External Parasites

[gangster]

Chinese Chalk works wonders, just draw a line under the perch... or around the nest bowl.

 

THATS NEW TO ME ...

[celtic]

I've heard of frontline being used on pups but never on pigeons, worth a try i suppose, although touch wood mine are alright at the moment.

[velo99]

I use ivomectin as well. One capful in their bath water once a month. Never a problem.

[Guest]

I have used ivomectin for 4 years now and it is great because you forget that lice even exist,cannot even remember what one looks like,one less thing to have to worry about. :)

[Roland]

Gangster, and Chinese restruant has it... the goverment frown on it, as kids might use it and lick it... They use it for Cock roaches etc. and whatnot. I also use it against Ants, Ear wigs etc.

[Roland]

Have use ivomectin and it's different varities, and it is good... would use the pour on if a few want to club together.

[celtic]

Can you just buy ivomectin over the counter at your local feed store or do you have to go to the vets ?

[pigeonpete]

Can you just buy ivomectin over the counter at your local feed store or do you have to go to the vets ?

 

you have to go the vets as far as i know, but if you know a local farmer they can get it no problem for you,  

[Guest CS]

Causes and Clinical signs

 

Ticks, mites and lice can all live on the body of pigeons and will cause damage of varying degrees depending on the type and severity of infestation.

 

Anaemia, feather damage, respiratory problems (air sac mites) and poor growth in young birds may all result from external parasite infestation.

 

Some external parasites spend their whole life cycle on the bird and spread is by direct bird to bird contact e.g. mange mites, plumage lice, feather mites, quill mites and scaly leg mites.  Other parasites spend most of their time in the environment only visiting the pigeon to feed e.g. red mites and ticks.

 

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Ticks are common during the warm summer months and are visible to the naked eye.  Mites are very small and can rarely be seen by the naked eye.  If infestation is suspected samples need to be submitted to the laboratory for microscopical examination.

 

Lice are just visible to the naked eye – if in doubt their presence can be confirmed by microscopic examination.

 

The red mite spends it days in cracks and crevices of the pigeon loft only visiting the pigeon at night to feed.

 

Where cases of anaemia or reduced performance and agitation are obvious in birds external parasites should be suspected and regular visual inspection of the birds should be undertaken to identify the presence of ticks and lice.

 

 

 

Treatment

 

Treatment of birds with a parasiticide together with a thorough cleaning and disinfection of premised is necessary where external parasites cause problems.

 

External parasites are a particular problem to young birds. Thorough cleaning of the loft before the breeding season together with any treatment of the birds if examination shows them to be infected would be recommended.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

Regular cleaning and disinfection of the loft will help control the population of external parasites.

 

[Roland]

Lice are good for the feathering, and they keep quills fine and clean.. it is the handlin and what we determine what is NICE that throws a wrong light on it.

All and every creature has parasites, good and bad. Mostly good, whether external, or internal. But we BELIEVE... we know better that nature and what God intended. Ony thing is say like the pigeon it wasn't intended to race... Home yes, and we just extent it's distances etc.

[Ronnie]

Thats a really good point Roland an angle that i have never looked at.The only problem from my point as a novice is determining the good parasites from the bad and treating for each.I would assume that treating for Bad parasites would in turn kill the good.Hmmm now theres a market waiting to be exploited a bottle of good Parasites.

[Roland]

All pigeons carry Canker, Coli, etc. and in a mild form are relevant and necasary to the well being of the bird. A mild form keeps stronger and more prevalent unwanted strains at bay. If the bird is in great shape, silky and oily, and s bright shen and chasing everything with a feather (A cock bird lol) then there is nothing wrong with them ... likewise the hens, if  flying wel necks arced out and claping, gliding about, why bother with the looks of the droppins! or the yeast content? Your's and mine and everyones droppings are different most days... do we live down the doctors - or a qacks! Of course not, too many spout rubbish and too many look for things that are there!

[hellsbellz]

What can I give to my pigeons to kill mites, without harming their squeakers still in the nest?

[stevebelbin]

Easitox - If you look at the back of the BHW for the pigeon pharmacy

[hellsbellz]

So can I actually put that directly onto the young birds in the nest?

[stevebelbin]

Yep I think so, ill read the packet tonight and let you know!

[hellsbellz]

Thanks very much!

[Guest]

You could sprinkle some lavender oil around the boxes in the mean time,it deters insect life of all kinds and is safe,just ckeck it is mixed in a safe carrier oil

[hellsbellz]

Meanwhile my doos will smell like an old folks home but be extremely relaxed at the same time!!!

[Guest]

Well my loft is an old folk's home then ....and they say women are bitchy ;D ;D ;D

[hellsbellz]

Lies all lies!

[THE FIFER]

squash some garlic cloves and put under ur nest bowl,

[Guest]

The garlic is as good as the lavender,i use both or whichever i have in [it's lavender week this week!!] :)When i just have adult birds i use the big tubs of red mite powder you can get for poultry it is expensive so i don't do it too often but when i do i powder the entire lofts floor to ceiling with it,if you only show like me then you cannot do enough to guard against insect life.I also hang moth balls up in secure containers [they are toxic],and ivomec the birds twice a year.Hope this helps

[hellsbellz]

Super duper I shall try it out - my loft is going to stink!!!  Fortunately my birds should have gone through a good moult before I start showing them so any evidence of the mites should have gone by then anyway woo hoo!

[stevebelbin]

I read the details on the easitox and it didnt say whether it would harm the ybs!! Ive looked on the net and theres not much abt it. Its a permethrim based product if that helps!!