Lucky the canary died last night.

[penname]

Thank you very much for your kind words and sentiments Georgina. I doubt I will be getting another canary, it's too sad and they're so delicate. Poor Lucky, I miss him so much, he was such a cute little guy I hope he's somewhere amazing singing his little heart out like he used to in this life.

[Larry_Cologne]

Hello Penname,

I bought some The Australian Pigeon Company Moxydectin Plus from Siegel's for my rescue pigeons. It take care of all internal and external bloodsucking parasites, including tapeworms (and air sac mites). Similar meds with different doses are used for cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, et cetera, and even humans. It's easy to use, and fairly safe from what I know. Doesn't deal with feather mites, since they nibble on feathers and not blood. You might want some for your dove, or have your vet give her some. When I had a pigeon rescue, I always gave them an application, with additional doses a couple of times a year. So much cheaper than dealing with the alternatives. Feral pigeons usually have parasites, as do humans, but can "forage" for natural meds in the wild, from plants and soil. One feral female pigeon, Mamieke, a mate to my pigeon rescue Wieteke, ate all the folage on three of four of my wife's impatiens plants (Busy Lizzy, or Fleissige Liesschen in German, the window planter in spring 2006.

The other thing you mentioned, aspergillus, a genus of molds, is something everyone should be aware of, since humans are susceptible to some forms of it. My doctor has sends a sample of my sputum every quarter year to a lab to test for various bacteria and molds. There is always a test specifically for aspergillus made, and a note in the printed lab results as to whether or not aspergillus was present.

An aunt of my wife's, married to a doctor, has it, and it has caused her much difficulty. She can't get rid of it.

I have read that it can be found in the white rime or scaly stuff found on top of the dirt in house plants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillus

Larry

[Georgina]

Originally Posted by penname

Thank you very much for your kind words and sentiments Georgina. I doubt I will be getting another canary, it's too sad and they're so delicate. Poor Lucky, I miss him so much, he was such a cute little guy I hope he's somewhere amazing singing his little heart out like he used to in this life.

You're welcome, I'm just so sorry to hear the news still And I absolutely understand you not treally feeling like getting another canary - I keep a lot of canaries, finches, quails etc, lots of small birds, and sometimes I'll go through a spate of them dying one after the other and I'll start to wonder why I keep them as it's heartbreaking. People who have never owned birds never seem to understand how attached we can get to them. Of course, for every bad day I have, there are at least 20 good days and that keeps me going and keeps me keeping the birds I'd be utterly bored senseless without them!

Whatever you choose to do, canary or not, you still have the gorgeous Noddy to keep you company!

[penname]

Originally Posted by Georgina

You're welcome, I'm just so sorry to hear the news still And I absolutely understand you not treally feeling like getting another canary - I keep a lot of canaries, finches, quails etc, lots of small birds, and sometimes I'll go through a spate of them dying one after the other and I'll start to wonder why I keep them as it's heartbreaking. People who have never owned birds never seem to understand how attached we can get to them. Of course, for every bad day I have, there are at least 20 good days and that keeps me going and keeps me keeping the birds I'd be utterly bored senseless without them!

Whatever you choose to do, canary or not, you still have the gorgeous Noddy to keep you company!

Late reply and apologies for that. Thank you for your kind message. It's months later and there's still a void concerning Lucky. You're right about getting attached, my husband isn't really an animal person at all, he never had pets while growing up either, but when Lucky died he cried...Noddy has a new friend, another Senegal. Thanks again Georgina.

[penname]

Thanks very much for the info Larry, sorry I saw it this late. I will definitely get this medication to keep it on hand for my two doves, just in case...

It's been months since this happened and everyone (including us humans) seem to be ok. Never knew we could get aspergillus!.