Diseases

[phyll]

I have one indoor pigeon who has been
with us for four months.
When we found him he was still young. I say this because he was all white back in January (when we found him). A short time later, I noticed some soft brown coloring. That coloring has now become darker with time.
My question:
Since he was young when he started to live indoors & is an "only" child, would he need any vaccinations?
If where we live is a consideration, it's NY ~ Long Island. We do have a LOT of mosquitos in the summer.
Thanks.

phyll

[Trees Gray]

Hi Phyll,

If you have had this pigeon for 4 months and he is a pet, does he stay indoors or outside in a coop?

If he lives outside in a coop and is exposed to mosquitos it would be a good idea to get the Pox immunization.

I would take him to a good avian vet, and have him check the bird over. The vet might recommend PMV, and Paratyphiod injections. If your bird has absolutely no contact with any other pigeon or birds, he may not need the shots, best to check with the vet.

A good nutrition program is also recommended if you haven't got him on one already. If the bird is indoors I would also recommend an Avian multi-vitamin like Prime with vitamin D3, if he doesn't get sunlight.

Treesa

[dano7]

Adding a little to Treesa's insight, the vet should know if your area has a high incidence of PMV (PMV 1 vaccine), paratyphoid (Sal-Bac Vaccine).

Most people medicate for canker and worms but I suppose if you had a strictly indoor bird maybe it's not necessary - but these preventitive measures are easy and there is a high safety factor.

Here is some ideas on nutrition if you haven't seen them before:

The heart of the pigeon diet is a seed mix which has known and generally accepted proportions. A ballpark guideline is 11-17% protein and 4-11% fat. Possible items, but not all of the possible items in the mixes are Popcorn (not popped), Trapper peas, R/C Wheat, Maple Peas, Buffalo Peas, Safflower seeds, Austrian Peas, Oat Groats, vetch, Paddy Rice, Small Yellow Corn, R/C Red and White Milo, Red Prosso Millet, Flax Seed, Malt Barley, Common Lentils, Buckwheat, Small Black Oil Sunflower, and a very few peanuts (raw/unsalted).

Other must have essentials are greens/carrots and an avian vitamin everyday (if they don’t eat greens keep giving them and eventually they will). As Treesa reccomended, people in this forum like Prime vitamin which goes in the water and has a probiotic. When they get around nine months old they will start to show an interest in a good multi-element grit but they should have this available at all times.

Though the following are not necessary everyday, they are also essential to optimum health, so once you get these basics down, other things people use are various forms of garlic, brewers yeast, various oils (fish, cod liver, olive, etc.), various teas, Apple Cider Vinegar (TSPN per gallon of water ratio), electrolytes, bits of animal protein (mash a pinch of dried dog food and mix with the seed), good soil/clay and other supplements. All these items are an attempt to approximate the bird’s ideal wild diet. If all this is daunting, you may try various formulations of pellets made for pigeons. This can cover most bases but the various processes used to make the pellets use high heat which is a not good as many nutrients do not survive this.

You will get quality meds online from Jedds, Foy’s, Siegels, Global Pigeon Supplies, or the Australian Pigeon Company. Meds from pet stores are often inadequate and getting them from the vet will be expensive.

[phyll]

Treesa,
Jesse is an indoor pigeon.
The mosquitos were mentioned because we have never gone an entire summer without finding a few in the house.
I have been adding a few shakes of vitamins in powder form to his water every other day. I was worried that it may hurt him if I gave it to him every day. I'm hoping to find a liquid vitamin.
I would feel more comfortable with adding a certain amount of drops, rather than shaking powder out. Is the vitamin you recommended in powder or liquid form?

My next step is to find a GOOD avian vet.
Using the web, I was able to locate a few on Long Island. Rather than just picking one out, I have decided to ask for a recommendation through this site.
I will do that in a separate post.
Of course, if you know of one in my area I would appreciate his or her name.
Thanks.

phyll

[phyll]

Dano,
Thank you, once again, for the detailed information.
It WAS daunting, to say the least.

A few questions:
Jesse (my pigeon) has been living here for almost 18 weeks. Is it possible for him to have canker or worms without any signs?

Where can I learn about everything you mentioned in your "not necessary everyday" paragraph? I need to know how often & in what amounts?

And what did you mean by "good soil"?

Are the greens & carrots always to be offered raw?

It was very helpful that you said to keep offering the vegetables.
So far, I have tried lettuce, spinach, carrots & kale ~ all to no avail.
Only offered each of them once though, now I know to continue with them.
Jesse did show interest in the kale. He pecked at it but didn't eat any.

Is fruit good? What are their favorites?

Sorry about all the questions.
You seem to know everything about pigeons. Thanks for all the help.

One more thing, if you know of a good avian vet in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or Long Island, I would appreciate their name.
Thanks, again.

phyll

[maryco]

If you want to vaccinate your birds then you can do so by finding a local pigeon fancier near you who will do it, I find that vets don't actually do pigeon vaccinations but breeders and fanciers do so when they are doing their birds in the season you can take your pigeon over there and have him vaccinated as well (I did that once)
If you were to buy the vaccinations yourself they come in 50 doses (i'm not sure about the pox one I only ordered the one for PMV) and so it's a big waste, use one dose from your local fancier or offer to buy the vaccinations for him and 49 of his birds if you are looking for a specific one for your bird.

As for your questions:

Pigeons can have worms, canker or something going on but what you can do is just give her some preventative meds. When I'm going to bring a bird inside or keep one as a pet I usually give her a pill for worms, canker and cocci just incase.

I use 1 Spartrix pill for canker, one Appertex for cocci and either a wormer that goes into the water or a pill (Aspergilla from Chevita capsuls which I find very good) or Ivomec that goes into the water.
These meds can be bought a pigeon supply store.

As for the veggies, yes raw of course. I grate the carrot finely and the birds will eat it as for the greens like spinach and lettuce I chop them into little squares or strips with a sharp knife.

My birds at first never touched it but once Pearl got the courage to try abit she couldn't stop and Dotty her husband joined in as well and now everytime I come into the room with some spinach they will go crazy and kill each other for it (which is not very nice of them) so I now let everyone have his own dish because Dotty will NOT let Pearl have any at all and she gets her eyes pecked at!

Fruits, I give my birds little pieces of papaya sometimes, Papaya is good as it contains enzymes.

Apple cider vinegar can go into the water (2 tbsp per gallon) once a week or twice.
Also a vitamin mineral supplement is also necessary for an indoor pet, I use Prime by Hagens which now contains probiotics and must be kept cool in the fridge.
I use this everyday as it contains vitamin D3 which pigeons can't produce if they are indoors or don't get direct sunlight.

Garlic can also be put in the water once a week or so, I think it was 5 cloves per gallon.

I give my birds a brewers's yeast tablet (The ones from walmart for dogs) and a cod liver oil capsul every 3 months, don't give too much cod liver oil as vitamin A can be toxic if given too much.

Hope that helps!

Mary

[dano7]

Hi,

Mary nailed down your questions nicely.

I had a bird that tossed greens for weeks and now he eats them, so it will happen - definitely serve the greens as a first course so he has to at least consider them before the seed arrives.

My birds don't go out much but they get treated twice a year for canker and worms - Treesa mentioned GLOBAL'S MULTI MIX - A mixture of three (3) medications for the prevention of Canker-Coccidiosis-Worms.

"Good Soil" is something I am interested in to aproximate a diet in the wild for myself and my birds. I don't know all the esoterics of the racing pigeon world, but I have not heard of anyone else into this so don't take it as reccomendation of pigeon expperts. For this I use Primal Defense which is a whole food probiotic blend utilizing 14 species of hardy, non-dairy Homeostatic Soil Organisms. It's not something I expect to see evidence for, it's just something I will always take and so will my birds.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Phyll,

The Prime vitamin, one of the ones I use, is also a powder vitamin. They do sell this one in small jars. Always be sure to give the exact dose. You can find this at pet stores or at the website getbirdstuff.com

Since you only have one, mix it to a thin yellowish consistency. You would just add a pinch to his bowl of water.

If you lived near me I certainly would give your bird the Pox vaccine, cause I have it in my frig.

Mary gave you some great advice, if you would like my nutrition regimen let me know.

The best vegie that is most nutritional for pigeons is curly kale, my pigeons will eat it and thrash it about, but the do like spinach better.

Overturned sod is supposed a wonderful treat, but given that most of it is chemically sprayed with pesticides and dosed with fertilizer, I myself will not use it, unless I can find it organically.

The dose for the garlic is one clove (about a teaspoon) cut up and put in a gallon water. My birds refuse to drink it if there is too much in the water. LOL!

Treesa

[phyll]

Thanks to all of you, you guys are great.

I am going to print out all the information you so generously shared.

Mary, I'm glad you mentioned that you grated the carrots. I probably never
would have thought of that.
Your information did help ~ a lot.

Treesa,
I appreciated what you said about the vaccine, that was kind of you.
And yes, I certainly would like to have your nutrition regimen also.

Dano,
If memory serves, you have responded to every question I have posted. Thank you for being so generous with your time.

phyll