Question about quarantine..

[Mare]

I've been on forums for awhile and I always hear about quarantining your new bird for at least a month before introducing them to your other birds. I understand a vet visit should also be the first thing you do but I think many folks forgo this. If there is NO vet visit, blood tests, etc...will a bird show signs of illness within that month of quarantine? I'm guessing not..?

[Mare]

hellooo..? any thoughts..?

[spiritbird]

That is strange because I posted a response just after you wrote this. Birds may not show any signs of illness at all until they are beyond help. That is what would worry me.
I would not forgo the vet visit on a new bird.

[94lt1]

No.. Like spirit bird said.. Birds will hide illness until they absolutely can't anymore.. As soon as a bird is seen to be ill, it's pushed out of the flock.. A vet visit is a have to, as is quarantine.

The hiding of illness, is why it's so important to watch your bird and get to know it's behaviour.. Because they will seem fine, then poof, they act sick and then before you can get em to a vet, or before the vet can really do anything .... They're gone.. It can be really quick.

[Lady]

I've read that you should quarantine for 6 to 8 weeks. Other information goes into detail about even changing the clothes you wear, use a different sink and scrub brush when cleaning dishes and much more. This is something that no one should take lightly to ensure you don't spread any possible illness to your current flock.

[Mare]

Thank you, for the great responses! It is so important to add a vet check to the quarantine, I've always thought so, too! Although, I do have a free flyer that is outside mostly all day, I bring him in to the bird room at night. I suppose wild birds don't impose the same diseases as aviary bred birds? Sometimes I worry but so far, so good.

[2birds]

Mare, I would say that there is a risk of Amigo getting something from the wild birds. That being said, I wouldn't change his life for the world.

As for the quarantine question, I would say that a vet check should be included being as birds are so great at hiding illness.