13 July 2009

Improving your parrot feeder hygiene

| johnboy
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The RSPCA’s Michael Linke is advising the bird feeders of Canberra as to how best stop the spread of Circovirus (aka Beak and Feather):

    Beak and Feather is caused by a virus known as a Circovirus. There is no cure for this virus. The virus persists in the environment for a long time and is resistant to most disinfectants. It is readily spread between birds by faeces and feather dust. Parent birds may pass the disease to offspring during feeding when in the nest. This virus is highly contagious and spread easily through certain Parrot species within the ACT.

    “Many Canberrans enjoy feeding and watching birds drink from backyard feeding and watering stations. To guard against disease spread we strongly recommend people clean bird feeders two to three times per week.

    “It is also important to clean up spent seed cases and spilt seed.

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ant, how do you know whether they have the disease or not? i am a bird feeder myself and would hate to think i am helping to spread this disease 🙁

This is very useful and timely advice from the RSPCA. My family feeds the birds A LOT and I do notice too many Beak and Feather birds turning up, and it’s sad. I stopped putting out seed for the local cockies and parrots, although I still put dog biscuits and stuff out for the magpies, because I was seeing the odd beak and feather bird.

It’s a rotten slow death for cockies and parrots who have it. In summer they hang on for weeks; winter they don’t last very long.

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