Young Birds Fluffed Up All The Time

[Newbie2020]

My young birds are fluffed up most of the time. They fly well for an hour each day and trap very well. I have treated them for lice and also dipped them for red mite and treated the loft. They appear to be constantly picking there feathering. In the nights I have noticed they seem to ruffle there feathers constantly as if they are shaking themselves. I dont know what else to try. Also after coming in from flying the droppings are very watery. After they have had a feed they return to normal. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

 

When I dipped them I held them under the water for upto 10 seconds and opened each wing and held them there for another 10 seconds. Is this long enough to rid them of any red mite they might have?

[Ian Gill]

My young birds are fluffed up most of the time. They fly well for an hour each day and trap very well. I have treated them for lice and also dipped them for red mite and treated the loft. They appear to be constantly picking there feathering. In the nights I have noticed they seem to ruffle there feathers constantly as if they are shaking themselves. I dont know what else to try. Also after coming in from flying the droppings are very watery. After they have had a feed they return to normal. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

 

When I dipped them I held them under the water for upto 10 seconds and opened each wing and held them there for another 10 seconds. Is this long enough to rid them of any red mite they might have?

 

How much are you feeding them mate??

[blaz]

how is their body weight have you treated for canker cocci and worms

[Newbie2020]

They are having 2 measuring jugs which can hold 1 and half pints. Each of these is full with corn and that is between the 50 birds.

 

Treated for canker, cocci and worms. At a bit of a loss as to what it is that is wrong.

[Newbie2020]

A few of them feel they could do with fattening up a bit. I put more food in last week but then lost control on the trapping. Its the ruffling of the feathers and the constant puffed look that is concerning me

[alex young]

They are having 2 measuring jugs which can hold 1 and half pints. Each of these is full with corn and that is between the 50 birds.

 

Treated for canker, cocci and worms. At a bit of a loss as to what it is that is wrong.

Thats approx. just over 1oz of corn,which shouldn't give you any problems if your not training yet.You may have caused irritation by dipping the birds.

[Newbie2020]

They were doing it prior to dipping thats the reason I treated with the dip.

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

A few of them feel they could do with fattening up a bit. I put more food in last week but then lost control on the trapping. Its the ruffling of the feathers and the constant puffed look that is concerning me

 

what mixture do you use?

[alex young]

They were doing it prior to dipping thats the reason I treated with the dip.

Did you notice anything on the birds before and after dipping and if there were red mite have they now gone.atb.

[Newbie2020]

Was using Vanrobeys young bird mix but now trying versele laga with no maize.

[Guest IB]

Maybe worrying yourself over nothing. If you have dipped the birds it is unlikely they are bothered by lice or mite. You say your birds 'shake themselves' several times a night. They do this when the peace in the loft is disturbed, and you may be doing that yourself, as on occasions I have gone into mine after sunset, one or two will do it.

[Newbie2020]

Couldnt see anything on the birds at all. Just dipped them purely incase it was a red mite problem. They peck the front of there chests mainly. Dunno what it is at all

[JohnQuinn]

It a strange one, the ruffling of feathers could still be a parasite, perhaps on their skin. Youseem to have done everything externally as far as is possible, if i were you i would get the stuff i know as "one spot" to put on the skin at the back of the neck. That is supposed to rid them of all pests in their system, other than that i'm as confused as you to identify a problem.

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

are they natural or darkness?

[Newbie2020]

they are on natural. They are exercising very well and that is promising. However they dont look the part in the loft. I have named them the 'Van Fluffies' as nothing I do seems to solve this problem.

[David048]

they should be off darkness by now. Some of mine do the same thing but they are just chilling out. i'm surprised that they all do it at the same time they may just be well relaxed. like the guy above said you might be worrying over nothing. if they are flying well and eating ok then it sounds like they are fine - have you had them training yet? how are they doing on that front?

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

Van Fluffies

 

The natural youngsters i've got just now are never out of the bath.whenever there were they out were looking for a puddle so they've got a bath available for them most of the time.they'll more often than not still choose a puddle mind you

They seem to be moulting a bit quicker than previous years(body and wing wise).Dunno if its down the warm weather or what

[Newbie2020]

Mine haven't had a bath at all. I have let them out in the rain once. Could this be the reason?

[novo10]

they are on natural. They are exercising very well and that is promising. However they dont look the part in the loft. I have named them the 'Van Fluffies' as nothing I do seems to solve this problem.

try moxidectin

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

Mine haven't had a bath at all. I have let them out in the rain once. Could this be the reason?

 

Hmm dunno really.like a lot of the other guys are sayin you could be worrying over nothing,if they are flying well and handling ok thats half the battle.

If you give them a weekly bath or that though, it won't do them any harm i'd imagine

[Guest IB]

Mine haven't had a bath at all. I have let them out in the rain once. Could this be the reason?

 

I'm surprised they're not bathing at the drinkers. Birds love a bath and putting a bath down for them every Sunday is a good routine to aim for.

[geordie1234]

mate i think your just worrying after exercise and feed they chill out mine sit on there perches puffed out sometimes aswell

[Guest pigeon82]

hey up pal speaking to a fellow club member 2 days ago he was talking to a freind about top fancier in the nipa and the bloke was saying if you went into this top fliers loft and looked at his birds you wud think there is something wrong as all they do is sit fluffed up even in the baskets they do the same the fellow from our club said funny you say that a new fancier being me started last year and my birds were exactly the same pal hunched up but cud fly for ever last year being my first year i won 2 races and was never out of the top 5 positions in the clu every week bar 2 races but i ended up with top yb flier in my eyes you have nothing to worry about mate jmo

[Guest Freebird]

Van Fluffies

 

The natural youngsters i've got just now are never out of the bath.whenever there were they out were looking for a puddle so they've got a bath available for them most of the time.they'll more often than not still choose a puddle mind you

They seem to be moulting a bit quicker than previous years(body and wing wise).Dunno if its down the warm weather or what

 

As pointed out above I too think my birds are moulting earlier than previous years and I think the porcupine quills of the new feathers irritate them a wee bit so bathing and softening of the quills will help. After reading all the posts I too think you are worrying over nothing but it is good you are scrutenising every move they make, He He He! Have fun and gee thum a bath.

[OLDYELLOW]

ruffling feather = birds do this to regulate there body temperature trapping air against there body to keep warm or rufling to cool down , due to been rather hot and no presence of parasites i would probably say there absolutely normal but pigeons love having a bath