scratching

[Jiff]

hi again guys and gals.
another point i'dd like to have a view on, just lately sky has done alot of scratching, now during the season she was regularly treat with johnsons anti mite spray so was the mew,because of her weight and the moult she aint phisicaly been treat for some time,however the mew is sprayed regularly, is this increase in itching down to her moult? if not, could she have lice or some other kriters taking up residance? if so is there a safe product that can be put in her bath to de-louse her? jeees it's making me itch thinking about it!

[Ben C]

Cody does the same thing, I think its the new feathers coming through, his mews is clean, and the mite is not there. A bit like stubble on your chin when it comes back after a few days.

[Bubo]

kadabra scratched a lot when the new feathers were coming through especially round the bits where he couldnt preen so i would say scratching would occur slightly more than usual. check for mites anyway though ooh got me scratching now.

[Coedhirion]

watch for the bird loosing feathers on the legs, red mite come out at night and crawl up the legs to feed. The bird will start to pull its feathers out scratching. Red mite is nasty as it feeds on the blood of the bird. you can see the things with a good torch crawling around in the corners if there are a lot!!!

[Tim Laycock]

When new flight feathers come through, the sheath sometimes stays on the feather in places doesnt it, sometimes even after its fully down.
I would imagine its the same way with the body feathers, when the bird rouses and then returns to a tight feathered posture I wouldnt of thought they would lie comfortably.
Might be a reason for the scratching?
just a thought. :)

(Thinking about it has made me itch too :roll: )

[Varmint]

It is def just the fact that your birds body is covered with millions of tiny itchy little growing feathers, that's all mate.

I wouldnt worry! :wink:

[Kornie]

It would be interesting to do a count on how many people sub-consiously itched during this thread? I know I am

[Bubo]

it is amazing how one tends to start itching once ants, fleas lice and mites are discussed hehehe