KJ>Those of you who breed birds, would YOU sell a bird into this home?
>I would not unless Dr. Ritchie could assure me that it was safe. The
>bird seemed to have been infected as an adult because a baby wouldn't
>live that long with PDS.
The woman spoke to Dr. Ritchie tonight. She told him the whole story,
and his words were something like "The only 100% guarantee that no
other birds will be exposed from this is to never get another bird." But
he said that her risk was probably pretty low, as her Senegal is quite
healthy and has NEVER shown any signs of illness, even after being with
the woman's Jenday for 3 years before its death.
I spoke to him right after she did, and asked him if he thought I'd be
putting one of my babies in too much risk. He said that the longer an
exposed bird goes without breaking with PDS, the more likely it is that
the bird wasn't infected. So her Senegal is most likely not infected. Of
course, there is no test and no guarantees...
BUT I found out that the woman re-carpeted and painted after her Jenday
died. Dr. Ritchie feels that is a good way to remove and/or seal in
environmental residue--get out the carpet, and paint over the wall dust.
 So her house is as safe as it can get--the only remaining risk is
the Senegal, who he feels isn't a major risk. AND, this woman sounds
like the world's best potential bird-spoiling mom. She's older
(mid-50's), and lives with her birds in a home with plenty of room.
She's already picked out a BIG black cage for the baby Jenday (black
shows the Jendays off SO well IMHO), and was asking me about dietary
preferences and toy preferences (and this baby is only 4 days old!)
I weighed the risks, and since Dr. Ritchie didn't think the bird would
be in danger, I decided that the chance to put the baby in a wonderful
loving home outweighed the risk of the disease. So I agreed that she
could get the baby when it's 3 weeks past fully weaned.
I plan to do everything I can to boost his immune system before he
leaves here--lots of vitamin C and water soluble vitamin goodies,
wheatgrass, intense good nutrition and a stress-free environment. I want
this baby so healthy he glows in the dark. Now, all we need is for baby
to be a MALE--the woman is afraid to take another hen for fear of
another egg-laying problem. I don't blame her, actually. Odds are good
it'll be a male--we'll know in a few weeks.
>I probably would need a promise signed in blood that the woman would
>stay away from strange birds and OUT of stores where they have birds so
>that this would not happen again.
I'll get that out of her before the baby is weaned, don't worry! 
>Certainly her Quaker COULD be infected. Maybe an x-ray would show
>something. I wonder how early in the disease the proventriculus is
>distended.
Apparently not early enough to make a difference in the outcome. I
didn't think to ask Dr. Ritchie this one when we spoke. But she said the
bird goes to see her vet every few months for blood work and a checkup,
and he has gained weight EVERY visit (I picture this obese Senegal
waddling onto the scale...). Her Jenday, OTOH, was always a sickly
bird, constantly battling bacterial infection after infection, who never
weighed as much as she should have her entire life. Dr. Ritchie thought
that the Senegal sounded like an unlikely candidate for PDS, given his
health background.
My deciding thought on this was that the only difference between this
home and any other home I've sold to is that I KNOW what happened in
this one. How many birds have I sold to people who DIDN'T tell me the
truth about something that happened to one of their other birds? I might
have put other babies at risk of any number of diseases, and never even
known about it.
This woman told me the whole story, she's spent a lot of time and money
on vet bills, a necropsy (on a beloved pet--THAT takes intestinal
fortitude), and on magazines and books to try to learn more about the
disease. She was open about it, and knew she would be taking a risk of
being rejected by me, and or other breeders. She wasn't hesitant to call
Dr. Ritchie immediately, and plans to call him again if she has any
questions. I am comfortable that her HOUSE is safe, even if her Senegal
may still be a risk. Dr. Ritchie wasn't too concerned about the Senegal;
that made me feel better about the bird's presence. I can't deny one of
my babies a home with such a concerned loving owner.
--Kathy
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