Stay around, the cavalry will arrive and help you soon. Has the hen ever laid eggs? Does she have access to a pigeon grit containing calcium?
Sick Pigeon, Need some help.
Hi, I'm new to this forum (and to owning pigeons) so I hope I'm in the right place for help. I have 2 pigeons, the male is about 1 year old and the female is about 8 months, I think. They were both given to me as very young orphaned pigeons so I had to hand feed them for awhile. About 2 months ago both pigeons seemed to be healthly. They would go out flying around together and everything seemed fine. Now the female just sits in one spot all the time. She puffs herself up and can't fly anymore. She seems very weak when outside. I've brought her in several different times and she seems fine as far as eating and drinking but she is very very skinny. Her breastbone sticks out. She eats fine when in the house also probably because the male isnt able to torment her. However, I was wondering could this be worms. I have no idea what to give her or even where to get stuff for pigeons. I feed them a wild bird mix of seeds and she eats crust of bread. If anyone has some suggestions, I would appreciate it. She's so cute and I would really like to be able to help her get better.
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It sounds like the bird COULD have worms. But of course, it's impossible to know for sure without a fecal test run.
Where do these birds live? In a loft or ???
I don't know what products you have available in Newfoundland. Here's a link to some meds that we would use here in the states for worms. Maybe you can do a search and see what's available to you?
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/wormers.html
Could also be coccidiosis......if these birds are around other birds at any time...that's possible.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/coccidiosis.html
Where do these birds live? In a loft or ???
I don't know what products you have available in Newfoundland. Here's a link to some meds that we would use here in the states for worms. Maybe you can do a search and see what's available to you?
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/wormers.html
Could also be coccidiosis......if these birds are around other birds at any time...that's possible.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/coccidiosis.html
Hi, thanks for responding. no she has never layed any eggs. I don't have pigeon grit. I'm not even sure what it is but I had some grit for budgie birds but I dont think they eat that. I see them on the ground a lot though eating the gravel. I figured that would be enough. I will have to learn more about the grit. thanks
Given that it is only the hen that is affected, I was wondering whether she might be egg bound.
That wouldn't make her skinny though.Given that it is only the hen that is affected, I was wondering whether she might be egg bound.
Thanks for responding. It really sounds like worms to me too. She doesnt really seem sick, eats but is still so skinny. I will try to get some worm medicine. We keep them in an outside coop thingy we built for them. They stay in the shed in the cold months. I now have the female in my living room. The male pigeon came from a construction site in the city and the female came from someone who had a few pigeons. We also have many different kinds of birds in the yard all day long with the pigeons like blue jays. So they do be around other birds.
Mmm, you're right Renee, not if she is eating well and the OP did say so.That wouldn't make her skinny though.
I'll shut up!Hi Janiegirl66,
Sounds like it could be worms, but there are a few other maladies that could be causing this, such as coccidiosis. How do her droppings look? Are they still well formed balls or puddly looking? If in doubt, you could always post a picture of them and there are lot of experienced people here who will be able to determine how "normal" they look.
Also, many of the medicines used to worm pigeons are also used for sheep, cows and horses, so you may be able to locate some this way. However, the doses used on pigeons is extremely small and with some wormers' there is not a lot of leeway between helping and harming doses.
So if you do locate some, please check back here for help with just what you found and on dosing instructions.
Good luck,
Karyn
PS: You may also need to dose the male to avoid the possibility of her being re-infected, but others can comment on this.
Sounds like it could be worms, but there are a few other maladies that could be causing this, such as coccidiosis. How do her droppings look? Are they still well formed balls or puddly looking? If in doubt, you could always post a picture of them and there are lot of experienced people here who will be able to determine how "normal" they look.
Also, many of the medicines used to worm pigeons are also used for sheep, cows and horses, so you may be able to locate some this way. However, the doses used on pigeons is extremely small and with some wormers' there is not a lot of leeway between helping and harming doses.
So if you do locate some, please check back here for help with just what you found and on dosing instructions.
Good luck,
Karyn
PS: You may also need to dose the male to avoid the possibility of her being re-infected, but others can comment on this.
Thank you so much for your advice. I'm going to search around for some worm medicine online. The droppings change. In the morning they were very runny, then she eat some seeds and bread and the droppings are well formed with seeds in them. She eats good, and walks around the house like she owns it. But then she'll go to her bed and she will just puff up and go to sleep. She has been like this for weeks i have had her in the house now for over a week. When i put her outside with the male she huddles down and bats her wing at him so i think i will keep her inside for a while longer. I"m going to get a cage or something built for just her so she can have some peace and quiet from the other one who is very very noisy.
Hi Again Janiegirl66,
To save you sometime here are a couple of links to a reputable supplier for meds.
The first is for Ivermectin that will take care of any worm problems. The second is for something called Trimethoprim/Sulfa Powder. This med will treat for the coccidiosis I mentioned prior, plus I am concerned about the undigested seeds in her droppings and it will also give some coverage for bacteria that may cause this as well. There is the possibility that if she does have worms, this may have weakened her for bacteria to infect her and you will need an antibiotic such as the Trimethoprim/Sulfa for this.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/519-584.html
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/6017.html
Since she has been sick for a while you may want to consider having a vet have a look at her, almost any vet will have both of these meds on hand. It may take a week for the meds to come and sooner is always better than later when it comes to treating sick birds.
Again, good luck with her,
Karyn
To save you sometime here are a couple of links to a reputable supplier for meds.
The first is for Ivermectin that will take care of any worm problems. The second is for something called Trimethoprim/Sulfa Powder. This med will treat for the coccidiosis I mentioned prior, plus I am concerned about the undigested seeds in her droppings and it will also give some coverage for bacteria that may cause this as well. There is the possibility that if she does have worms, this may have weakened her for bacteria to infect her and you will need an antibiotic such as the Trimethoprim/Sulfa for this.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/519-584.html
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/6017.html
Since she has been sick for a while you may want to consider having a vet have a look at her, almost any vet will have both of these meds on hand. It may take a week for the meds to come and sooner is always better than later when it comes to treating sick birds.
Again, good luck with her,
Karyn
Thank you so much again. I think I will contact a vet because I would get medicine a lot quicker. I do really appreciate the links to some medicines that i may need in the future. It looks like I Will have these pigeons for a long time. I have become so attached to both of them. The whole community loves them. Thanks for all your help.
I had a pigeon I found at the park who was very skinny. The vet gave him an antibiotic and one dose of worm medicine. I was told to give him the second dose in a week. He had undigested seed in his droppings for the first week, but after I gave him the second dose, there were no more undigested seeds. YAY!! Sounds like that could be your problem!! Hope this helps!
You could also try adding a larger variety of seed. Try looking for safflower (not sunflower) seeds, usually in the bird sections of most pet shops, and raw, unsalted peanuts (sparingly), dried peas, dried whole corn (or defrosted, frozen peas or corn), and some greens. Just wild bird seed and bread is not really good for them, and should just be used as a temporary diet until a better variety of food can be found. I didn't know at first either, and fed mine the same thing--wild bird seed and bread. They ate it, so I thought it was fine. I hope she feels better soon.
I hope she feels better soon.Thanks again to all of you for your help. My little "Lady" is still hanging in there. I have tried phoning a few vets but they won't give me anything. They say they don't deal with birds. I tried an exotic pet doctor but I would have to bring her in and its too far for me to travel (and it may be more than I can afford). I have taken some advice from here and ordered some worm pills and some other stuff. She is still eating like crazy and I keep her as comfortable as I can. She still can't fly though. She lives in the porch. I'm hoping to get the medication anyday now and will probably post if i need any help with the doses. Thanks again. Its so nice to talk to kind people who care about animals. Anyway, I see a few more posts about what to feed her so I think I will get some frozen peas and corn for her supper.
going light is a symtom of something, could be worms or a number of things. the pigeons need good food and calcuim suppliment like crushed oystershell. If they are free flying they can pick up alot of things, coccidia, she could have canker even , hope it is just worms. pigeon grain is what you want to feed, and supply clean water as you don't want them to drink contaminatied water, you can add vitamins to the water to help her along. perhaps you can find some of these things from these folks in Newfoundland.Thanks again to all of you for your help. My little "Lady" is still hanging in there. I have tried phoning a few vets but they won't give me anything. They say they don't deal with birds. I tried an exotic pet doctor but I would have to bring her in and its too far for me to travel (and it may be more than I can afford). I have taken some advice from here and ordered some worm pills and some other stuff. She is still eating like crazy and I keep her as comfortable as I can. She still can't fly though. She lives in the porch. I'm hoping to get the medication anyday now and will probably post if i need any help with the doses. Thanks again. Its so nice to talk to kind people who care about animals. Anyway, I see a few more posts about what to feed her so I think I will get some frozen peas and corn for her supper.
Mount perl
eastern farmers co-op
1112 top sail rd
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tel. 709-368-4321
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