Sick Pigeon?

[olsonla]

Hi everyone, I am still waiting to hear back from my vet on her opion, but here is the Situation. Monday afternoon while going to do chores, i found a pigeon flopping around and stuggeling in the barn. Once it quit flopping around it was constantaly turning its head around and blinking its eyes. It otherwise look healthy, ie, fat, and shiney feathers. I put it in a box and covered it and it was still alive last night. My first concern is West Nile virus, as I live in West Central WI. I also have Horses and Chickens. We Killed a 'possum 5 months ago, and had a problems with coons last fall. So not really sure what to do..... any suggestions??? Thanx so Much!
Lori
www.wildwebranchers.com/olsoncenturyfarm

[goatlady]

If you really want to know, take it to the Vet and have it checked for West Nile AND Avian Flu.

[deb]

Look here
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/DiseaseInfo/Default.asp

Click on Marek's Disease and see if it fits the symptoms. It is very common in wild birds and is highly contagious for both wild & domesticated birds. If you aren't able to take it to a vet, I suggest that you put the bird down, then burn (not bury) the body. Consider yourself contaminated and don't get near your own birds until you've taken a shower, disinfected your shoes and changed your clothes. Any bird that survives Marek's becomes an active carrier of the disease.

If it doesn't match Marek's, then I would still follow the instruction concerning the bird & decontaminating yourself. Many, if not most, bird diseases are highly contagious and are not curable. Better to put the bird out of its misery than to have it infect all of your birds and other wild birds in the area.

Deb
in wi