Pidgey has a little bit of Blood in her stool

[naturegirl]

Should I be really worried or not? I have felt her bottom and she doesn't seem soft like she is going to lay an egg but her stools have gotten a little larger than usual and they have gotten a little watery, they are pretty much still formed but more water around the stool. She has been going through her first (i want to breed) things but she doesn't have a mate. I have also started her on medium grit with calcium just incase she does lay an egg. Is there anything I could order out of Foys to help this matter? I was also thinking of sending in a stool sample as well to help rule out anything. What do you think and any advice and help would really be helpful.

Thank You

Cindy

[Pidgey]

Yeah, you oughta' worry. Be sure, though, before you do that it really is blood. It's absolutely classic for newspapers to be used in the bottom of the cage and for there to be some red ink on the other side that bleeds through into the soaked paper so that it appears as a light bloodstain on the side you're looking at.

Otherwise, you're looking at several possibilities, none of which are good although they don't have to be THAT bad: threadworms (see a vet and get a fecal float done as well as a fecal smear); enteritis (like having open sores in the intestines from an infection of some sort); oviduct problems (about the worst thing it can be); and possibly a few others.

You didn't describe what the blood looks like--if there's a reddish cast to the droppings or "frank" blood in the "gross examination" (actual drops or smears of red stuff that looks like non-diluted blood).

Pidgey

[Reti]

Sending out a stool sample is a good start. Then you can take it from there.
Is the blood mixed with stool?
I think Cynthia had something similar going on with one of her birds. I am sure she will post as soon as she sees the thread.

Reti

[naturegirl]

Thanks Pidgey and Reti for replying so quickly. I take her out of her cage and put her on the Linoleum floor for a better look and it is definately blood. A small amount but still enough for me to see and of coarse panic. It is a small trace like a smear through it. She refuses to deficate in her cage with her home made nest I made for her so I took it out and she is on her shelf in the cage again. I also noticed a few minutes ago she seems to shake her tail feathers and head more often than usual and she looks a little fluffed up. Looked down her throat and that looks nice and clear other than what I have mentioned she looks healthy and acts normal. I have to go out for a bit I will check back in about an hour. Thanks everyone!!!!!

Cindy

[Maggie-NC]

Cindy, how old is Pidgey? Personally, I would remove the grit for right now.

The times we have had blood was from egg binding, coccidiosis and worms but usually with cocci and worms it is mixed in with the poop. Pidgey mentioned ink from paper but we can also get pinkish poop when our pigeons eat the avian maintenance for cockatiels (fruit blend).

[Reti]

Could she trying to lay an egg?
How is her behavior otherwise, is she eating, preening etc?

Reti

[AZWhitefeather]

I'm sorry to hear your pij seems to be having a problem Cindy.

Originally Posted by Reti

Sending out a stool sample is a good start. Then you can take it from there.
Is the blood mixed with stool?
I think Cynthia had something similar going on with one of her birds. I am sure she will post as soon as she sees the thread.

Reti

Chances are, Cynthia may have already retired for the night.
If so, here's the link to her thread regarding her pij that I believe you are referring to Reti.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=19356

Cindy

[Reti]

Thank you Cynthia, yes that is the thread I was refering too.

Reti

[naturegirl]

Guess what? I am a Grandma to an unfertile egg! I came back from my little trip and after being away for 1 1/2 hours she laid an egg. She is 9 months old. She is laying on her egg and eating but she is being very good. I pulled her out for a minute and put her on the linoleum floor in the kitchen and she pooped a little and there was a little bit or blood with it. Is that normal for the first time laying an egg? Should I put anything on her bottom if the cloacae is irritated?

Cindy

[Lovebirds]

There is sometimes a little blood on the eggs when they are first laid. If you don't see it right away, then it seems to "disappear" and you never knew it was there. I would watch her. She'll lay another one Wed. afternoon around 4:00 PM...........
I would say if you see blood in her stools tomorrow or Wed early BEFORE she lays the egg, you probably should get her checked out just in case.

[naturegirl]

Well i am going to keep an eye on her for a day and see what her poops are like tomorrow and go from there, there is a little light smear on her egg and that is about it. If they are still bad after she lays her next egg then I will take her in Thursday morning for sure as that is when the vets gets in anyways.

Cindy

[feralpigeon]

If she continues passing blood after the second egg comes along, you might
want to think about the other issues of worming, treating for coccidiosis,
or ecoli/paratyphoid. Personally, I'd worm first then use Bactrim for the possibility of coccidial overburden/bacterial infection.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showpo...11&postcount=1

fp

[feralpigeon]

That sounds like a good idea, Cindy .

fp

[Feefo]

I am glad that you have identified the possible cause, but I agree with Lovebirds, bleeding while egg laying (as opposed to blood smeared eggs) is worrying. I would give her calcium and Vitamin D3 to strengthen those muscles.

From Fit to Win by Dr Wim Peters:

Bloody shelled eggs occur regularly in young hens under stress. The cause is unknown and the quality of the egg is unaffected. First time layers are more affected and it possibly occurs because the genital system is forced beyond its capacity.

My little Blackie is infertile, I treated her for cocci and worms, the vet put her on Metronidazole (I think that he suspected internal canker) and further down the line I treated her with Baytril because she had watery poops and bleeding which are symptoms of paratyphoid and e-coli. The Baytril appears to have cleared the problem up but I still have to keep an eye on her.

Blackie is back in the aviary now but I am still keeping an eye on her.

Cynthia

[naturegirl]

Thank You everyone for responding ever so quickly. When ever something seems to pop up with one of my birds I tend to freak out a little, as losing them is not in my vocabulary at least not without trying everything possible first, including visiting the vets as well. I know that
i have sunk well over $500.00 into Pesto my 12 year old Pigeon when she was ill and some people may think I am nuts upstairs but I would do it for all my birds as they are all extremely important to me. I will further update as things happen or lays her other egg. Thank You again

Cindy