De-wormer for Blackbird

New Home

Hi folks, I was wondering could I please pick your brains - non in a zombie kind of a way...

I have a rescue adult blackbird, he's about three years old; while I was feeding it today he pooed, and I was really surprised to see what looked like a white maggot in his droppings. Does anyone know if there's anything I can give him to de-worm him? I know that garlic works very well, but I also know that it's toxic for cats, for instance, so I wasn't sure if that was also the case for birds. Would diluted neem oil be ok? Or is there any specific drug I could get for him?

Also, more worryingly, could it have been an actual maggot from a bluebottle or a fly that he ate and that developed from the eggs inside the insect??

Thanks!

tk123

Verm-x maybe? I use it for my dogs but there's a few varieties for birds

http://www.verm-x.com/product/wild-birds/19/verm-x-for-wild-birds.php

Rips

Do you know anyone who keeps horses? A very small amount of moxidectin based wormer mixed in water would do the job.

A syringe of horse wormer costs from €15-€25, most horse owners wouldn't need to use the whole lot and you'd only need the scrapings from the cap!

Unless a good petshop would have some for birds, I've never seen it though.

New Home

Thanks for that folks.

TK123, I'll see if I can get the Verm-x somewhere quickly, otherwise I'll have to order it online.

Rips, unfortunately I don't know anyone with horses, but I'll see if I can find some of it in a pet shop or at a co-op, or maybe at a chemist's.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Kelly06

What about diatomaceous earth? It's chemical free and harmless to people, animals and birds. Kills all sorts of parasites, bugs etc.

New Home

I have some of that! Serious question, though, would I have to mix it in with his food? Neither him nor the chickens seem to enjoy dust bathing in it at all, and I have to catch them and rub it onto their feathers...

Kelly06

New Home wrote: »

I have some of that! Serious question, though, would I have to mix it in with his food? Neither him nor the chickens seem to enjoy dust bathing in it at all, and I have to catch them and rub it onto their feathers...

Yeah mix it with the food. A tiny amount though.

New Home

Thanks, I'll try that too.

DBB

How cool to have a pet blackbird!
I think I'd play it safe on this one New Home, and send an email to Bev of the Hogsprickle (hedgehog rescue), who is not only a vet nurse, but a licensed wildlife rehabilitator too. If she doesn't know the answer straight off, she'll find out for you!;)

New Home

That's a great idea DBB, will do, thanks!