Does this bird sound sick?

[Grim]

I am posting here for a second opinion. I am just starting up with pigeons and I have 5 homing pigeons. One of my females is slightly smaller than the other hen, and she flys kind of awkwardly, almost as if she is not strong on the wing. She does move from perch to perch, and when she flys down to feed she anything but graceful kind of hits with a plop. She eats well, drinks, and i have added calcium to their water thinking she may be deficient. I was advised on another board to medicate. She has solid droppings and looks fine, acts fine, just is not a strong flyer at all. She has been vaccinated for PMV, and salmonella. Any ideas or input?

[Guest Bonzo]

how old is the hen

[Grim]

She is an 05, so around 2 years old. i have 3 cocks, and one other hen. All are larger and extremely strong on the wing. They can even do a 180 in the air if they decide to change directions, something this smaller hen is incapable of. Also sometimes if another pigeon slightly collides with her in flight she will hit the ground and run around until she gets to the highest point before she flys to the closest perch. Almost as if she knows flying is not the easiest thing for her.

 

I have been advised to treat with Trimethoprim/Sulpha.

[jimmy white]

this bird MAY have this  impediment due to a past infection  

[Grim]

Would you recommend treating just in case? She does seem a little thin or maybe it is just because she is smaller.

 

If this impediment is from a past illness is she still ok to breed?

[jimmy white]

very difficult to say without seeing the bird  ,, this is really just a guess, birds that have had paramyxovirus and came through it are usually left with some sort of impediment ,, much the same with paratyphoid [salmonella] not usually good to breed from,,,,,,off course it may have nothing to do with this at all , so maybe best advice would be good avian vet,,,, its possible the bird has been hurt in some way , sometimes bruising on the wing takes a while to heal

[Grim]

I think I will medicate just in case. Also worming her may help if thats why she seems light. Thank you, and yes I also thought she may have hurt her wing in the past.

 

This is a recent photo of her.

 

[Guest TAMMY_1]

cracking photo

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

this bird MAY have this  impediment due to a past infection  

 

YES I HAD IT ONCE GOT RIDE OF IT IN THE END

[Guest]

Hard to pinpoint anything specific. If the bird has always been like this, it sounds like some sort of genetic weakness, like a runt or rejection in the nest that has needed human help to 'fledge' and if it is, I would not recommend you breed from it.

 

There is also something far wrong with the bird's co-ordination if it is colliding mid-air with your other birds, almost same as you being unable to walk down the footpath without bumping into other folk. Puts a question mark over the bird's nervous system which again could point to a previous illness and lasting damage.

 

Sorry, it's not one I would keep.

[Guest shadow]

I would not keep it it will eat as much food as a fit bird try racing it and it will go down.