Strange actions

[Faultless]

I work for a property management company and i see pigeons by the thousands, each day as i work on apartments. One day 2 weeks ago i found a pigeon on the ground walking that wouldn't fly. Knowing there was about 20 stray cats that live in the area i picked him and put him in a big box and brought him home to my wife who is a big animal person. We put him in a empty 20 gallon fish tank and got him some wild bird feed and a bowl of water. We tried to look him over to find the injury, but had no success. So over the last few weeks we have been letting him rest and have been trying to get him to fly. But it seems the bird might have some sort of brain damage. He roles his head up side down and jams it into the floor and trys to walk (often falling over). He eats and drink fine we would prefer to release him to the wild but we don't know what to do really. I don't want to release him if hes just gonna get eaten or killed somehow in a day.

Thanks Taylor

[Pidgey]

Well, it sounds like PMV, which is a virus. Hang on a sec and I'll fetch you a link. It's one of those things that has to run its course. It's possible that he could be releasable, just have to wait and see.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Go read this one:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f6/pig...eon-12248.html

Pidgey

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Faultless

I work for a property management company and i see pigeons by the thousands, each day as i work on apartments. One day 2 weeks ago i found a pigeon on the ground walking that wouldn't fly. Knowing there was about 20 stray cats that live in the area i picked him and put him in a big box and brought him home to my wife who is a big animal person. We put him in a empty 20 gallon fish tank and got him some wild bird feed and a bowl of water. We tried to look him over to find the injury, but had no success. So over the last few weeks we have been letting him rest and have been trying to get him to fly. But it seems the bird might have some sort of brain damage. He roles his head up side down and jams it into the floor and trys to walk (often falling over). He eats and drink fine we would prefer to release him to the wild but we don't know what to do really. I don't want to release him if hes just gonna get eaten or killed somehow in a day.

Thanks Taylor

Taylor, thanks for picking up this bird. It's days were numbered for sure. It sounds like the bird might have PMV (paramixovirus), or Salmonellosis......(that's not spelled right, sorry)...........can you tell us where you are? This bird needs to be put on medication and may never be able to be released.
Can you post pictures or better yet, videos? Other members who will be much more help than me, would be able to tell better about what's going on with pics/videos.
Can you describe the poops?

[KIPPY]

Can PMV pijes ever be released?

I have Daytona who had the same actions of a PMV pij.

Months later I introduced Darlington to Daytona and he seemed to mellow out and relax more. Like a year/years later I tried to introduce Daytona and Darlington into the bigger cage with my other pijes and Dayton just freaked.

It was like too much going on and it just stressed Daytona out. He started some movements I haven't seen from him in awhile. They went back in there own cage and seem content.

[Pidgey]

I've got three living out in the loft. Two of them I can't remember which ones they are, they're so normal. The worst of the three occasionally does funny stuff but I haven't even seen her do it for a few months come to think of it.

Pidgey

[Faultless]

I'm in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area. We have other pets(no birds), is this virus contagious? Ill get pictures/movies posted ASAP. He has little bugs on him is there anything i can do about these?

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by KIPPY

Can PMV pijes ever be released?

I have Daytona who had the same actions of a PMV pij.

Months later I introduced Darlington to Daytona and he seemed to mellow out and relax more.

Like a year/years later I tried to introduce Daytona and Darlington into the bigger cage with my other pijes and Dayton just freaked.

It was like too much going on and it just stressed Daytona out. He started some movements I haven't seen from him in awhile. They went back in there own cage and seem content.

It's not recommended.
Your description of what happened to Daytona (& that was just being introduced to a larger cage) is a good example of why they shouldn't be released.

Cindy

[KIPPY]

Two of them I can't remember which ones they are, they're so normal.

That's how Daytona was, finally acting normal for the longest time. When I tried to put him in the bigger cage he started having wierd actions again.

So if you have a feral that had PMV and was able to be released cause he is acting normal. You release him and you don't know what the stress factor may do to him later.

Just a thought.

They know the comforts of their own territory. You put them out in the wild where the have to do for themselves and compete with the other ferals. It could be too much.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by Faultless

I'm in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area. We have other pets(no birds), is this virus contagious? Ill get pictures/movies posted ASAP.

He has little bugs on him is there anything i can do about these?

You can get some Sevin powder, found in garden dept. in most stores.
There are also powders you can get at pet stores. I've never purchased any from the pet store so I have no idea what the names are. Others can help you with that.

Whatever you decide to use, make sure you protect his head so as not to get in the eyes, nose or mouth.
Be sure to dust under the wings.

Cindy

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by KIPPY

That's how Daytona was, finally acting normal for the longest time. When I tried to put him in the bigger cage he started having wierd actions again.

So if you have a feral that had PMV and was able to be released cause he is acting normal.
* You release him and you don't know what the stress factor may do to him later.

Just a thought.

They know the comforts of their own territory.
You put them out in the wild where the have to do for themselves and compete with the other ferals. It could be too much.

* Exactly.

** Yes, it could.
Stress can enhance PMV symptoms that are ongoing.
If I'm not mistaken, those who have not shown any symptoms for quite some time can relapse if placed in a stressful enough situation.

Cindy

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Faultless

I'm in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area. We have other pets(no birds), is this virus contagious? Ill get pictures/movies posted ASAP. He has little bugs on him is there anything i can do about these?

It is not contagious to you or your other animals. If there were other birds, then you would have to keep them separate. Just need to use the normal precautions, hand washing, etc.........

[Faultless]

Camera batteries are charging
So someone said i would need medicine but the page i read said it passes on its own. We hope he can be returned to the wild because we are against anything born feral in captivity unless is incapable of living in the wild. But if we do have to keep him what is the best type of cage to keep him in? Do they like toys like parrots?

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Faultless

Camera batteries are charging
So someone said i would need medicine but the page i read said it passes on its own. We hope he can be returned to the wild because we are against anything born feral in captivity unless is incapable of living in the wild. But if we do have to keep him what is the best type of cage to keep him in? Do they like toys like parrots?

That someone would have been me. If PMV is the only thing going on with this bird, then yes, supportive care is all you can do, but some times oportunistic bugs can take hold while they're immune system is compromised, but we'll get to that in time.
Believe me, we all agree, that if the bird can be released, then that's the best thing to do, but that remains to be seen.
A long cage as opposed to a tall cage is best for pigeons. They don't climb around inside a cage like parrots do. Some of our members pet pigeons play with little balls with bells and such.......depends on the bird I guess.

[Feefo]

It is true that the resistance of a pigeon with PMV to other diseases is lowered, but the conditions that they are particularly vulnerable to are coccidiosis, aspergillosis and canker, a broad based antibiotic such as Baytril could not offer the pigeon protection from these as they are caused by fungi and protozoa, not bacteria.

Vindevogel and Duchatel carried out tests which established that giving pigeons with PMV antibiotics as a preventative treatment can have an adverse effect and aggravate the course of the disease.

Although their resistance to disease is lowered, only one of the many pigeons suffering from PMV that I have rescued had another disease (mycoplasmosis) concurrently with PMV.

Cynthia