnels caused by the mites.
Treatment with S76
S76 is an excellent choice for Scaly face mite. Treat one day per week with a drop of S76 applied to the skin of the neck for up to 6 weeks to eradicate the mites. Reassess the nutrition of the bird because scaly face & leg can be nutritional and weak gene based.
Treatment with SCATT
Use SCATT the same for scaly face mites as you would for air sac mites. Apply 1 to 2 drops depending on the size of the bird (1 drop per 30g body weight), to the bare skin between the shoulders. You may need to retreat in three weeks as the mites, which live in the "DEAD" beak or leg scales, do burrow down to feed on the blood. It is very difficult to get the SCATT down into the infected areas. This medication works from the inside out. Re-treat every three weeks until infected beak grows out. Treatment may take up to 6 weeks
Dormant Mites
Mites do live in dormancy in the airways in certain birds. These immature forms become active when the bird is ill, stressed or during hot weather. Suddenly the problem appears and then spreads throughout the flock again.
Remember the birds get the air sac mites by picking up the eggs of the mites. Your bird cannot get infected without the presence of another bird. Remember to treat all new introductions. Treat your birds twice a year as a prevention with Scatt or S76.
Death may occur
Unfortunately treatment is not always as rewarding as we would like for it to be. Some heavily airsac mite infested birds can die two to seven days after treatment due to asphyxiation, resulting from the accumulation of dead mites obstructing the air ways.
Article © lady gouldian finch.com 2006
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