03/10/2026
In 2023 I spoke with a lady that has been doing long research’s on avian diseases. PBFD being one of her most requested discussions in social media forums. To which I saved one of her replies and always try to share it with my friends and followers.
PBFD information
There is so much misinformation about PBFD. This information comes from an Australian avian group that I am in. I found it very informative and surprising. I had no idea the infection rate was so high naturally. :
Hi There,
I am a concerned veterinarian that read the recent post about PBFD with alarm about some of the misconceptions about the disease. Thank you for humbly allowing me to submit some information and links to research that you may find enlightiening. Also thank you for letting me be a member of your fantastic group, I truly enjoy your photos and information.
Beak and feather disease (PBFD) is endemic to Australia.
The disease affects mainly psittacine birds (at a prevalence rate of 56.2%) but has been observed in magpies, pigeons, canaries, sea eagles and bee eaters. The cockatoo species (in particular the sulfer crested cockatoo) are particularly susceptible While some birds recover from the disease they become lifelong carriers and spread the disease to other birds.
The virus is spread in feather dander and droppings and chicks contract it as nesting hollows reused every year. The virus is very persistent in the environment
For diseased birds, If only the feathers are affected and the bird suffers no other symptoms, it can usually experience an acceptable quality of life. However, if they come into contact with other young virus naive parrots this may prove fatal. For this reason euthanasia is usually offered however many parrots with this condition go on to live happy lives with their humans (the most notable being "Cocky Bennet" who lived to be over 120 years of age). As the disease is endemic in Australia it makes no sense to euthanise all that test positive to this disease as that would be most of the parrot population. Remember the prevelance rate is 56.2%
Various forms of testing are available to detect the disease. A simple DNA test can indicate whether a bird tests positive or negative for the disease. However, this test gives no indication of the bird’s immune system. Another test, that is more expensive, looks for the antibodies that a bird produces to fight the disease. This gives a more detailed picture of the bird’s disease status.
The virus weakens the immune system of infected birds by targeting white blood cells.. Similar to AIDS’ patients they become susceptible to secondary infections such as other viruses, bacteria or fungi.
There is no specific treatment for the Beak and Feather Disease. Secondary infections can be treated, and a non-stressful environment combined with a balanced diet may help during the course of the disease. There have been many drug trails, but none have shown any benefit.
In particular h**p products, colloidal silver and other novel treatments (which I can't print because FB will explode) DO NOT treat this disease. For the record colloidal silver is poisonous to all avian and mammalian species. H**p products while reducing inflammation actually supresses the immune system further and the bird dies quicker.Dont give these products to your parrots.
An effective vaccine for PBFD has been made at Charles Stuart University but is not yet commercially available. It may never be due to lack of funding. The Association of Avian veterinarians is raising money toward finding a company willing to develop it.
Feeding parrots does not put them at increased risk of contracting PBFD except as it relates to increasing the concentration of birds and as parrots normally travel in flocks is unlikely to have any effect on the spread of this disease which is mainly spread by vertical transmission by parent birds that have seroconverted but are still shedding the virus. In fact it is important to have "natural" resistance due to infection (in the absence of an effective vaccine) to prevent catastrophic spillover into naïve populations.
References
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28703699/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28703699/)
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33600597/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33600597/)
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26769073/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26769073/)
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8117208/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8117208/)
https://earthlingnature.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/a-120-years-old-legend/
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