Is it safe to get new birds and reuse cage after Beak and Feather Disease?

Thanks for reaching out about Aria. Macaw Wasting Disease is thought to be viral in origin. Some viruses can be stable in the environment for prolonged periods of time. All porous products (wood perches, etc) should be disposed. Deep cleaning with anti-viral and bleach is recommended for other products but still leaves a risk of transmission. A new cage, different room, no re-using bowls, is best for biosecurity. Consult with your local veterinarian. Good luck.

I am truly sorry at the loss of your precious Luna. I have two Greys of my own. There is no known disinfectant that will kill the PBFD virus. You can sanitize hard, non porous items such as bowls or bottles. Soft toys and perches should be discarded. The cage can be sanitized, but the PBFD virus can remain in the environment for long periods of time, so you be assuming a certain amount of risk. Unless there was a written healthy pet clause and/or health guarantee, you may not have much recourse. It would be your word against the breeder/seller. Most reputable breeders will test new birds and chicks for PBFD. You should always ask this and about preventative care. If a breeder does not test or does not have their birds cared for by an experienced avian veterinarian, find a different breeder.

Thank you for your questions, and I am sorry to hear about your bird. Yes, the other two birds could have contracted the virus already, so there isn’t necessarily a need to separate them as they have already been exposed. For caging if your bird is falling - the most important part will be to keep everything low so she doesn’t injure herself. Otherwise it can be made of anything (many people will even use Tupperware containers) and can still have toys. Just keep the perches low and make good and water easy to reach. How long she will live varies - some birds still have a relatively long lifespan, while others succumb at a young age. You can help to support her by providing her with a clean environment, good ventilation, and a good diet. This will help to support her immune system as much as possible. I hope that helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Usually once they are treated properly for the disease they will not be shedding the bacteria anymore. It is recommended you wait at least 30 days AFTER completion of treatment before exposing her to any new birds. Hope this answers your question. If not, please feel free to post again.

Thanks for reaching out about your birds. There is the possibility that the first bird brought back something contagious. A veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible. Good job isolating the birds, might slow spread of disease. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Quarantining new acquisitions is recommended for a 30 day period. The further separated the better. New birds should be assessed by a veterinarian to determine health prior to introduction. Diet and husbandry practices can be reviewed at this time. Good luck.

So sorry to hear this happened :( E. cuniculi is a protozoan parasite. Encephalitozoon Cuniculi Facts: * E. cuniculi are shed only in the urine. * Infectious period lasts only a few days to a few weeks. * The infected animal is not contagious after the E. cuniculi leave the kidneys. * E. cuniculi are carried in the blood to other parts of the body, particularly nervous tissue. * Spores from infected urine can remain in the environment for a month. * The parasites can infect and be shed by many other animals but seldom cause clinical disease in other animals. * A high number of rabbits have been infected at some time during their life, but few come down with the clinical disease. * Animals who are compromised are more likely to manifest clinical disease. * Neurological damage can be evident long after the parasites leave the kidneys. * Necropsies (autopsy) seldom show active parasites in the kidneys but may show scarring where the parasites have been. * Testing positive to the parasite only means that the animal has been exposed and is putting forth an immune response. It does not mean that an otherwise healthy animal will show symptoms of the disease. * Serology tests recognize immune response but do not distinguish early infections from long term or chronic infections. So, as you can see it is a very complex disease. Likely all your rabbits have been exposed already so whether or not you use her cage is a moot point. My suggestion is that if you want to use her cage I would bleach it before using it for others just to be on the safe side. I would use a 1:32 dilution of bleach to water. Soak the whole cage and leave it sit for at least 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Here is a good article about E. cuniculi: https://www.petcha.com/treatment-and-prevention-of-e-cuniculi-in-rabbits/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.