"Quarantine?"

by Robin Sweet

Question: I just bought a new pair of finches. Can I put them right in with my other birds?
Response: You should wait a bit. All new animals ought to go through a quarantine period before you introduce them to your collection.
Question: What do you mean by quarantine?
Response: When you quarantine your new birds, you isolate them from your present flock. You should house them in a separate room from your other birds. Some breeders recommend a four week isolation; others say this should continue for sixty days. If possible, try to feed your new birds and clean their cage after you are sure you will have no more contact with your existing flock that day. After you have cared for your quarantined birds, always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap, just as a precaution. During this period you should make sure to take your new birds to visit your avian veterinarian for a check-up.

Question: Why do I need to put my birds in quarantine?

Response: There are several major reasons to quarantine any new animal in your home. First, there is the question of the bird's health. You may not be entirely aware of the conditions of your birds' previous home and the health of the other birds there. They may have been carrying something contagious which your new birds have picked up. Quarantining may prevent your entire flock from falling victim to virulent diseases.
Even if your new birds left their previous home with a certificate of health from a veterinarian, it is possible that they have contracted some illness in transit to your home, especially if they have travelled some distance. Another possibility is that they may be carrying a latent illness, and the stresses of a new home may decrease their immunity--which will cause them to get sick.
There is one more very important and often overlooked reason for isolating your new birds. They have gone through drastic changes on the way to your home, especially if they are wild caught, so they ought to have the opportunity to adjust to the food you will feed them, to the sounds of your household, even to the sight of you and the movements you make as you approach their cage. They may have more contact with people in your home than previously, and this alone could be a major adjustment for them. Once they have settled into their new life's patterns, they will be ready to meet their new cage or aviary mates.

  

 
Question: But my new finches look perfectly healthy. Is this absolutely necessary?
Response: Yes!!! Although your new birds probably are healthy, it is in your best interest to make sure, as birds do not like to advertise when they feel sick. This is a valuable survival tactic in the wild where sick animals are most often caught by predators. This instinct is not lost in captivity, even in domestic species like Societies or Zebras. Therefore you should always watch your finches closely for subtle and not-so-subtle signs of illness and discomfort, especially when they are in quarantine. Some danger signs you should watch for include:

--dull, cloudy or half closed eyes
--nasal discharge
--fluffed feathers
--dull or missing feathers
--feces around the vent
--discolored or bloody feces
--overgrown nails or scaly feet
--shallow or labored breathing
--disinterest in food, poor appetite
--sitting on the bottom of the cage
--lethargy (especially if they let you pick them up from the cage floor)

Any of these signs indicate a serious medical situation and the bird should visit the vet immediately, as the bird is very ill. Even if these signs are not evident when you first get your new finches, any of them may develop these symptoms later. If the illness is a serious and contagious one, any that are in contact with it are at risk (the biggest reason to prevent the immediate introduction of new birds to your existing flock).

Question: Okay, you've convinced me. I'll quarantine them. But I won't need to do this again, right?
Response: Hopefully. You should always keep some sort of quarantine facility (often called a hospital cage) available to isolate any of your birds, in case they show signs of illness in the future.

Copyright 1995 Finchworld Inc.