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My budgies did have mites which were moderately bad, I took them for two vet visits and they were treated both times, this cost me over 250$ and they still had mites so I just ditched the vet and went with the olive oil trick. I soaked their feet in the oil and used an extremely fine brush to get the sides of their beak and around the nose, without getting it in the nostrils of course. This seemed to have worked quite well and the mites seemed to have been all gone. However, I noticed the mites seem to be returning, what course of action should I take?

Should I just soak all the cage parts and accessories in 1 part bleach 10 parts water solution than do the olive oil treatment again?

If anyone has any other tips on how they have treated mites, please feel free to share. I really do not want to pay for the vet bills again, because the results last time were displeasing. Thanks in advance,

Anthony.

Here is an excerpt from the site of Margaret A. Wissman, D.V.M., D.A.B.V.P., a very highly respected vet in the US. This article is from a forum for other vets, so she's teaching other vets how to work with clients whose budgies have mites:

"The most commonly encountered mite is the scaly face mange mite of budgerigars, called Knemidokoptes pilae. It is found on the cere (that fleshy portion of skin over the beak where the nostrils are situated), the skin around the beak, around the vent and also on the legs. This mite burrows in the skin, causing a powdery appearance to the skin, and if you look closely, you will see a honey-comb pattern of holes in the skin, representing burrows and tunnels caused by the mites. These lesions are usually not itchy... Diagnosis is usually confirmed by skin scrapings performed in a veterinary office, and then examined under a microscope. Older remedies included applying mineral oil or ointment to the lesions, to suffocate the mites living under the skin. Treatment of choice is the administration of ivermectin, either by injection, orally or topically. This should be administered by an avian veterinarian, based on the precise weight (in grams) of an infested bird, dosed carefully after calculation of the exact amount of medication necessary. Treatment should be repeated at 7-10 day intervals for at least 3-4 treatment. If the mites have deformed the beak, it may need to be trimmed by a vet, as well. Although these mites are not thought to be easily contagious, it is best to treat all birds in the cage with an infested bird. The mites cannot live off of the bird and they cannot cause problems in humans or other species of animals.

There is one mite that you cannot easily see. The air sac mite ... One other type of mite may be seen in pet and aviary birds. This is called the red mite (Dermanyssus). This nasty mite bites birds and sucks their blood...

Several products are available for you to sell to customers with mite or lice problems. The safest and most effective products should contain a percentage of insecticide (pyrethrins or carbaryl) that is safe for birds, yet will kill the parasites. Sprays or dusts are safest. Ointments generally should not be used on birds, because if spread over feathers, they will prevent proper thermoregulation of the body temperature by the bird. Any products for use on birds should not contain lidocaine (a topical anesthetic that is toxic to birds even in very low doses). Products safe to kill parasites in cages and cage equipment can be offered to assist the owner with their problem. If you see mites or lice on a pet bird brought in to your store, you will never go wrong by recommending that the customer take the bird to an avian vet for diagnosis of the specific type of bug present, since it is now obvious to you that different insect parasites require different treatments."

The bolding is mine, and the ellipses (...) mark places where I left out info I think is irrelevant to your situation. To read the full article, go to www.exoticpetvet.net and look in the Table of Contents (lower left margin) for the article titled "Of Mites and Men."

Hi there.

I do know of a breeder who use to apply Vaslene to the feet and cere of the infected birds.and with good result.he did this for 3 weeks ..everyday...with a ear bud.I knw one of his hen who was badly infected.right now shes raising clutches.

hope it helps

Melson.L

Using vasaline and oil can be dangerous to the bird if they get it on their feathers or ingest it. Try another vet, a good ivermectin treatment shouldn't cost that much! There are over the counter medications that you can use, but you need to find out what kind of mite you are treating in order to know if it will even work.

Never use a mite protector, they are dangerous.

Do you need help finding an avian vet near you?

After starting treatment, I would steam the cage, all crevices with a good steamer, throw out all wood and rope perches/toys, and replace them if it is a mite that will live away from the bird. Talk to your new vet about what proper cage cleaning should be to keep from reinfesting the birds.

Do a little research on ivermectin ... just a tiny dab.
Gouldian finch breeders use this, if their aviaries are prone to
air sac mites. It is also effective on scaly mites (legs, ceres, beak.)

Again, I am suggesting that you do the research first.

Another treatment that may help is Scatt, it is also available to purchase on the net, but you MUST do your research. Too high of a dose can kill the bird, too low will give the mites immunity to the medication.

Do your research!