Symptoms of poisoning? etc

In the last 4 weeks weve had 4 pigeons (feral) that have arrived unwell on
our dovecote. I think there must be a "vet service will be supplied" notice
on the roof!!

In all cases they looked well fed, but feathers very fluffed up. Also very
depressed - we were able to just pick them up. There balance seemed to be
impaired.

No sign of injury or damage to feathers so I dont think it was an animal or
hawk attack. Needless to say we dont use any pesticide etc in the garden.

The first just dropped like a stone on day 3. The second we rushed to the
vet who gave anti b's and couldnt really find anything wrong but it died
within hours. The 3rd just fell of the dovecote like a brick on day 2 after
arrival and did the neck arching behaviour which I associate with heart
attack(?) Number 4 arrived this afternoon looking fluffed up. He seems to
have gone for the night .

Weve also suffered a depletion in our white doves. We seem to be down to
about 5 pairs. We were up to about 17 individuals - I expected some of the
youngsters to go when they paired ( some have brought a mate back, some go).

Usually they bring their friends back for feeding and about 4 wks ago we
had 30+ in 2 sittings quite regularly for breakfast.

The remaining doves are quite jumpy. Somethings clearly going on but I'm not
sure what. Any thoughts??

Thanks in advance.

"Hilary" <hedge_hogg.RemoveThis@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:cuc6ro$q6u$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> In the last 4 weeks weve had 4 pigeons (feral) that have arrived unwell on
> our dovecote. I think there must be a "vet service will be supplied"
notice
> on the roof!!
>
> In all cases they looked well fed, but feathers very fluffed up. Also very
> depressed - we were able to just pick them up. There balance seemed to be
> impaired.
>
> No sign of injury or damage to feathers so I dont think it was an animal
or
> hawk attack. Needless to say we dont use any pesticide etc in the garden.
>
> The first just dropped like a stone on day 3. The second we rushed to the
> vet who gave anti b's and couldnt really find anything wrong but it died
> within hours. The 3rd just fell of the dovecote like a brick on day 2
after
> arrival and did the neck arching behaviour which I associate with heart
> attack(?) Number 4 arrived this afternoon looking fluffed up. He seems to
> have gone for the night .
>
> Weve also suffered a depletion in our white doves. We seem to be down to
> about 5 pairs. We were up to about 17 individuals - I expected some of
the
> youngsters to go when they paired ( some have brought a mate back, some
go).
>
> Usually they bring their friends back for feeding and about 4 wks ago we
> had 30+ in 2 sittings quite regularly for breakfast.
>
> The remaining doves are quite jumpy. Somethings clearly going on but I'm
not
> sure what. Any thoughts??
>
> Thanks in advance.

Are they white ringneck doves or white pigeons?

Most of our free-range (now feral) fawn ringneck flock have now gone. They
may have caught the sparrow disease, but possibly they are now too old to
breed and replace themselves. We have had few young birds arriving here the
last year or so. Of course, if someone else feeds them they won't come
back here much.
(The feral laceneck doves have now decided that they are "our birds".)

Have you had that disease (salmonella?) locally? It cut down the sparrows
by about a quarter, here in Auckland New Zealand.

Geopelia
>
>