A Detailed Guide to Identifying Sick and Healthy Pigeons

In winter, the weather is cold, and a moment of careless management can make racing pigeons fall ill. Therefore, when managing pigeons in winter, you must observe them frequently and detect sick pigeons in time; this is something pigeon fanciers must never neglect.

Spirit and Demeanor

Healthy pigeons are full of energy, move nimbly and alertly, have bright, spirited eyes, and no tears or eye discharge. Sick pigeons are listless, slow to react, isolate themselves from the flock, tuck their heads and hunch their backs, look sluggish, have dull eyes, and sit with eyes closed as if drowsy; some also have swollen, inflamed eyelids with discharge.

Appetite and Drinking

Healthy pigeons have a strong appetite (they compete for food) and eat and drink normally. If you notice reduced eating, refusal to eat, increased thirst, or failure to feed their young, these are mostly signs of illness.

Walking and Wings

Healthy pigeons walk with a steady gait and have strong wings, flying and landing from time to time; when you try to catch them by hand, they are harder to grab and strong at escaping. Sick pigeons are weak in constitution, easy to catch, poor at escaping, and often droop their heads.

Feather Luster

Healthy pigeons have full, neat, glossy feathers rich in oil. Sick pigeons have dull, lusterless feathers that are unusually loose and ruffled, shed feathers outside the molting period, and grow new feathers slowly.

Cere and Oral Cavity

Healthy pigeons have a clean, tidy, elastic cere; the cere of adult pigeons is bright white, that of squabs is flesh-colored, and that of young pigeons gradually changes from flesh-colored to white. The nostrils are smooth and slightly moist, and the beak is smooth and clean, with no odor or filth. Sick pigeons have a dirty, damp cere with reduced whiteness, dull color, swelling, no elasticity, and a cold feel to the touch; sticky and purulent nasal fluid flows from the nostrils from time to time, which is mostly a sign of illness; the crop is swollen and firm, or soft with a fluctuating feel, and when the bird is held upside down, a large amount of sour-smelling liquid flows from its mouth; it vomits after eating, mucus flows from the oral cavity, and it yawns from time to time.