Help! My little pigeon is seriously ill!

Irene...........I can only reiterate what the other member have said about the importance of medicating your birds. I have nine indoor unreleasable birds that have all been treated for various diseases with many different antibotics. Also, I worm all my birds every six weeks. I have never had any adverse effects from the medications. As the old saying goes........"it is much better to be safe than sorry".

I have found that the easiest way to administer medication, to even the most resistant of birds, is to wrap them up burrito style in a small towell, leaving just their little head sticking out. Place the bird either on your lap or on a counter top, open the beak and place the pill or liquid from a syringe in the back of their mouth. They will automatically swallow it. With this method you have two free hands to work with, making it much easier for you.

I love the pictures of little Comis in his basket.

Louise

Jackie's Mom wrote:

I have found that the easiest way to administer medication, to even the most resistant of birds, is to wrap them up burrito style in a small towell, leaving just their little head sticking out. Place the bird either on your lap or on a counter top, open the beak and place the pill or liquid from a syringe in the back of their mouth. They will automatically swallow it. With this method you have two free hands to work with, making it much easier for you.

I love the pictures of little Comis in his basket.

Louise

This is the easiest way to medicate a bird & once you get a hang of it you might not even need a towel.

If you wait to medicate the birds until you have problems you will most likely be over whelmed with so many sick at one time and you could lose one because of waiting too long.

Don't wait til its too late.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

Jackie's Mom wrote:

I have found that the easiest way to administer medication, to even the most resistant of birds, is to wrap them up burrito style in a small towell, leaving just their little head sticking out. Place the bird either on your lap or on a counter top, open the beak and place the pill or liquid from a syringe in the back of their mouth. They will automatically swallow it. With this method you have two free hands to work with, making it much easier for you.

I love the pictures of little Comis in his basket.

Louise

This is the easiest way to medicate a bird & once you get a hang of it you might not even need a towel.

If you wait to medicate the birds until you have problems you will most likely be over whelmed with so many sick at one time and you could lose one because of waiting too long.
Don't wait til its too late.

That happened to me, Irene, some years ago and it was a horrible experience, one that haunts me to this day.

Hi Irene,

I hope all this excellent advice you've been given will be followed through, as you won't get better advice anywhere else.
There are many different kinds of antibiotics, and some of them can cause allergic reactions in people, so I can understand your boyfriend being concerned. But the medications you got for them are perfectly safe for pigeons, so long as you give them the right dosage and don't wait so long that the illness will be too advanced to treat.

It's wonderful to hear that Comis and the baby are better! Comis looks lovely and cosy in her basket!

PS. About boiling the eggs, the picture you 'painted' of babies tortured in the egg made me shiver! No wonder you didn't think it was a good idea! But that's why I said it can be done as soon as they are laid, which is to say, before the embryos start to form. But one of our members, Pigeonwriter, who is an artist, makes her own plaster eggs and that works very well!

Thank you so much for your suggestions and your encouragement! In the end, it was much easier than I imagined giving them their medicines! I took them one by one, I put them on my lap, I cuddled them for a while until they relaxed and I gave them their medicines so fast that they didn't have time to react! Then I pretented that it was just a 'joke' and I continued to cuddle them as if nothing had happened! Fortunately they remained calm! Only Orfeas wanted to escape from my hands because he wanted to go back to his egg, but he didn't seem scared either, just a little stressed... I'm really glad that I managed to give them their medicines! After giving Meli and Anemoni their Metronidazole doses, I separated them from their baby to prevent them from feeding it... I gave the baby its own dose and I fed it myself. In the evening, when I gave them the Baytril dose, I took the baby out of the cage and I put it in the basket of Comis! Comis seems very happy to have its company! The baby looks exactly like Laithi, her dead sister, and when Comis saw it, she started kissing it and cleaning its feathers as she used to do with Laithi! My eyes watered as I watched them... But did I do well to put them together, or could the baby give back the illnesses to Comis (although it is taking antibiotics)? I just didn't know where to put the baby when I took it out of the cage of its parents... It was 'crying' so I felt sorry to put it in a box alone and I put it next to Comis for the night... Is it dangerous? Should I isolate it? How long should I wait until I can put it back to its nest? I was afraid that its parents would feed it and pass their pills to it... How long does it take for birds to digest their medicines?

As for Nystatin, I didn't manage to give it to my birds today, because I was out of the house for most of the day and I came back late, so I only gave them Metronidazole in the morning and Baytril in the evening, then I let them sleep... Can I give them Nystatin immediately after giving them the other medicines or should I wait for some hours? Now it's late at night and I feel sorry to wake them up...

Today Anemoni didn't seem very well... She was too quiet and she stayed on the floor of the cage, she was reluctant to fly... She seemed sleepy and she didn't have much appetitite... Maybe it's because she laid her broken egg yesterday and she is still exhausted, but I don't know... I hope she doesn't suddenly fall ill like it had happened to Comis...

Charis, I'm really sorry you lost your beloved bird in the past, I can imagine your sadness and feelings of guilt because I have also gone through the same terrible experience more than once... Last year I lost my beloved dove Nefeli and it was my fault! She had been ill for many months but I didn't know how to treat her... I just gave her medicines for Coccidia although she had more serious diseases... But at that time I didn't have anybody to advice me... If I had met you sooner, Nefeli could be still alive today... It's really sad to think that we could have done something to save our birds but we didn't (for whatever reasons...) But I am sure that you did your best for your precious bird although it was unlucky... My heart is with you and all your winged babies!

Well done, Irene, managing to medicate your pigeons and being so attentive and affectionate with them!

About the Nystatin, in one of her recent posts here, Charis said that it should be given twice a day, once with the Metronidazole, and once with the Baytril.

I hope Anemoni starts getting stronger. Eggs with very thin shells are symptomatic of lack of calcium, and laying eggs in that condition can seriously weaken a hen's bones, especially considering that they're hollow in the first place.
If, like some of my pigeons, she doesn't get a lot of sunlight, she won't be able to absorb calcium from her food, and she'll need a supplement of calcium with vitamin D3 -- the one that's made for humans is fine, and if it's liquid it can be added to their drinking water.

I'm so glad the medicating went well, Irene.

I'm glad to tell you that Comis, the baby and all the other birds are doing very well! Anemoni (the mother of all the birds) laid her second egg yesterday which was very thin and broke like the first one, but after that she seemed fine! Fortunately she doesn't miss her eggs! I'll give her calcium and bitamin D3 as you suggested! I will ask for it at the pharmacy.

As for the Nystatin, shall I give it to the birds at the same time I give them their other medicines? I hope yes, because in this way I have to catch them only 2 times a day and not 4 times (which would be more stressful for them...) When I gave Nystatin to Comis, I gave it to her half an hour before the Metronidazole dose in the morning and half an hour before the Baytril in the evening. But Comis was very calm and so she didn't mind that I caught her 4 times a day... The other birds are very nervous though and they don't like it at all when I catch them and open their becks by force... Fortunately they don't panic, but they wish I let them go as soon as possible...!

Comis has become more cheerful and lively since I put the baby in her basket! The baby looks exactly the same as Laithi, her late sister, and Comis thinks that it is actually her!! She keeps kissing it and cleaning its feathers, she loves it more than its mum!! The baby has grown up a lot and it has become almost the same size as Comis, so they seem like twins! The baby is also very happy to have Comis by its side because it never had a brother or sister and it enjoys a lot receiving so much attention and affection from Comis! I'm very happy to see them so united...

Here are two photos of Comis as a little baby with her poor sister Laithi who died of Canker and three photos of Comis with the new baby (their first meeting)! Isn't it amazing that the baby looks exactly the same as Laithi?! I think God wanted to console Comis...

I'm so glad that all the pijjies seem to be improving, Irene.

Your pictures are just precious.
The resemblance of the two is absolutely incredible.
In fact, I reread what you posted and had to look at the pictures again as I thought they were all the same birds.

It's wonderful that Comis and the baby have each other!
And the similarity between the baby and Laithi is just amazing!

It's great to hear that all your pigeons are doing well. I think it's okay to only catch the pigeons twice for their meds.

Hi to all of you!

My adult birds have almost finished their medicines and fortunately they are all fine! But it seems that the baby's condition has worsened a little since it stopped taking the antibiotics a few days ago... The last days it has less appetite and it has become lame like Comis... In contrast, Comis is fine and her appetite is increasing but she is also lame and she still doesn't fly. The baby is more active than Comis and it often jumps out of their basket and I find it on the floor. But in general both Comis and the baby are very quiet and they prefer staying in their basket... I really don't know what's wrong with them... Could it be that they have worms in them or any other parasites that are destroying their inncer organs? How could I know it? I have never given my birds any medicines for worms... Could the Canker come back to them now that they have stopped taking the antibiotics? The good thing is that all my birds seem happy and none of them seems really ill or miserable, which is a good sign...

A big hug for you!

Here are the latest photos of Comis and the baby (which I called 'Selini' that means 'moon', because it is black like the night with bright white patches that look like the moon and the stars...):

It's impossible to say what else may be wrong with them, Irene, without you having some diagnostics done on Comis and Selini, which I would recommend.
Do either have any bald spots around their face or neck and any places on the face and neck where the feathers are sparse?

Irene...Dr. Claudio Peccati is the representative for Italy for the Association of European Avian Veterinarians. I suggest you email him directly, tell him you have pet pigeons that haven't been well and ask him for a referral closest to you.
Here is is email address...



cpeccati@libero.it

Charis, you're amazing. You always come up with the resource info.

Irene, if they are jumping out of the basket to the floor, I think they need to be in a cage, rather than a basket. How far is their fall to the floor?

NiteOwl wrote:

Charis, you're amazing. You always come up with the resource info.

Irene, if they are jumping out of the basket to the floor, I think they need to be in a cage, rather than a basket. How far is their fall to the floor?

They are also inquisitive and want to explore.

NiteOwl wrote:

Charis, you're amazing. You always come up with the resource info.
Irene, if they are jumping out of the basket to the floor, I think they need to be in a cage, rather than a basket. How far is their fall to the floor?

Great find, Charis.

Thank you Jay, Teresa and Cindy for the compliment. I would truely be amazing if I spoke Italian...it would make finding a resource for Irene so much easier.

Matilda wrote:

Thank you Jay, Teresa and Cindy for the compliment.

I would truely be amazing if I spoke Italian...it would make finding a resource for Irene so much easier.

it would.

Hi my wonderful dear friends!

Thank you for your nice and helpful comments! Charis, I sent an email to the representative of Avian vets (as you suggested me) and I asked him if he knows anyone who could help me in Venice or near Venice. Let's hope he answers me! I also called another vet in Milano... A friend of mine gave me his number and told me that he is the best vet in Italy... He gave me the names of two vets who work in towns near Venice but he didn't know their numbers... Let's hope I can find them!

Charis, although you don't know Italian, you have already helped me a lot and my birds are still alive thanks to you!! I'm very grateful to you!

Comis and Selini are alright but today I noticed that Comis made the same kind of big green poops that she made in the beginning and I'm a little worried for her... She is too quiet... Selini jumps out of their basket and she likes to explore everything, but Comis always stays in and she is not very interested in anything... She just eats her seeds, drinks and stands still looking away... She doesn't have much appetite either! Selini eats most of the seeds while Comis just picks them up reluctantly and sometimes spits them out... She is looking at them as if she is trying to select the ones that seem less 'disgusting'... What is more, Comis has become very moody lately...! When I put my hand in her basket she growls at me and she is not affectionate anymore... In contrast, Selini is very happy to see me, and when I sit next to her basket, she jumps out and she comes on my lap wanting me to cuddle her and to feed her... Selini has a lot of appetite and she seems completely fine! Her poops also look normal!

Yesterday I put Comis and Selini in the huge cage in my bedroom together with the other birds! I thought they might cheer up if they saw the other birds flying around and if they had more space to move... Indeed, Comis became a little more lively and she started walking on the floor of the huge cage (which is covered with hay) and searching for seeds. But after a while, both Comis and Selini lied down next to each other and became passive again...

Fortunately, the adult birds are all fine, but Anemoni, the mother of Comis has become too skinny! I feel her bones sticking out when I hold her... Maybe she has internal parasites... I had bought Anemoni from a terrible dirty pet shop so as to save her from there and I don't know if she has worms or anything else in her...

I should give Anemoni and the other birds (except for Comis who has already taken all the medicines) Sulfac for Coccidiasi, shouldn't I? I have given them Metronidazole and Baytril and they have finished their medicines but I still haven't given them Nystatin because they resisted too much! (I gave them only Metronidazole and Baytril). Should I give them Nystatin now that they have finished their other medicines, what do you think? Shall I give it to them together with Sulfac?

Selini (the baby) has not taken Sulfac and Nystatin either (she has taken only Metronidazole and Baytril) because I was too afraid to give her all the medicines together since she is so little and fragile... Shall I give them to her now? Selini seems to be fine and she is growing very fast so I don't know whether I should give her any more medicines or it is not necessary... In fact, Selini has become bigger than Comis who still looks like a baby... Maybe Comis has a retarded growth... poor her... Could it be that she is also mentally retarded and this is why she is not very interested in exploring and flying...?

Comis and Selini had scarse feathers on their neck but now their feathers seem more dense and normal! It could be that they they looked scarse because they were dirty (because I handfed them wet juicy peas...). Yesterday I put them a plate of water to have a bath and now they both look very hairy and shiny!

As for their basket, it's very close to the floor (about 50cm higher than the floor) so if the birds jump out they can't hurt themselves... I have also put a towel on the floor to protect them better. Comis and Selini are still a little lame but much better than they used to be...

A big hug to all of you!

Here are the latest photos of Comis and Selini:

Appreciate your update, Irene. Love your photos.

Comis and Selini look perfectly adorable in their basket.
I'm so happy to hear they are doing better.

Please keep us posted.

Irene...the nystatin is a critical part of the treatment for you birds because the antibiotics destroy all the good bacteria which can cause a yeast infection. The Nystatin combates the yeast and helps get the balance back.

Yes...you should treat them all for coccidia.

Yes they could have worms. Once a pigeon had worms, trichomoniasis, coccidia...they can never be completely eradicated from their system, which is why many of us treat on a regular schedule. Stress of any kind can cause an over growth of any of these things and the bird becomes sick. Please don't think that because you have treated them once, you will never need to deal with illness again because it just isn't so.


Comis is not mentally retarded...Comis is still sick and that's why you need to find a vet near you that understands pigeons and can make some diagnostic decisions regarding her condition. I think you need to treat her again for canker.

As pigeons start to grow up, they go through a stage of development similar to that of a human teenager. As they emotionally separate they detach somewhat and hand pecking seems to be a favored action on their part. Comis sounds perfectly normal in that respect.

I'm praying you find a vet near you.

Irene...this is critical...if you do all we tell you to do, when we tell you to do it, your pigeon's health will most likely be restored, for a time and you can all live happily.

Love the pictures. The big basket is great.

Cindy, I'm glad you like the photos of Comis and Selini! They are so cute that I can't resist taking photos of them all the time!

Charis, I'll give my birds Nystatin and Sulfac as you said. I'm sorry that I didn't manage to give them to them together with the Metronidazole and the Baytril (as I should have done) but they wanted so much to escape from my hands that I couldn't find the courage to hold them for longer and forcefeed them more medicines... But now that they have finished the antibiotics it will be easier to give them the Nystatin and the Sulfac alone... So, shall I give them Nystatin for 6 days (twice a day) and Sulfac for 5 days (once a day)? Shall I give them Nystatin in the morning and in the evening and Sulfac in the afternoon? Is that a good plan?

Another thing that I would like to ask you is: Does Sulfac kill worms too or should I give my birds a different medicine for worms?

I'm glad that Comis is not mentally retarded... She is very cute even when she growls and makes circles to 'scare' me... She makes me laugh!

Do you think I should give Comis Metronidazole (and Nystatin?) once again? For how many days this time? The problem with the two Avian vets that the vet of Milano recommended to me is that they are both too far from here and I'm afraid that Comis might be stressed up if I travelled with her for so many miles on the ferryboat and on the bus to get to the clinic and to come back home... I'm wondering whether I should take her to the vet on the outskirts of the city (where I had taken her the previous time) for a blood test (as that vet had suggested me)... But I'm still very undecisive because I'm afraid that she might make a mistake and kill poor Comis with the needle...! I'm trembling of fear...!!

I'm glad you like the basket of Comis and Selini! The good thing about it is that it gives them a sense of freedom because it is open and I can also move it easily when I want to put the babies in the sunlight by the window...

Lots of love
Irene