Expert: Abi - 8/3/2008

Question
my canary has feather mites and i have tried almost everything to cure it her feathers are falling off faster and has many bald spots what is the best store bought treatment?

Answer
I can only tell you what I would do if a CHICKEN had feather mites, as chickens are my area of expertise. I would gently bathe her in a very dilute solution of small animal insecticidal shampoo (for guinea pigs etc, or if you can find one for small birds then use that), making sure you get her well cleaned everywhere. Then either dust on a little pidgeon mite powder or pidgeon mite spray, paying particular attention to under the wings, the back of the neck and around her bottom. Do not get any near her eyes or beak.
You may need to keep doing this but do not bathe her more often than every two weeks, but you can puff a little powder or spray her every two days.

The mites may be nesting or whatever in the cage as well, so make sure you THOROUGHLY clean out the cage; wash it with a good disinfectant and rinse it out well, making sure the water gets everywhere. Use all new bedding. Also puff some of the powder into the corners of the cage or into any nooks and crannies you can find. Give it a little puff all over or a spray all over the cage before you put her back in. If you use a strong disinfectant then make sure you leave it outside to air for a while before you put her back in.

Thanks for your question.