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The Practical Rollerman Blog

Common Roller Pigeon Ailments and Treatment

12/09/24 By Tony Chavarria
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Roller pigeons depend on good health for their characteristic flying patterns, and maintaining a healthy loft becomes even more critical when breeding. Several common ailments—such as paratyphoid, canker, coccidiosis, and E. coli infections—can impact both adult roller pigeons and their offspring.

By understanding these conditions and having an effective treatment option available, you can help ensure that parent birds remain in stable condition and that their squabs receive proper care and nutrition from the start.


Canker (Trichomoniasis)
Canker is a protozoan infection often found in pigeons. Visible signs include yellowish lesions in the mouth or throat, making it difficult for the bird to eat and breathe. When breeding pairs struggle with canker, they may have less energy to feed and care for their squabs.

Young birds might not receive proper nourishment, affecting their growth and vitality. Ronidazole is commonly used to treat canker, helping infected birds recover and improving their ability to rear healthy offspring.

Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis occurs when intestinal parasites infect a pigeon’s digestive tract, leading to diarrhea, weight loss, and a decrease in energy. Breeding pairs weakened by this condition can pass on poor overall health to their squabs.

Squabs rely on their parents for warmth, food, and immune support, so a reduction in parental health can directly affect chick survival and development. A sulfa-based medication targets the parasites and helps restore normal digestion, ensuring both parents and squabs can thrive.

E. coli Infections
E. coli bacteria are widespread and can quickly cause issues when they multiply unchecked. Infected pigeons may exhibit symptoms like watery droppings, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Breeding birds dealing with E. coli infections may produce fewer viable eggs or struggle to keep their young well-fed and strong. Furaltadone, an antibiotic, is effective against E. coli, allowing adult pigeons to recover and pass on better health and resistance to their chicks.

Paratyphoid (Salmonella)
Paratyphoid, caused by Salmonella bacteria, can affect a pigeon’s joints, coordination, and overall condition. Breeding pairs suffering from paratyphoid may produce weaker eggs, show reduced nurturing behavior, or fail to adequately protect and feed their young.

Furaltadone, used to combat both E. coli and Salmonella, helps restore the flock’s health, ensuring that parents can care for their squabs without the hindrance of disease.

Gastrointestinal Infections and Diarrhea
In addition to these primary conditions, roller pigeons can experience general gastrointestinal infections that lead to poor nutrient absorption and diarrhea. Addressing such issues quickly ensures that breeding pairs remain fit enough to care for their chicks and that the young birds develop properly.


Why an All-in-One Treatment is Beneficial, Especially for Breeders
Identifying and treating each condition separately can be time-consuming, and early symptoms often overlap.

This becomes even more critical when you have breeding pairs, as the health of the parents directly influences the well-being of their squabs. Having an all-in-one product readily available allows you to act quickly at the first sign of trouble, helping to preserve not only the performance of your flyers but also the future generations you’re raising.

MedPet’s 4-in-1 Powder: A Practical Choice for Every Breeder’s Medicine Chest
MedPet’s 4-in-1 Powder combines the treatments for canker, coccidiosis, E. coli, and paratyphoid into a single, easy-to-use product.

By using a comprehensive solution, you can address multiple common ailments at once, simplifying your loft management. This is especially important for breeding pairs, where prompt, effective treatment ensures strong, healthy parents and improves the chances that young birds will grow into robust, high-quality roller pigeons.

Having MedPet’s 4-in-1 Powder on hand is a responsible choice, helping maintain a healthy loft and protecting the future of your roller pigeon flock.


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