pigeon bird Posted May 23, 2007 Report Posted May 23, 2007 I HAVE A PIGEON WITH BROKEN QUILLS ON ITS CHEST FEATHERS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS MAYBE FEATHER ROT , CAN ANYONE SUGGEST THE BEST TREATMENT FOR THIS?
Lightning McQueen Posted May 24, 2007 Report Posted May 24, 2007 Very very diluted bleech & water solution dab on with sponge/cotton wool - and leave to moult through naturally??
Guest Posted May 24, 2007 Report Posted May 24, 2007 The condition is thought to be caused by a combination of a mite living within the live quill, weakening it so that the feather will break off when it rubs against anything rough or sharp, e.g edge of drinker or feeder. In addition to treating for the mite which is difficult as no one seems to know its life cycle, you need to find these edges in the loft and round them off.
Guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 I have posted this now on three occasions. EQVALAN. One treatment lasts for a year. I have in the 1980's used all kinds of potions to rub on to the chests of the birds, having to use rubber gloves etc. All absolute pants........!! I give you my word, EQVALAN! Also, the responsible mite comes from vermin, check your lofts out and laden it with poison anywhere where mice and rats can get to it, but the birds can't!
Lightning McQueen Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 I have posted this now on three occasions. EQVALAN. I have in the 1980's used all kinds of potions to rub on to the chests of the birds, having to use rubber gloves etc. All absolute pants........!! : : Your opinion mate, but it worked for us!! If memory serves me right and i am thinking of the same product, EQVALAN is a horse worming type product?? :-/ and cost circa £11 per tube...whereas bleach & water are already in the house, so will cost you nothing - my opinion
Lightning McQueen Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 Also, the responsible mite comes from vermin, check your lofts out and laden it with poison anywhere where mice and rats can get to it, but the birds can't! : this i believe we should all do, if you have mice in your loft - you will find form very hard to come by....birds not resting, increase in chance of disease etc
Guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 Think it always helps to know 'the enemy' - what you are dealing with. Then you can go search the web and see what's known about it. The beastie is called syringophilus, its a quill mite, so infestation will come from other birds rather than rodents. The late Frank Harper VDM is credited with its 'discovery' in pigeons, Frank was an ivomec / equvalan proponent, but he thought the best insectide for birds was Frontline, a cat / dog product. Dr Wim Peters takes the same stance, his book pp 279-280, also recommends Frontline for 'feather-rot', and not just a single application either, but every three weeks for nine months. My advice? Make sure that the birds soak in a garlic water bath every week. Cheapest insecticide with absolutely no side-effects.
timbarra Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 i would use chlorocarb from meditech in the homing world paper, do not panic it could also be that the edges of your drinkers of feeders are rough and its rubbing the birds neck, but chloracarb is good. spence
timbarra Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 garlic bath ... why not just put cooking oil in it..? really make birds oily and s... , do not put garlic in your bath water. please. spence
Guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 Hi Lightning McQueen, no worries, I wasn't having a go at what you were saying, I'm sure your remedy has and will work! My point regarding the potions is that I was hounded with this problem in the 80's, and a local "pretend" vet had me using all kinds of different potions / substances, with fancy names that I can't even remember! Still ended up with the problem. If I remember rightly, it was a dog man that told us to use EQVALAN, (You're right about it being a horse wormer) and we haven't had the problem since. I use it once a year and it keeps this infernal problem at bay mate, I promise! I think up here it costs £15 per tube, so your £11 may be a bargain! ;D The same guy told me the mite came from vermin, but I stand corrected on that Bruno! By the way, if you use it, don't use the whole tube at once, it has to be measured out properly! All the best guys!
Guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Posted May 25, 2007 garlic bath ... why not just put cooking oil in it..? really make birds oily and s... , do not put garlic in your bath water. please. spence Maybe misunderstood my post. I know that there are commercial garlic oil preparations, but oil and water usually don't mix. I meant crush a garlic bulb and add the mash to cold water - it is an insectide and more. Add some of that to the weekly bath, helps keep the birds vermin free.
pigeon bird Posted May 25, 2007 Author Report Posted May 25, 2007 thankyou all very much for your help
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