Another common problem in The reasons for this behavior are budgie aviaries is overcrowding. potentially numerous, and may vary Veterinary Competition for nestboxes may with the particular pair of birds in result in domestic squabbling. Also question. I have often related this the curiosity of other hens who are behavior to parents that have a not involved in chick rearing of their strong desire to go back to nest and Viewpoints own may cause the anxious mother lay another clutch of eggs. Poten­ to transfer aggression and frustration tially, the parent birds are attempting compiled byAmy Worell, D. V. M. to her own chicks while fending off to encourage theiryoung offspring to Woodland Hills, California the nosey intruders. This problem prematurely fledge the nest in an Question 1: I raise budgies and can be remedied by adding an ade­ effort to empty the nest for the next have the problem where one of the quate number of nestboxes and round. hens plucks the feathers on the reducing the number of birds within Other than handfeeding the abused babies while they are in the nestbox. the flight. Many budgie breeders youngsters, fostering the chicks Other than handfeeding the babies, is suggest that excess hens in the under a receptive hen may be a viable there any way to prevent the hen communal aviary tend to generate and workable option for your partic­ from plucking the babies? more problems. ular problem. S. Thompson, Colorado Unnecessary disturbances from Additionally, re-evaluating the outside sources, such as children or nesting environment for potential Answer: Although I am not an housepets (dogs or cats, for exam­ distractions and stressful factors may experienced budgie aviculturist, I ple), may induce the neurotic behav­ prevent this problem in some pairs. can relay some of the problems my ior. Also, overly inquisitive owners Good luck! clients have encountered in the past "checking" on the progress of the Dr. AmyWorell with their own budgie flocks. clutch may result in the plucking Woodland Hills, California There can be many reasons for a activity. Reducing outside distrac­ hen plucking her offspring; most tions will assist in redUcing stress on ••• commonly, it is a non-experienced the hen which prOVides a more Question 2: Are there any human hen with her first clutch. The reason "secure" environement for rearing viruses that can be transferred to behind this untoward hostility is not her offspring. birds? My Amazon was treated for the well understood and the behavior is Nutritional deficits such as a pro­ bacteria Streptococcus and I'm con­ difficult if not impossible to modify. tein deficiency may contribute to cerned about health. such behavior. However, ensuring M. Sterling, Florida that the hen is prOVided with an Answer: No there are not. adequate supply of nutritionally "Human" viruses are not infectious balanced ration will eliminate this for avian species. Some avian viruses possibility. are capable ofinfecting humans. Nor­ Finally, some hens perform this mally Streptococcus species is not a Bird ritual habitually and some may even disease producerin birds. savage their chicks by biting or kill­ Dr. James H. Harris Pet and Supplies ing them. If this problem becomes Oakland, California chronic, and none of the above men­ Retailers- tioned solutions seems to help, then Answer: In a general sense, and the aviculturist may have to hand without being overly scientific, ani­ rear the chicks or better yet, farm out mal viruses are obligate intracellular the eggs to a foster mother to avoid parasites, meaning that Viruses did you know that one the problem. require the commandeering of the I .~ ofthe most prestigious Dr. Darrel K. Styles cells ofanimals, including the cellular Miami, Florida genetic machinery since the virus J bird publications, lacks some of the necessary replica­ The Watchbird Answer: I would suggest that you tive material in order to reproduce consider trying a new mate, modify independently. Most bacteria, how­ is available for the environment so that there are ever, will reproduce in any nutritive resale in your store? less environmental distractions, or medium under the proper growth consider not breeding that particular conditions, which may be independ­ hen anymore. ent of a host such as in a laboratory Dr. James M. Harris culture dish. Bacteria carry a full gen­ Call or write for information: Oakland, California etic reproductive complement and American Federation of Aviculture do not require the cellular machinery P.O. Box 56218 Answer: I have commonly encoun­ to reproduce. (However there are Phoenix. AZ 85079-6218 tered the problem of birds (both the some bacteria which do require (602) 484-0931 hen and the cock) plucking the animal cells, such as the organism feathers of their offspring while they which causes psittacosis). In sum­ are still in the nestbox. I have noted mary, one may think of a virus using that this situation occurs in a number the cell as a "virus prodUcing fac­ of species, in particular, in both bud­ tory" and the bacteria uses the cell gies and cockatiels. for food. i/ 14 April/May 1992 Since viruses require animal cells Dr. James M. Harris and the birds are clinically fine other­ in order to reproduce, viruses Oakland, California wise, as in your situation. have developed a higher "host­ Pathological, or problematic neck specificity" as compared to bacteria Answer: I have often observed this stretching or gaping can occur due to which are more opportunistic. activity in many species of parrots a number of causes. In the single Therefore a virus which is lethal for and refer to it as the "stretch-yawn". bird, it might possibly be due to a birds may be harmless to people, Physiologically, I am not sure that foreign body in the gastrointestinal since that virus carries the specific yawning is occurring, since the yawn tract or as an attempt to dislodge tools for infecting avian cells but is still not well understood, even in something lodged in the oral cavity. lacks the necessary modifications for humans. But the stretching is defin­ In a group of birds, one might con­ infecting human cells. However, not itely occurring and is quite apparent. sider the presence of a parasite all viruses are quite as discriminating; Since this activity is observed in which is aptly named the gapeworm. and there are certainly several viruses healthy birds, I interpret this as This gapeworm, Syngamus trachea, that are capable ofinfecting birds and ,'normal" behavior. is actually caused by a parasite called people. Birds which are"choking" due to a nematode. It has been encountered There are documented cases of St. blockage of the trachea will display in passerines, psittacines, columbi­ Louis Encephalitis Virus, of which signs of respiratory distress such as formes, and galliformes, as well as in wild birds are reservoirs, infecting unusual respiratory sounds, open­ several other orders of birds. Once people by means of mosquito bites. mouth breathing, or tail-bobbing. commonly encountered in domestic Also, Newcastle Disease is known to Birds which have a blockage in the fowl, it is now only occasionally iden­ cause illness in man and has been esophagus may also display similar tified. The parasite obstructs the tra­ shown to be transmitted from signs due to pressure on the trachea. chea and causes the bird to stretch infected fowl to humans. These are Dr. Darrel K. Styles out its neck in a characteristic instances of zoonotic infection, or Miami, Florida "gape", as it attempts to dislodge the avian viruses infecting humans. But Answer: Neck stretch and gaping worm and allow passage of air into to my knowledge, there are no is a commonly encountered entity the lungs. Though this problem is fre­ recorded cases of a "human" virus among caged birds. In the vast major­ quently referred to in the veterinary infecting a bird under"natural" con­ ity of situations, this activity should literature, this author has never iden­ ditions. be considered normal and non­ tified a case involVing gapeworms. Bacteria are less host-specific, and problematic, particularly in the situa­ AmyWorell, DVM many species of bacteria will tend to tion where it is frequently noticed Woodland Hills, California. thri~wh~pro~d~~iliakrtile~ _ environement and proper condi­ tions. There are documented cases where owners have infected their birds with bacteria such as tubercu­ losis. And there are numerous cases in which the bird has infected the owner with bacteria such as the Psit­ tacosis organism and Salmonella. Therefore, the pet owner should not worry unduly about" infecting" their bird with human pathogens, but should recognize that the possi­ bilityexists. Dr. Darrel K. Styles Miami, Florida • • • Question 3: Both my cockatiels and Amazons do something, on occa­ sion, that could be normal but I'm not sure. In the evening, when relax­ ing after eating their last meal, they stretch their necks as if to dislodge something stuck in their throat. Is this a problem I need to look into? C. Gaddis, California Answer: Many birds have been noted to do the neck stretching activ­ ity that you have described. In many cases it may be normal, but it could be a medical problem worth check­ ing into. Please consider having your avian veterinarian examine your pets. afa WATCHI3IRD 15.