Should I release my budgies that have mites? Will they die quickly?

Question

2 of my budgies have weird stuff on their feet and beak area, and I can't take them to the vet, so I was thinking the best thing to do is release them. I just want them to die quickly and not suffer. My other budgie has beautiful pink feet.

No, I will not call them! They will also take my other budgie from me.

Birds in the wild don't have vets to care for them, so what's the difference???

Answer 1

You should be banned from owning a pet FOREVER!!!

Answer 2

I am usually more than patient with folks who are not educated. But I honestly have to wonder why in the world you would consider just tossing your birds out because they have a minor, very treatable problem. There are several different products on the market that treat scaly mites. And none of them are particularly expensive. Failing that, an old home remedy is to coat the area with olive or paraffin oil to suffocate the mites. It is NEVER...and I do mean NEVER an acceptible idea to release captive birds into the wild. But especially not ones that have something contagious! Chances are, your birds would not die a quick death in the wild! They would slowly starve to death! I am really hoping that you are a caring person, and are just a bit misguided and frustrated at the moment, and that common sense will prevail and you will do what's right for your birds. If not, then just find them a home with someone who is prepard to do right by them. I am crossing my fingers that you do the right thing!

Edit: No, birds in the wild don't have vets. They have people like me, and many many others who take them in when they get into trouble, and then we take them to the vet. Even though lots of people here have given you some really good suggestions as to how to deal with your problem, you seem determined to just toss these birds away like yesterdays rubbish. Why?

Answer 3

No, you should never release captive birds. They probably will die, but chances are it'd be a slow process of starvation. Mites is not a hard thing to take care of. May I ask why you "can't" take them to the vet? If it's because of money, be thankful they don't have a more complex internal illness - treatment for mites is small potatoes. Most vets, if you ask and tell them about your financial situation, are more than willing to work out a payment plan with you so that you can pay off the cost over a prolonged period of time so you have time to earn the money and pay it eensy-bit by teensy-bit.

The best thing you can do is surrender them to an avian rescue, or failing that, a humane society. If your vet is linked with a humane society program, they may even accept your birds when you tell them you can't afford the treatment. For the sake of your third budgie, who probably has mites as well, s/he should also be taken to the vet or surrendered. If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet.

Whatever you do, do NOT release them.

EDIT: Well, if you're not willing to call a vet for your pet's well being, you don't deserve to have them! How would you like to be filthy and lice ridden so much that your parents refused to care for you, or allow you ANY treatment at all? What if they just left you on the streets, filthy and starving to fend for yourself in a world you've never known?
Please do the right thing. If you can't afford to treat all of them, surrender the two and ask how much it costs to treat the last one with healthy feet. A checkup is only about $75, and if they give you a quote on a price, you are NOT obligated to pay for it and they will NOT force you to stay and leave your pet with them. It's up to you and they CAN'T make you do anything. They can advise you to what's best, but by no means are you obligated to follow it.

Birds in the wild also aren't caged in cramped spaces. They do not eat strictly seed diets. They do what they need, when they feel, when they want, and when they need. If an area they inhabit is infested with mites or lice, they'll leave it. Your birds are caged. The area is enclosed; they don't have the choice. Birds in the wild learn to be self-reliant and don't have to worry about the lack of education so many people have when they keep birds in captivity.

Answer 4

If your birds have scaley mite you can treat it my coating it in an oil. The oil suffocates the mites . Just apply a little oil with a cotton bud. Use a food safe oil , you are NOT trying to rub the scale off , just to coat it.

This is an old remedy but it does work as long as you keep doing it everyday until ALL of the scale is gone.

A pet store probably has a more effective mite treatment.

If you have a extra cage move the bird that is OK .

Answer 5

NO NO NO

1) you chose to have the birds and it is your responsibility to resolve the matter. No pet leads a long healthy (Cost free) life and you would know that and should have been prepared to accept the fact there would be vet bills along the way!!

2) In AUS & Most other Parts of the World it is illegal to release any introduced species. I know of someone here who trained their Zebra finches to leave their outdoor avairy of a morning and come back of a night. Parks and wildlife found out and they copped a $10,000 fine (around 15,000 USD)!!!!!

3) Your Birds are diseased (possibly through your mismanagement) if you release them they may well infect the native birds with it and depending on what it is - possibly wipe out the local bird populations!!! Gee you are starting to sound really responsible arn't you.

AS someone else has already said... contact the nearest animal welfare centre and surrender the birds to them. Please take them to the centre to avoid the costs for the animal organisation having to come and collect. AND dont ever get another pet unless you are going to properly look after it INCLUDING taking it to the vet etc!!!

Answer 6

If they do have mites there are medicines that you can buy at any pet store to get rid of the mites. If two of your birds already have this then the other will possibly get it soon too. Go to a pet store and describe the symptoms and they should be able to help you. Please don't release them.

I have two small finches who had some problems with their feet, they lost most of their toes and now mostly just have stumps. They have survived past this for 8 years now.

Answer 7

It doesn't sound like mites to me. You can put a white sheet over the cage at night and in the morning take the sheet off and see if there is any red spots on the sheet. That would be the mite dirt. Mites don't stay on the bird during the day. The go into the cage to sleep and lay eggs.

Another way to check is to see if your birds droppings are in one place or all around the cage. If the droppings are all over that would mean they are having a restless night. The mites bite the birds at night.

Is it possible to send me a picture of your birds so I can try to figure out what the problem is?

Answer 8

Go to your local pet store and get a bird spray that is for mites! It will be located with the bird supplies. I work in a pet shop in Mississippi, so there is such a thing! I think it is about $8 a bottle, but it is some great stuff and it does work! I hope I have help.

Answer 9

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they are domestic birds than they will not survive in the wild. I would call up your local vet and tell them your situation. I remember when I took my bird to the vet, it only costs me $30 and the medicine he gave me for free. You can also try the pet store itself. At the pet store there is relatively inexpensive treatments for mites and if you cant afford it- give your birds away. Im sure the ASPCA or even the pet store will take them.

Answer 10

Excuse me while I retch...

DO NOT release your birds to the wild, you are condemning them to suffer the cold, the predators.
Give them to someone that CAN take care of them and obviously love them more than you are capable of.

I pity the "beautiful pink" footed bird you're keeping. I suggest you give it away to a loving home, too.
I also suggest that before you get other animals you mature your attitude in their proper care.

Expletive deleted.
.

Answer 11

Get some parrafin oil,put it on the feet and beak this will kill the mites and birds will get better