Sourland
2 posts
Dec 14, 2004
3:41 PM
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This season I raised and banded 68 young birds--no losses in the nest. (Thanks to the hawks, I'm down to 38, but that's another topic.) During the molt 3 of my breeders "went light" and died. Other than the birds that died everything seemed healthy. I put all birds on Foy's 4/1 for 7 days-Then Pro-Bios for 4 days. I then wormed everything and repeated the Pro-Bios. Everything (other than the hawks) has been fine for the past several months. Just came back from a 12 day vacation and found another breeder hen dead in the loft. I had a rodent problem which is now under control. Feed containers are kept covered at all times anyway. I feed a 16% protein mix for breeding and during the winter lockdown. Had this same problem each year with some homers that I kept just to have something to fly. Got rid of the homers when I got rollers. What do you think is wrong? Any suggestions as to what I should do to solve the problem?
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
348 posts
Dec 14, 2004
3:51 PM
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Two of the most stressful times for pigeons is breeding (feeding young) and the molt. If there is anything lurking in them (some bacteria can remain in a dormant stage until the bird is stressed) it will usually show its ugliness at that time. One of the most common ailments is parathyphoid..and since you said you had a rodent problem, chances are good that could be the cause of death. But it could also be any one of the forms of bacterial infections as well. Going light is a common symptom with most of them. If it appears to be a problem once again, I would suggest treating the flock with a strong antibiotic and preferrably one that is coccidiostat. Make sure and run them through the full course. You can treat them if you are breeding. Only Baytril will effect the egg development, but that can be hit and miss. If you use bleach in the water..stop. After treating with the antibiotics full term, followed with probios and vitamins, add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (available at your local super market usually in the area where the pickles and stuff are). This will help to acidify both your birds and your loft floors via their droppings and aid in suppressing the reproduction of bad bacteria such as parathyphoid. It would be helpful to fully clean your loft floors and spread around a good loft dressing containing sodium sulfate. Good luck and get yourself a case of mouse traps!..lol.
Brian.
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