Diseases of pigeons Flashcards
(22 cards)
Describe some features of breeding pigeons
- Pair for life
- Breed all year round
- Incubation 17-19d
How can you assess good health of pigeons?
- Normal droppings
- Alertness
- Clear, bright eyes
- Good posture
- Strong and vigorous movements
- Skin, plumages, shanks, feet are clean
- Actively feeding and drinking
What are some signs of unhealthy pigeons?
- Evidence of not eating/drinking
- Not laying eggs or eggs fail to hatch
- Little/no preeing
- Little noise
- Hunched up huddled together
- Pale wattles
- Sunken eyes
- Little/no activity, failure to exercise
- Drooped wings
- Unclean
What is the life expectancy of a pigeon?
20-30 years
What is the normal RR of a pigeon?
26brpm
What is the normal HR of a pigeon?
180-250
List some factors that influence the health of a pigeon
- Stocking density
- Perch space
- Bedding material/quality
- Water availability and quality
- Air quality
- Lighting
- Feeding amount and quality
- Hygiene
- Immune status
List some common problems of pigeons
Parasites e.g. lice, mites, worms, coccidia
Bacterial infections
Paramyxovirus
Pigeon pox
Tumours
Name the slender pigeon louse
Columbicola columbae
What are the effects of pigeon lice?
irritation, restlessness and feather damages
How are pigeon lice treated?
Permethrin powders
Sprays, carbaryl
‘spot-ons’ of ivermectin
Knemidocoptes gallinae is what type of parasite?
Depluming itch mite
Dermanyssus gallinae is what type of parasite?
Red mite
What are the clinical signs of pigeon paramyxovirus?
PUPD
Torticolis
Unable to feed or fly
Sudden death in chicks and newly weaned
Feathering abnormalities
What is torticollis?
when the muscles of your neck spasm (cramp) and cause your neck to twist to one side
List some DDx of pigeon paramyxovirus
Streptococcus
Pigeon herpes virus
Salmonellosis
Young bird sickness (circovirus infection)
Arbovirus infection
Botulism
How is pigeon paramyxovirus prevented?
Vaccination
What is the cause of canker in pigeons?
Trichomonas
How is trichomonas/canker spread in pigeons?
Via the crop milk, almost within hours of hatching
What are the clinical signs of trichomonas/canker?
Most subclinical, excess mucus in the oropharynx
What lesions are seen with trichomonas/canker?
Yellow necrotic lesions in the mouth, when dislodge leaves ulcerated surface
What are the clinical signs of Coccidial infections in pigeons?
fluffed up, weak, emaciated, drink a lot, green diarrhoea
