Adenovirus
Adenovirus has been noted in some exotic birds in the US recently. It is also a virus that affects mammals, from dogs to humans. Since we humans have various viruses and really don't identify them, we need to be super careful in our work with the birds and their food and water bowls and contents. Medical recommendations are quoted here.
Prevention of adenovirus, as well as other respiratory illnesses, involves frequent hand washing for more than 20 seconds, avoiding touching the eyes, face, and nose with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with people with symptomatic adenovirus infection. Those with symptomatic adenovirus infection are additionally advised to cough or sneeze into the arm or elbow instead of the hand, to avoid sharing cups and eating utensils, and to refrain from kissing others.
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Since birds can be harmed by bacteria and fungus transmitted by our hands to their equipment and foods, it is a good idea to start work in each building by doing the 20 second handwashing with soapy water. I always do that prior to feeding babies and keep their handfeeding equipment in a Wavicide solution which kills all bacteria and viruses in ten minutes. Using these precautions prevents most ordinary bacterial or fungal disease problems as well as specific bird disease problems.
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And a basic routine that most bird breeding facilities follow is this: AFTER feeding and watering in the morning and again in the afternoon, do a WALK THROUGH each time and look at each cage to see that birds have their food and water. This routine is normal for bird facilities as it is EASY to miss a cage! It happens to anyone. Therefore, Walk Thru.
Over many years of different workers feeding and watering birds at my facilities in California and Florida, including myself, this routine walk thu will help keep the birds fed and watered. In 40 years with different workers, I had only ONE PERSON who never missed any bowls, Brenda Jones, in Florida, who always did the routine checkup walk thru after she fed and watered three large aviaries of my birds.
How do I know this? Because I often checked aviary birds later, after the birds were fed and watered, in order to see how the birds were doing, their physical condition, their interaction with their mate, etc, and then I would notice if a bowl was missing.
Laurella Desborough
4-5-2025
