I am worried! Are these mites on my budgie?

[Kunker]

Today I noticed my budgies cere and feet have scaly skin on them. Upon closer inspection there are tiny holes on the cere. What is this??

 

[Owlet]

I would take them to a vet for a professional opinion but it looks like scaly mites which are relatively common for budgies to get

 

[Laurasea]

it doesn't exactly look like mites... but something is wrong as the beak should be shiny and not pitted. Females ceres can look weird to me. Could be a fungal or bacteria infection.. just not right for sure.

 

[Noahs_Birds]

Looks like the start of Scaly face mite. There’s a product called Vetafarm Avimec which is very effective against scaly face and other mites. Start treatment as soon as possible

 

[Kunker]

Thanks I took them all to a vet today. The vet injected ivermectin. I thoroughly cleaned the cage and disinfected it in a separate room with alcohol 70%. I burned all the old toys and perches since they all had wood in them (The mites could burrow into the wood). Until they are healthy I have put in 3 plastic perches a plastic toy and food/water bowls from metal since they all are easy to disinfect.

 

[Laurasea]

excellent!!!! You have your work cut out for you. But sounds like you are up to the challenge!!! You are a great parront!! Lucky little birdies!!

 

[TinyHumanGiant]

Yes, definitely the beginning of scaly face mites. I have treated quite a few budgies with this condition. In addition to the ivermectin what seems to work well is to use a q-tip to smear the infested areas with petroleum jelly (vasoline). It makes the bird look like a mess, especially when you have to apply it around the cere, but keep on it every day. It essentially suffocated the mites, and in a week or so, the scaley bits will start to flake and peel off, with tender fresh pink skin underneath. This seems to work really well, and most birds make a full recovery.

To keep this from happening again though, you need to deep clean the birds whole environment, and maybe dispose of/replace/possibly treat with vegetable oil any natural wood stuff, since that's where the mites seem to hide out.

 

[TinyHumanGiant]

Yes, definitely the beginning of scaly face mites. I have treated quite a few budgies with this condition. In addition to the ivermectin what seems to work well is to use a q-tip to smear the infested areas with petroleum jelly (vasoline). It makes the bird look like a mess, especially when you have to apply it around the cere, but keep on it every day. It essentially suffocated the mites, and in a week or so, the scaley bits will start to flake and peel off, with tender fresh pink skin underneath. This seems to work really well, and most birds make a full recovery.

To keep this from happening again though, you need to deep clean the birds whole environment, and maybe dispose of/replace/possibly treat with vegetable oil any natural wood stuff, since that's where the mites seem to hide out.

Sorry, just read you already burned the wooden stuff and disinfected everything else.

 

[Kunker]

Update: After 2 weeks and 2 ivermectin shots it is much better 😁

 

[LaManuka]

Awesome progress so far - looking great! Wishing your little one a full recovery!