French molt (loss of flight feathers in budgerigars) in parrots
Other names: French molt، Crawler، Runner
Symptoms
- Chicks lose flight and tail feathers or they do not grow
- Cannot fly (runs on the ground)
- Bloody/broken pin feathers
How it spreads
Same as polyomavirus and PBFD.
Diagnosis
PCR for polyomavirus and PBFD.
Treatment
No treatment; in some cases (polyomavirus) the feathers may grow later. [Update 3] Merck: budgies that survive polyomavirus and are > 3 weeks old usually end up with feather deformity (French moult); PBFD also causes deformed feathers. Diagnose with PCR.
Prevention
Same as polyomavirus: test the flock, stop breeding and disinfect, do not overdo breeding rounds.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)
- Polyomavirus
- Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) / bornavirus
- Pacheco's disease (psittacid herpesvirus)
- Internal papillomatosis
- Avian pox
- Newcastle disease (bird paralysis)
- Avian influenza