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Wild Parrots 591

Quarantine
Textbook quarantine periods are not always possible, as birds may arrive in large groups or there
may simply be too many intakes to house individually. Try to keep individuals or groups isolated as
much as possible. Ideally, a strict quarantine of 30–45 days should be respected before introducing
any bird or group of birds into an already established group. Whatever the initial circumstances, it
is always recommended to perform a fecal test on intake, repeated after 14 days or at the end of the
quarantine period before introducing to any other birds. If resources permit, a gram stain for
mouth, respiratory, and GI microbes of at least one bird per group is ideal. Periodic random testing
is useful once the birds are outside in the rehab enclosures.
It is always preferred to quarantine new birds in case of infection, disease, or parasites. However,
if presented with a single bird and others of its species are in care, it may be better for the chick’s
psychological development to fast‐track the quarantine, or introduce that baby and continue the
quarantine as a group starting at the newest introduction. This decision should be made on a
case‐by‐case basis, taken in conjunction with all reasonable precautions of fecal and crop/fecal
swab tests.

­ Common­Medical­Problems­and Solutions

See Table 39.2 for a list of common problems and potential treatment options.

Parasite­Control
Ectoparasites are common (feather lice, mites, and beef worms/bot flies) and can be treated using
topical or oral ivermectin; only use in otherwise healthy birds of good weight and hydration.
Infestations in downed and debilitated birds should be treated with diatomaceous earth applied
carefully to the feathers, avoiding the head. Once the bird is stronger, ivermectin can be used safely.
Periodic dosing of rehabilitated birds is recommended, such as every 4 months or during a signifi-
cant husbandry move or introduction, especially when the birds would be handled anyway.
It is ideal to always perform a fecal analysis and identify the parasites present in the patient. A
fecal flotation is best for eggs, but a direct smear is also very useful to identify protozoa. Ivermectin
treats many gastrointestinal parasites and systemically works on ectoparasites, and may be used as
a routine all‐round preventative and to treat roundworms, which are the most common internal
parasites encountered.

Crop­Motility­and Impaction­Problems
Crop motility might be affected by different factors such as stress, lack of warmth, inadequate diet,
or infection. The crop may be noticed to not be emptying normally between meals, especially when
the chick is new. Impactions are usually caused by the ingestion of nonedible material (wood
chips, pebbles) or inappropriate food (bread, flour) that is unable to exit the crop. Maldigestion
could be caused by an infection or sickness. To be sure that the maldigestion is not simply stress‐
related, it is advisable to tube a small amount of oral fluids, bring the bird to optimum temperature,
and leave overnight in dark, calm conditions.
To address severe crop stasis, the first step should be to use a feeding tube and empty syringe to
empty as much of the crop contents as possible. To ease the process, inject a few ccs of warm fluids,