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Pigeon Health By Lu Stephens Here you will find a few tips on the infectious ailments most common to our Homing Pigeons. Some of the ailments are ectoparasites, endoparasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, since I'm not a veterinarian I will only give you the information that I have gleaned from my personal experiences and from articles that touch upon the topics discussed in the pages that follow. Observation I think one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is the POWER OF OBSERVATION. Since the pigeons can't verbally speak to us we must pay attention to their body language, through their actions we can see if they are happy, sad, hungry, thirsty and of course if they don't feel well. Remember a pigeon doesn't moan or groan when it is in pain, YOU as a fancier must be alert to the needs of your flock. If one takes the time and spends an hour or two a day just watching their birds in the loft undisturbed, the fancier will notice the social structure of the inhabitants and how they interact with each other. The alpha pigeons will have the top perches and the top nest boxes, the beta pigeons will have the next lower perches and nest boxes and the youngest pigeons settle for the lowest perches and don't get a nest box at all. The alpha pigeons are always arguing and fighting trying to defend or establish new territory, the beta pigeons usually settle for second best and don't put up much of a fight and the youngest pigeons put up no fight at all. Each day you observe this there will be little change, each bird will be in his or her self designated spot. On occasion a beta pigeon will challenge an alpha pigeon and will depose the alpha of its rank and take over his perch and nest box. But generally the social structure of the pigeons changes only very subtly. Now, with that being said, one should be able to notice when there is a pigeon in the loft that looks "out of place". The pigeon will look "fluffed up" having its feathers slightly opened (ruffled plumage), it will be lethargic, listless, it may not eat or drink and if you pick it up you may find that it has lost weight. This is a sick or hurt pigeon and should be examined and removed from the rest of the flock immediately and isolated. Symptoms A pigeon in distress will display one or a variety of the following symptoms: loss of appetite, greater water intake, loose or watery droppings, impaired breathing, trouble standing, trouble keeping its balance, can't hold food down, soiling of the vent feathers, swelling or sticking together of the eye lids and uncontrollable head movements. If your birds show any of these symptoms, click on the ailment below to view the preventative and/or cure. Remember it is VERY important for a fancier to NEVER guess at what ails their pigeons, one should always consult with a veterinarian, but if you must cure the birds yourself, purchase and study one of the many books or articles pertaining to the diseases of the pigeons. A high school grade microscope and the proper medication are also a "must have". Some of the pathogens which the pigeons get can clearly be seen in a dropping or blood sample under the microscope. And please, NEVER over or under medicate your pigeons, follow all medication instructions precisely. When medicating MORE is NOT better. A teaspoon means, a LEVEL teaspoon. Each fancier must choose the brand of medications that works best for their birds. The medications that I mention are the ones that have been the most effective for my pigeons. I do not endorse or claim that any one brand is more effective than another.
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