Quarantining a new bird can be a hectic time for owners, necessitating separate equipment, training, and sometimes even a change of clothes. But despite the extra work, a carefully executed quarantine period is one of the best risk reduction practices we have in our toolbelt.
Quarantine isn’t able to catch everything, as some diseases have extremely long incubation times. But for some of the most common illnesses, it can be a highly effective way to prevent unintentional spread. For example, when The Budgie Academy flock member Callie was first brought home, she tested positive for avian gastric yeast. She was subsequently treated and cleared in quarantine before being released to mingle, preventing the yeast from spreading to other flock members.
Read on to learn more about the basics of this critical flock safety practice.
What is quarantine?
Quarantine is a process where we keep an individual animal or group of animals in isolation upon arrival.
Broadly speaking, quarantine is a risk reduction process where a new animal is kept separate from others. This allows us to observe their behavior, get their health checked, and ensure they do not have any dangerous, infectious diseases before allowing them to mingle.
Why do we quarantine?
When new birds come in, they may carry infectious diseases which could spread to the rest of the flock.
By quarantining first, we reduce the risk of a new bird with an illness spreading it to others, which could result in a mass flock illness. Many infectious avian diseases don’t have cures, so something as serious as a flock-wide infection can’t always be reversed with veterinary care. Treating a whole flock is also extremely difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
How long do we quarantine?
I usually recommend a quarantine period of at least 30 days for incoming birds.
This gives owners enough time to catch any common treatable illnesses. In The Budgie Academy flock, the quarantine period is usually extended to 45 days in an effort to reduce risk even further. It can take budgies quite a bit of time to settle into a new home and be willing to show signs of illness. It can also take an owner a while to know their new bird well enough to recognize signs of sickness.
When do we release them from quarantine?
There are a few criteria a new bird should meet before being released from quarantine.
During the quarantine period, the new bird should get their initial health exam by an avian veterinarian. They are ready to leave quarantine when
- 45 days have passed,
- They have completed any necessary medical treatments, and
- They have been declared healthy by the avian vet to join the existing flock.
If their treatment plan takes longer than 45 days, the quarantine should be extended until these criteria is met.
Wrapping up
Performing a proper quarantine period is extremely important to keeping both your new bird and existing flock safe. Now that you know the basics, you might want to learn a little more about making your new addition feel at home. Check out our article on things to do with a fearful budgie to help them settle in smoothly.
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