Preventative medicines to treat ferals?

As some of you would know, I stay in an apartment and feed a flock of ferals at my window ledge. All the rescues me and Dev have done so far (around 5 of them) have involved finding pigeons in a very critical state with the exception of Mito.

I have noticed that in all these cases the birds seem to be suffering from some kind of severe respiratory infection or viral infection. I came to this conclusion because all of them had their beaks clogged, discharge from their eyes, eyes infected, unable to fly. I don't think it is canker as we didn't notice any foul smell in the beaks or any of those white cheesy stuff.
We guess it could be some viral infection which spreads in the flock from one infected bird to another. Unfortunately we haven't been able to save any of them

I want your advice on whether i should be mixing any medicine as a preventative to their water bowl? Probably to build their immunity? Also treat them against some general diseases like canker, coccidiasis etc. I would definitely want to build up their immunity. Also any suggestions on how to treat the above symptoms of viral infections in general? Any broad range of medicines available for that?

This is how I find most of them (my last rescue baby that died)

Another one that i found on the net and very similar to the ones i find (have put it to show how the eyes are clogged and shut)

Would want all your suggestions.

I just read the 'Pigeon illnesses with symptoms (similar to PMV)' post started by Plamen on pigeon and dove illness and injury discussion forum. And from what i could gather, these birds could have suffered anything from Paratyphoid, Coccidiosis to Ornithosis or it could be a combination of one or more of such bacterial and viral infections

Most of them had their eyes clogged with or without watery discharge, clogged beak, inability to fly, poops were very watery and green possibly due to lack of food and dehydration/diarrhea. Some died due to sudden seizures like an epileptic attack.

My last rescue whose pic i have posted above and that died also had a yellowish substance coating its beak plus it used to make circles on the floor and drag itself around. You can read about it on PT:
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f20/please-help-urgent-found-a-very-sick-and-possibly-wounded-baby-pigeon-40600.html

That's the worst thing Priya, one cannot be sure what it is. Prevention is in good feeding, acv and probiotic. There is no drug that will keep them healthy if they are feral birds and free fly and mix with other birds.
Just keep some basic medicines always and if need be treat only birds unable to fly, feed etc. Using medicines for prevention does more harm than good.
Boosting their immune system is always good.

plamenh wrote:

That's the worst thing Priya, one cannot be sure what it is. Prevention is in good feeding, acv and probiotic. There is no drug that will keep them healthy if they are feral birds and free fly and mix with other birds.
Just keep some basic medicines always and if need be treat only birds unable to fly, feed etc. Using medicines for prevention does more harm than good.
Boosting their immune system is always good.

Plamen. What probiotics can i give them to boost their immunity?

I don't know what is available on Indian market. They should be avian grade good gut bacteria. I get mine from the pet shop - white powder that you mix with drinking water or put over the seeds.

Nothing is available on the Indian market I was thinking if I get some suggestions from you guys, i don't mind getting it imported. Home remedies are also welcome

On second thoughts, even getting them imported would cost a whopper. I guess long back, Plamen had seen an invoice sent by Medpet to Dev. It turned out to be 90$ just for 3 or 4 of them :eek:

So i think the only hope is right nutrition. Hoping most of them get enough to eat and the dominating ones don't end up eating everything.

Hi Priya,
Plamenh mentioned apple cider vinegar (acv) as a preventative.
Adding a little to their water would be good.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Hi Priya,
Plamenh mentioned apple cider vinegar (acv) as a preventative.
Adding a little to their water would be good.

Uh'oh acv was apple cider vinegar? i thought it was some brand of probiotic silly silly me. Will see where ACV is available here and start with that.

priya wrote:

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Hi Priya,
Plamenh mentioned apple cider vinegar (acv) as a preventative.
Adding a little to their water would be good.

Uh'oh acv was apple cider vinegar? i thought it was some brand of probiotic silly silly me. Will see where ACV is available here and start with that.

No, that's not silly at all. Sometime abbreviations can be confusing.
Here in the states apple cider vinegar can be found in our local grocery stores in the condiment isle.
Where the salad dressings and regular vinegar is.

I hope you are able to find it.

You could also try making some "garlic water" for them, too. That's supposed to be good for pigeons as well, right?

joyful_pigeon wrote:

You could also try making some "garlic water" for them, too. That's supposed to be good for pigeons as well, right?

Oh I can certainly do that too. joyful pigeon for that simple home remedy. Nice name btw

Are there any bird veterinarians near you that you can call and get advise from? Maybe they have supplies/medications you can buy? Perhaps there are domestic pigeon owners you could ask? I found this site maybe someone on here could help in some way http://bangalore.olx.in/fancy-pigeons-for-sale-iid-20625823

I would think a multi vitamin supplement could help and some extra calcium. Perhaps offer some chopped greens, oyster shell or other calcium source. If you could obtain a wormer that would be very helpful. Some can be used in the water. Parasites are a major drain on the health of wild birds.

Jenaka wrote:

Are there any bird veterinarians near you that you can call and get advise from? Maybe they have supplies/medications you can buy? Perhaps there are domestic pigeon owners you could ask? I found this site maybe someone on here could help in some way http://bangalore.olx.in/fancy-pigeons-for-sale-iid-20625823

I would think a multi vitamin supplement could help and some extra calcium. Perhaps offer some chopped greens, oyster shell or other calcium source. If you could obtain a wormer that would be very helpful. Some can be used in the water. Parasites are a major drain on the health of wild birds.

Unfortunately Jenn, there are no avian vets here The breeders here are pathetic too...had contacted a couple of them before and they couldn't care less. Just look at the condition of that poor bird in the very pic you sent

Yes a multivitamin supplement would be good though...we found a general avian supplement here in one of the pharmacies which i mix with their drinking water. I have tried offering greens but none of them touch it. Oyster shells are also not easily available here so i use crushed egg shells as a substitute.