[Dale of Oz]

Hello all,
I am new to pigeons, and have started with fantails, here in the Adelaide Hills, Australia.
I have a built dovecote and have 10 birds in it, and have just noticed that one in particular has alot of his head feathers missing and looks quite horrid.
would this be a 'pecking order' fighting scenario? or possibly a mite problem?
any help would be appreciated,

thanks

Dale

 

[Jaye]

Could be either...I would guess the former....it's getting picked on...since the symptom doesn't seem to be present in any others....

Oh...welcome !

 

[Dale of Oz]

thankyou for your quick response,
is this behaviour normal with these birds?? will it eventually stop once the 'order' has been established?

 

[Victor]

A couple of years ago I had my white Indian fantail treated for Canker. He was missing feathers around the lower and mid neck and breast area. He was fine after treatment. He too looked pretty horrid. Are there any missing in this area as well? A picture would be great.

 

[Victor]

thankyou for your quick response,
is this behaviour normal with these birds?? will it eventually stop once the 'order' has been established?

Dale, I am not convinced it is a pecking order problem though.

 

[Dale of Oz]

here is a picture ( if it worked )
doesnt look as bad in the photo, buit you should get the idea,

regards

Dale

 

[Victor]

I am leaning towards this bird having canker. This can cause loss of feathers even in the area of the head. If you have, or can get canker meds, you should begin treatment for all your birds.

 

[pigeonpoo]

I can see new feathers growing in. Could this be a moult?

 

[Lovebirds]

I can see new feathers growing in. Could this be a moult?

I think that's exactly what it is. White birds look the MOST awful when they're molting. Here's an example of one of mine.

 

[LUCKYT]

What about he "Bump" on the side of the Head? Dave

 

[Jay3]

It did look like a bump on the side of the head. Or is it just the picture? Worms can cause feather loss also. Or, as has been mentioned already canker.

 

[Lovebirds]

Maybe we need another picture without the bird being squenched (is that a word..LOL???) down........

 

[LUCKYT]

Hey Renne...Skrunched? I have no idea! Dave

 

[Msfreebird]

What are those little red bugs that live in the wood and come out at night?
A couple of my fantails looked like that last summer.
I noticed them hopping around at night, but couldn't find anything on them during the day.
I treated the wood with sevin dust and it stopped!

 

[Jay3]

Think you're talking about red mites.

 

[Lovebirds]

What are those little red bugs that live in the wood and come out at night?
A couple of my fantails looked like that last summer.
I noticed them hopping around at night, but couldn't find anything on them during the day.
I treated the wood with sevin dust and it stopped!

Yep, what Jay3 said...red mites......they are TORTURE for the birds at night. A bunch of us here went through that last year........BUT......they never caused feather loss. They mostly bite the legs/feet.........

 

[pattersonk2002]

missing feathers

Last year one of my birds looked like that, it seemed to happen over night and I was freekin out, it looked terible but it was just molting. I am still not going to guess on yours though.
I was wondering what you are using for bedding, it almost looks like bamboo lol is that what most people use down there?

 

[Msfreebird]

Yep, what Jay3 said...red mites......they are TORTURE for the birds at night. A bunch of us here went through that last year........BUT......they never caused feather loss. They mostly bite the legs/feet.........

Yes, thats what it was. But one of the birds was scratching his head and neck raw. Could never find anything on the birds. Once I dusted all the wood and crevisses, all scratching stopped and feathers grew in.

 

[Jay3]

Yes, thats what it was. But one of the birds was scratching his head and neck raw. Could never find anything on the birds. Once I dusted all the wood and crevisses, all scratching stopped and feathers grew in.

I got perch oil for them. Does dusting work just as well? The perch oil smells awful. No wonder it keeps the mites away. What does everyone else use for red mites?

 

[Dale of Oz]

Last year one of my birds looked like that, it seemed to happen over night and I was freekin out, it looked terible but it was just molting. I am still not going to guess on yours though.
I was wondering what you are using for bedding, it almost looks like bamboo lol is that what most people use down there?

the bedding under the bird is a collection of twigs and leaves, and pea straw,
the eucalyptus leaves apparently also help minimise insect issues in the nests.
I also use a spray called 'coopex', it has 'permethrin' in it, and that will apparently kill mites on contact and remain active for a few weeks to kill any hatching eggs.
I have only had my dovecotes since october, so I have only sprayed once, I also took advantaage of the weather and gave the birds a bath with coopex in the water.