First microscope pi

[Guest Owen]

Sorry mate but I would need to know what magnification you have used before I commit myself. There seem to be a couple of cocci and an adult round worm. The rugby ball shaped thing could be a hair worm. The scattering of leaf like things are nothing to worry about.

Give me more info and I will probably be able to tell you. One bit of advice would be that you need practice at focusing.

When you do the next sample follow the following procedure. Collect a sample of droppings from a good number of perches. Try to avoid the white stuff. That's urine.

Mix the droppings together. Mix about a teaspoon full with a saline solution and filter through a tea strainer.

Tip the liquid into a test tube or sample container. (you can buy sample containers at the local Chemists). Tip it gently so that the liquid is standing proud of the test tube/sample container top.

Place a cover slip onto the liquid. And stand for about 30/40 minutes.

Gently remove the cover slip and place carefully on to a slide. Press down gently.

Examine on the microscope. Start at the lowest magnification to gain focus. You will see round worm and their eggs now.

Move up to the next magnification. You will see the cocci and hair worm now.

Last, look at your sample at 400 magnification. This gives you a closer look at what is there.

If you follow these suggestions you will see the following. Air bubbles, and cocci. You may not see worms because your birds may not have them.

The procedure to see canker is differant from this. I will tell you that later. Learn to use this floatation method first and you can build up from there. To get your eye in, look at Jason's pictures. All the things you will probably find are there.

I will tell you how to look for hexamita and yeast in droppings later.

If you do not have saline solution, tell me and I will tell you how to make your own. For the moment I will assume you have some. Saline solution is essential to droppings testing. You would be unable to do it without it.

And last, there will be other versions of how to do this. I have given you the one that will work for you.

 

 

 

[Guest stb-]

Sorry mate but I would need to know what magnification you have used before I commit myself. There seem to be a couple of cocci and an adult round worm. The rugby ball shaped thing could be a hair worm. The scattering of leaf like things are nothing to worry about.

Give me more info and I will probably be able to tell you. One bit of advice would be that you need practice at focusing.

When you do the next sample follow the following procedure. Collect a sample of droppings from a good number of perches. Try to avoid the white stuff. That's urine.

Mix the droppings together. Mix about a teaspoon full with a saline solution and filter through a tea strainer.

Tip the liquid into a test tube or sample container. (you can buy sample containers at the local Chemists). Tip it gently so that the liquid is standing proud of the test tube/sample container top.

Place a cover slip onto the liquid. And stand for about 30/40 minutes.

Gently remove the cover slip and place carefully on to a slide. Press down gently.

Examine on the microscope. Start at the lowest magnification to gain focus. You will see round worm and their eggs now.

Move up to the next magnification. You will see the cocci and hair worm now.

Last, look at your sample at 400 magnification. This gives you a closer look at what is there.

If you follow these suggestions you will see the following. Air bubbles, and cocci. You may not see worms because your birds may not have them.

The procedure to see canker is differant from this. I will tell you that later. Learn to use this floatation method first and you can build up from there. To get your eye in, look at Jason's pictures. All the things you will probably find are there.

I will tell you how to look for hexamita and yeast in droppings later.

If you do not have saline solution, tell me and I will tell you how to make your own. For the moment I will assume you have some. Saline solution is essential to droppings testing. You would be unable to do it without it.

And last, there will be other versions of how to do this. I have given you the one that will work for you.

 

 

very good post Owen  ,you have went into good detail there for him.  Im sure you will keep him right,

 

 

[Guest frank dooman]

very good post Owen  ,you have went into good detail there for him.  Im sure you will keep him right,

 

 

agree robert 100%

[Blue Chequer Pied]

 

i paid £180 quid the following month liddles brought the same one out for 44quid just my luck ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

Sod's luck isn't it, that is usually the kind of thing that happens to me. I am seriously considering getting one. From what I can see the picture looks very detailed.

[Blue Chequer Pied]

Owen, top class post as always. Thankyou. If I get myself a microscope I will be in touch.

 

All the best,

 

Paul.

[Blue Chequer Pied]

Guys who am I sending my samples too   ;) :P ;D ;D

[Guest frank dooman]

ally when you come down i will show you mine   ;) and give you some of the phots slides iv got you can also have a look at the books ive got

[Guest Owen]

In regard to the cost of the microscope you may have got. I started off on a cheap one with no light source and no mechanical stage.

But it would do all the one I have now will do. Most of the things on a more expensive microscopes are there for convenience, not because they are essential. The most important thing is knowing how to set up your samples. And then learning to recognise what you are looking at. The Bresser Microscopes from Aldi and Lidl are fine. They will do everything you could want.

I am sure that if we discuss the samples on this Forum everybody who is interested will gain something of value.

Both Jason and myself will be able to help you to understand what you are seeing. And as you go along you can do what Jason did. He took samples from the chickens next door, ferel pigeons and strays. Chickens are always good for samples because most of them have loads of worms for you to see. And if you get down to looking at strays you will quickly learn why they strayed in the first place in most cases. And then you will get like me and not allow them near your birds. The next step is to concentrate on setting up the samples and letting us all have a look. Try to get them at about 400 magnification.

[Guest bigda]

can see  hair worm  at the bottom  about 1" from the left hand corner round worm  on the right hand side  the long thing in the middle is a worm  hatched out  looks like a tape worm

i believe there is a touch of flagella  canker there too,    but have plenty or worms to deal with   first   your microscope has picked up   a few nasties , and has saved you  money  looks like you have treated  but this is the  next stage to rid the eggs   check once a week

and you will learn quick  

[hotrod]

Its maybe not very clear Im afraid.

 

Can someone who knows a bit about it tell me what they see.

 

Ta.  Al.

 

it all depends on what magnification its taken on ally as worms/canker  etc are at different magnifications mate ,i have a booklet from brunnell microscopes from the early nineties ,i will look it out for you and gift it to you next time we meet.

[ally mac]

Thanks again chaps, every days a school day eh!!!

 

[dwh]

looks like worms

[Guest IB]

There are videos on the web available to download which help beginners like myself to use your microscope.

 

Scroll down to the bottom of the page on this link, there are three videos dealing with basic microscopy. Its a classroom environment, so spit out the chewing gum   and the mic wanders away from the tutor so the sound dips a bit at times.

 

http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/category/microscopy/

 

 

 

[greenlands]

Great link IB, cheers .

Lindsay