Tiny white mite crawling across my Hyacinth's breast

[Cetaceous]

I was just cuddling my hyacinth through the bars of his cage after putting him away and noticed a tiny white speck move rapidly across his breast and then into his feathers! A quick search on bird mites and lice tells me that they are not white but dark in color. Anybody know what this is and what I can/should do about it?

He has always been in excellent health (we have had him for over 5 years) and seems to be now (no unusual behavior changes or physical changes, good, healthy plumage etc.). I looked closely but didn't see another one. We did just come in from outside where he sat on the porch railing so I suppose there is a possibility that something got on him but it looked very suspicious to me and I want to make sure I don't ignore something that shouldn't be ignored, if that is the case.

Thanks!

 

[bigbluemacaw]

Hi,

I have a Hyacinth too and this would almost certainly freak me out! Did you keep the creature you found? That would give us a definitive and you could put the picture online for comment. I presume not. My instinct is that your Hyacinth may well have lice (they are quite common) and they are not always black/brown. Treating them is hard because so many of the chemicals are toxic to birds. I'd be inclined to go somewhere nice and warm and get him really, really wet. I shower Blue with me for up to 15 minutes (hot well hotish shower) daily. But the key here is when he is wet you will be able to see his skin and this should give you a better chance of seeing if there are any other critters on him and if there are - get one and keep it!! Whatever you do, try not to wish this issue away - it really is better to be safe than sorry. Let me know how you get on, and I hope all is fine

God bless

Daddy and Blue

[ame="https://youtu.be/8sjsYsBRn3c"]Blue; Playtime with Daddy! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kiwibird]

It could just have been a bug that came in from the outside. We have had billions of little white gnat-like bugs floating around here in recent weeks. I would give him a good bath tomorrow then once he's dried off examine him again to see if you can find anymore. If you do, then I'd call the vet. With infestations, there's never just one or 2. But I'm betting it's just a one off critter that got on him outside though

 

[WilliamKenyon]

If you can i would go through his feathers and see if you can see anything. he could have tick or something but just as posted before it could be just a small insect that causes no harm.

 

[JerseyWendy]

A thorough bath would be my very first suggestion. After that inspect your bird closely to make sure there aren't any more 'unwanted' critters.

 

[bigbluemacaw]

Yup- baths are good anytime especially if they're warm!! God bless Mark x

 

[Cetaceous]

Thank you everyone! Tomorrow is our day off so I will try to give him a nice soaking and see what I can find.

 

[bigbluemacaw]

If you do find anything undesirable you'll probably want a shower too to get rid of that itchy head feeling - so make sure there's plenty of hot water available!!