Cull this baby or not?

[Peckedhen]

This is a 12 day old white pigeon.  I have described its feathers to a fancier friend and he does not like the sound of it. He thinks they have been not fed enough or been cold and the birds will be no good.  He's coming tomorrow to 'do the deed' if necessary.  What do you think - is this pipey growth normal?

 

 

 

A very worried Peckedhen :-/ :'(

[pigeonpete]

hi peckedhen i had a baby like that last year and its nest mate was fine! but just let it stay to see what happened and the bird went to every yb race last year!! its feathers sorted them selves out by 30 days old, If  it seems healthy in ever other way then id give it a chance and wait and see, just my view

[pigeonpete]

p.s i lost its nest mate with normal feathering first race :B

[pigeonpete]

p.s i lost its nest mate with normal feathering first race :B

[Guest]

Reckon the bird is OK.  

[ribble]

looks ok to me.

[Guest beautyhomer]

Nothing wrong with the bird

[sean75]

the youngen is ok

[Peckedhen]

Thanks guys, you have no idea how much better you have made me feel. :K) :K)

 

Maybe I didn't describe it properly - but this little fella and his nest partner will be staying!

 

I just hope that they feather up soon as the parents are hardly with them now and its pretty cold in the dovecote!

[schouwman71]

The youngster is normal bud,nothink wrong with it,if they were it would show up in the droppings.

[snowy]

you had a fantails tail grow back like that after the moult, its fine now, so i would just let it be,

its probly genetic ;D

[Guest]

Its got a nice crop full of food so I think it looks OK

[Peckedhen]

Again, thanks guys.

 

I obviously didn't describe the feathers accuately - friend came today, took one look at the birds and said they were perfectly fine!!  I shall have to stop worrying so much! : :

[MsPigeon]

Dr Colin Walker mentions persistent feather sheaths and abnormal feather production in his book "The Flying Vet's Pigeon Health Management" on page 67. It can be caused by Circo virus but yours does NOT look like it Peckedhen because there is usually also blood in the shaft and feather follicles are sometimes  inflamed. And I'm certain there would be other symptoms if it were a virus. We have had persistant feather quills on a baby once or twice, didn't cull them, but don't recall they did anything racing either.

[Peckedhen]

Thanks Carol,  I don't think it will be doing too much racing........it's a fantail!! ;D ;D

[Guest]

GLAD TO HEAR THINGS IS FINE.  ;D

 

Mentioned elsewhere a rule-of-thumb: if you think something is wrong with the bird look for at least two negatives or symptoms. OK feathers might have been better, but it's only 12 days old and it doesn't look like a porcupine - some had burst OK.

 

The + + + points were : bird is sitting upright, quite perky looking with head held up, crop full, really bright pinky/rosy and clean skin, and feathers are clean & shiny, no signs of any viral marking.

[Peckedhen]

Bruno, your rule of thunb is serving me well ..... I  was only saying so  to Snowy today.......without it I would be panicking about my bird's droppings every time they change a bit! ;D

 

The young birds are fine but, needed claening out! :B :B  I thought that I shouldn't disturb the nest as they'd built it themselves. : :

[Joe90]

Again, thanks guys.

 

I obviously didn't describe the feathers accuately - friend came today, took one look at the birds and said they were perfectly fine!!  I shall have to stop worrying so much! : :

 

 

I know u want to learn, and that is brill but you must leave the birds to get on with things. They dont like being messed with you will only stress them out or they may even leave the young, that squab is perfect

 

[Guest]

I agree with the guys, nice baby, let us see a shot when it is weaned.

 

[Guest]

With due respect to the other posts, I think your attitude towards your birds health is brill, Peckedhen. My opinion: every time you go into the loft you should be having 'a look around' satisfying that things are OK - looks, sounds, smells. Don't need to handle the birds, unless something catches your attention, just a quick glance around the loft.

 

With attitude comes state of mind though.  ;D   Stop bloody worrying so much, trust yourself a wee bit more, and above all, enjoy your birds.  

[westy]

With due respect to the other posts, I think your attitude towards your birds health is brill, Peckedhen. My opinion: every time you go into the loft you should be having 'a look around' satisfying that things are OK - looks, sounds, smells. Don't need to handle the birds, unless something catches your attention, just a quick glance around the loft.

 

With attitude comes state of mind though.  ;D   Stop bloody worrying so much, trust yourself a wee bit more, and above all, enjoy your birds.  

 

well said bruno

 

 

[peterpau]

looks ok to me firm droppings food in its crop it'll be fine

[Peckedhen]

Erm..........perfectly fine - just posted photos under Peckedhen!

 

I know I worry too much - believe it or not I brought them inside every night during the cold spell we had! They're not in a loft, but in a dovecote and I thought the cold would be too much for them.  They are back out now it's warmed up again. They just came out of the dovecote this weekend for the first time - very funny to watch - sort of helicoptered to the ground -but managed to get back up and in again. ;D