MsPigeon Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 I have been wanting a microscope for years and YEARS and looked at them and then didn't get one and looked again l. Now I'm looking again prompted by the advice and excellent help from the book "The Flying Vet's Pigeon Health & Management" by Dr Colin Walker. It says in his book that an iluminated one with a 10x eyepiece and 4x, 10x, and 40x lenses is sufficient. Anyone else have any advice, suggestions or remarks about this.
Guest Hjaltland Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 Dont know a lot about microscopes Carol, but I see you can get ones to which you can attach a digital camera and view via your computer, seems a great idea. Stacks of 'em on ebay at all sorts of prices.
westy Posted February 12, 2006 Report Posted February 12, 2006 Dont know a lot about microscopes Carol, but I see you can get ones to which you can attach a digital camera and view via your computer, seems a great idea. Stacks of 'em on ebay at all sorts of prices. YES I HAVE SAW THEM THEY USE THEM AT SCHOOL VERY GOOD I RECOMENED THEM THEY PLUG INTO YOU USB ON YOUR COMPUTER OR LAPTOP.
westburylofts Posted February 12, 2006 Report Posted February 12, 2006 We just use a normal microscope with a light, would not be without it, Also have the book i think it is the best book on the market at this time. RAY
MsPigeon Posted February 13, 2006 Author Report Posted February 13, 2006 Dont know a lot about microscopes Carol, but I see you can get ones to which you can attach a digital camera and view via your computer, seems a great idea. Stacks of 'em on ebay at all sorts of prices. Would this type work for checking pigeon droppings and throat swabs? I think about 100x is the most used magnification for this. I think probably the normal microscope w/light is all I need too Ray. What brand is yours and what magnifications do you use the most?
westburylofts Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 Brunell, i think lol I brought it off a fancier in scotland so have not got much info on it. But have seen them in the Boddy & Ridewood web site. Find it is a usefull thing to have. Ray
westburylofts Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 LOOKING IN ME WALLET AFTER TERESA'S HAD IT LOL Have to admit i only use it for checking the droppings. RAY
Chatrace Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 The Flying Vet By Colin Walker . Get one that goes to 400 power if ya can, 100 isn't really that good. a 400 will let you see just like in the book. The color is even right.And yes get one with the light . the adjustable slide is nice but you can move the slides by hand .
westburylofts Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 That is the book we use as well, great book and as Chatrace says the pictures are the same as what you see under the microscope. We did get a booklet with the microscope but in black and white so is not so easy to make out what you are looking for. RAY
Guest slugmonkey Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 I think the ones that attach to computer are cheaper than the old style
Chatrace Posted February 15, 2006 Report Posted February 15, 2006 Anyone got one they want to sell? Check EBay
pidgey Posted February 19, 2006 Report Posted February 19, 2006 Cross post about using microscopes: http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=10561 and here's a good one: http://www.finchaviary.com/Maintenance/FecalSmear.htm Pidgey
THE FIFER Posted February 19, 2006 Report Posted February 19, 2006 yes i got a good one which goes to ur pc, very good i could do with a book or someting to get me more info regarding use etc, any ideas.
pidgey Posted February 21, 2006 Report Posted February 21, 2006 That's what those links above tell about--how to use a microscope to perform basic fecal tests. I wrote the first one for another pigeon forum and the second one is a true webpage format that has pictures and other explanation--a pretty good source. For your PC camera type setup, there are other things that you need to consider as to how to "scan" a slide besides what magnifications you've got. Pidgey
westy Posted February 21, 2006 Report Posted February 21, 2006 http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&fstype=1&from=R10&satitle=microscopes+for+computer&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1
pidgey Posted February 23, 2006 Report Posted February 23, 2006 Honestly, I don't know if that eBay search item would work or not. I'm used to traditional microscopes and with using a mechanical stage that has the knobs to make scanning a slide easy to control. As a test for coccidiosis, they're in large enough numbers to be fairly easy to test for and it doesn't take much slide-scanning to make a determination. However, with roundworm and threadworm eggs, they're often a lot more difficult to find. There might only be one or two on an entire slide. That takes considerable scanning--about 15 passes over the coverslip from end to end at 100x total mag. The product shown in the eBay link wouldn't be as good as using a kid's microscope for that. The other thing that you can't be sure of until you have the product in hand is the resolution. It's easy to get high magnification but still have an image that fuzzy enough that you're not sure what it is. For doing closer work to begin differentiating bacteria and protozoa, you're going to need a lot more power--up to a 1000x oil and that means a real microscope. They're easy enough to come by, especially if you don't mind monocular. However, the newer ones aren't going to withstand the abuse that the older ones will. That has to do with the fine/coarse adjustment gearing. Pidgey
MsPigeon Posted February 24, 2006 Author Report Posted February 24, 2006 Thanks Pidgey, very useful information.
REDCHEQHEN Posted March 26, 2006 Report Posted March 26, 2006 I don't know if I should have started a separate topic - have taken a faecal sample this morning from youngsters, this is only the second time I have used this microscope, and just like the first time, I didn't see anything on the slide such as eggs, oocysts etc. only very small things which I presume to be bacteria, I am concerned that I am missing something, I have used a laboratory microscope in the past, so should know how to use one. I am using x100 and x450 magnification. The books I have are Colin Walkers, which I didn't think was good enough to help with microscope, so I bought another called 'Under the Microscope' by Danny Brown. I thought that all pigeons had cocci, and they were treated to keep the numbers down, their parents were only treated for canker prior to pairing. and haven't been wormed since the end of the race season. Nothing showed on the faecal samples before pairing. I wondered if I had focused on the wrong layer - if you know what I mean. Though I have been up and down with adjustments to check. I just can't believe that I wouldn't find anything on the slide. Could I be doing something wrong ? Or could it be I have 'perfect' pigeons healthwise ? I don't believe that, though they are healthy looking
Guest Posted May 29, 2006 Report Posted May 29, 2006 I paid £170 for mine through the pigeon papers the very same one in Lidel,s in the town £40 plugs into yhe u.s.b. great piece of kit (u might have to wait till lidel brings them back on sale) and get the book fit to win by Wim Peters pigeon health by Colin Walker
Chatrace Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 here is the one I got off EBAY here in the states has the light unit under the platform and has 100 power to 1000 power adjustable lens. $89
THE FIFER Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 I HAVE ONE WHICH WORKS THEOUGH MY PC, CAN ANYONE LET ME KNOW WHERE U GET THE TEST KITS ETC.
REDCHEQHEN Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 What part of the test kits do you need ? Microscope slides and coverslips e-bay, got mine from gainexpress - Hong Kong on e-bay, very quick. Long cotton buds - http://www.firstaidforfeet.com/Products_Misc.asp they're excellent - tho' not sterile - £3 for 100 incl postage The solution I believe is just a saturated solution of sugar or salt looking on other web-sites, but not 100% was there anything in particular fifer ?
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