19/04/2024
Bad day today. Woke up with news from IQ Bird Testing.
2 of the birds I had sent DNA testing out for, came back positive for PBFD (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease).
One of the birds is a Canary Wing Parakeet. That has been in quarantine. Has not been around any other birds. I will be resubmitting a sample from this bird. Through a second testing company. I intend on culling this bird as a precautionary measure. After taking a second sample.
The second is a baby lovebird that was in the nursery and just weaned. Again separate from my aviary.
This Lovebird was bred by a friend and my aviary was doing the hand-feeding and selling. The PBGD in this bird has not reached the shedding stage. The bird has at least 2-3 months from being able to shed and spread the disease. We will not be culling this bird at this time.
I will be taking samples from the parents and submitting them for analysis. If the parents test positive. It will be their owners decision what to do. If they want the baby back. I will be giving the baby back.
In the last hour I have canceled my order to A&E. Every single baby bird that is in the nursery will be tested for PBFD as a precautionary measure.
Just for some background the male lovebird, father of the baby lovebird. The Canary Wing Parakeet were purchased from the same breeder. I have reached out to that breeder. To notify of the positive tests.
My aviary is completely isolated from both the nursery and quarantine areas. I will not be changing my procedures and continue with random tests of my own flock as I have done in the past.
I want to be open and clear with everyone. PBFD is certainly bad. We have a biosecurity plan. As I do have a lot of birds both in and out. The plan was created for this eventuality, that I hoped never came but I am dealing with it now.
I have baby birds and eggs in boxes now in the aviary. I don't want to bring them into the nursery until my follow on testing is complete. I have completely sanitized with oxine.
EDIT: A friend reached out to me. Who will be hand-feeding up comping babies. Until I am able to finish sanitizing the nursery.