What it is
PBFD is a viral disease of parrots, parakeets and cockatoos. As the name says, it shows in the feathers and beak, and it also affects the immune system.
The heaviest fact first: there is no cure. A vet can offer supportive care. That is why preventing exposure matters far more than looking for a cure.
It spreads in feather dust
High concentrations of the virus are shed in the feather dust of infected birds. It is also shed in droppings and from the crop.
Here is the part people miss: that dust can stick to a person's clothing or hair and be carried to other birds. You do not have to take your bird anywhere — a person who visited birds can bring it home.
- After visiting a home, cafe or shop with birds, change your outer layer and wash your hands before entering your bird's room
- Do not share carriers, bowls or towels with other people's birds
- With several birds, keep a newly arrived bird apart and fix the order you care for them in
"They all look fine" proves nothing
An infected bird may take weeks to years to show any outward sign. A newly bought young bird looking perfectly well for a long time is not unusual.
So when you choose a place to board your bird, the fact that the birds look healthy is not a check. Ask how many birds share the space and whether new arrivals are kept separate.
Bringing a bird home, or leaving one somewhere
When a new bird arrives, do not house it with your birds straight away. Keep it apart and watch it; agree the length and the testing point with your vet rather than guessing.
Long holidays are when these exposures pile up. Boarding, a bird cafe, a friend's home — all of them put your bird in reach of unfamiliar feather dust at once.
Testing and diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by examining skin and feather samples under a microscope, or by DNA testing of blood or an oral swab. It is not something a photo can settle at home.
If feathers fall out abnormally, break as they grow, or the beak deforms, contact a clinic that treats birds. An avian or exotic-animal veterinarian can test for it.