New Member

Posts: 2
From:saint-aubin,essone,france
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-05-2004 08:07 AM         

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hello everybody.
this is my first post, so excuse me if my msg ends up too long.
I have a friend who has a canary pair, who has had 2 babies (hatched). The babies are about 1 1/2 weeks old now. And since tuesday this week, she has been infested with very tiny spider looking creepie crawlies, which she has finally pinned down to the canary cage.
When she first told me this I thought they they were bird mites. But then she told me that she has been bitten to hell and back (she's very sensitive to allergies,bugs, etc), and these crawlies are black and about 1mm big. And after doing some research into it, I've found that the only visible type of mites that canaries are known to get is blood mites, which are red. Obviously I could be wrong here, since I'm no expert.
Anyway, she has totally cleaned/desinfected the cage, and in a panic to get rid of these things she has even changed the bird nest.
She hasn't, as far as I know, pulverised the cage or the birds, since she is worried about the babies. But since the babies aren't doing too good, as a result of being overrun by these things, I don't know if getting a mite spray would be such a bad thing.

I am really concerned about this, since I too have a canary couple with 3 babies, my babies are only a few days younger than hers.
And I worried if I'm going to get infested too.
So far, I've noticed nothing. And I'm keeping a close eye on them at the moment. Should I be worried for my pair and their babies?
Any ideas on what she could do + any suggestions on what on earth these things could be would be greatly appreciated.
My idea was that these things could have originated from the eggs that didn't hatch, and which she had left in the nest, and as a result rotted. She has a very warm apartment too. We're in France by the way, so since we're in mid winter, that's why she has a warm apartment.
Thanks a million
Tania

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Member

Posts: 790
From:uk
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-05-2004 09:40 AM         

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Hi there, What these sound like are red mites they start of black and end up red with the amount of blood they are taking.
they live mostly in wood but they can be carried in the home all it takes if for someone to sit on a fence or anywhere near where there is some of these critters then they will climb on your clothes and you carry them back home.

Contact an avian vet tell them the situation and that there is chicks involved in the problem and he will suggest the best method of getting rid of these parasites if left you will become over run with them and the will eventually kill the babies.

So please contact your avian vet for help on this matter the more blood they take from the chicks and the adults the lower there iron level becomes and they will become weak.

I hope i am wrong about this

Please keep us posted of whats happening..
Mike.

boro_lad1976@hotmail.com

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New Member

Posts: 2
From:saint-aubin,essone,france
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-17-2004 03:19 AM         

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I just thought I'd drop an udpate on what happened concerning the creepy critters that my friend got all over her canaries.

well, unfortunately one of the babies died, but the good news is that the other is doing really well, and is even hoping/flying around the cage now. And fingers crossed, she seems to have gotten rid of her pests through a lot of cleaning and spraying. it seems that the things came from a spoiled pack of food (can you believe that?!?!!!). I've actually have had that problem myself, but luckily it was only mites in the food.... mind you, it took me a while to clean the house completely from the pests.
so all has ended well.

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Posts: 790
From:uk
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-17-2004 06:47 AM         

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Hi i am so glad everything is going well good luck withthe baby and hope it gives you all hours of pleasure

mike

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