reynolds@felix.UUCP (David Lee Reynolds) (07/18/90)
Hello Net-landers, I have a few questions regarding a SAFE and reliable way to remove these disgusting parasites. I was clipping our male white dove's wing last night, (He was being a little aggressive to the new female I am trying to pair with him, and clipping the wing slows him down, but he can still fly), and I notest that around his pure white neck was a dark ring. Closer inspection revealed that he had a semi-clear 'bug' that can only be described as Bird-Lice! Question: How are Lice transmitted, by contact, or can they actually fly? My doves (all 6 of them) are in a free flight aviary, but can not come in contact with other birds. How did they get them? What steps can I take to rid them of these little buggers? What about wild birds, how does Mother-Nature take care of this problem? The reason I am turning to you, the net, is because I don't believe that shaking, spraying, or other-wise putting poison on my pets will not also have some ill effect on their other-wise perfect health. (My other pair of doves breed every 4 weeks, like clock-work). With other animals, to get rid of, say flees, I have great success with feeding them garlic, and the flees don't stick around much after about a week of this treatment! (may-be it's the bad breath? ;-}) The lice seem to be driving them absolutely crazy with scratching and biting, and I want to resolve this issue ASAP. If there is a safe way to rid birds of these things, I will start to administer the treatment to my wild bird feeders as well!!! Please respond via E-mail, and I can post the comments all at once. Thank You For Your Time!!! David Lee Reynolds (legs,spsd,zardoz,hplabs,oliveb)!felix!reynolds