My pigeon loves cucumber seeds but gets diarrhea. What should I do?

Pigeons eat a variety of grains, seeds, greens and fruit. they will occasionally dine on insects or earthworms. A commercial pelleted pigeon diet should comprise about half the diet. the other half can be a combination of fresh, chopped greens, vegetables and fruits. Your pigeon can eat almost anything you do. Do not feed avocado, chocolate or anything greasy or oily. A comprehensive list of appropriate foods is too long to fit here, but you can get an idea of what to feed at the link below. http://www.pigeonrescue.org/birds/care/pigeon-feeding-dove-feeding/

Diarrhea can be caused by a wide number of things, so finding the underlying cause is important to treating it. While changing the diet may help, other issues such as parasites, illness, infection, etc, should be ruled out as well. As for diet, removing any extra treats such as fruits and veggies can help firm up stool if too many are being given (the higher water content can cause loose stool.) Feeding a diet specific to pigeons, either a commercial food or a variety of seeds and insects, can help ensure proper nutrition. Treating for any parasites and making sure to keep the cage clean may also help. If you have a bird that is very ill, separating him from any other birds you own can also help if there is a spreadable illness causing symptoms. If at home care doesn't help, then you will need to try and find a clinic in your area so your bird can be treated and any medication such as an antibiotic given to help Sheephony feel better.

Thanks for reaching out about Edgard and including photos. He appears to be a pigeon. Pigeons eat vegetables (grated or chopped), seeds and can be offered some avian pellets. Diarrhea is sometimes difficult to differentiate from polyuria (increased urination). If not eating well, likely more urine and less feces. Syringe feed if needed. Good luck.

I would not give her too much as the oil and seed itself is fatty and doesn't provide much nutritional value, but would keep trying to offer her the seed without oil as an option. As a treat once in a while, it may be OK, but I would look toward finding healthier alternatives such as fresh fruits and veggies that Sheephony may enjoy more instead.

Discontinue the millet temporarily. If possible, transition him to a pelleted diet. Recommended brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird, KayTee Exact or Roudybush. You can still give seeds, just limit the amount. Once the droppings normalize, supplement with fresh greens, vegetables, cooked grains, pastas and beans. Submit a sample of the droppings to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or persistent loose droppings. Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet if necessary.

You may see a larger than normal amount of stool a day before or after a bird lays an egg, but it should not be diarrhea nor should it last a week. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. If you supplement the diet with fruit or vegetables, discontinue temporarily and offer a commercial pelleted diet until the stool is normal. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite or continued loose droppings. See or recheck with your veterinarian if necessary.

Thank you for reaching out about Zucchini. Undigested seeds in the droppings can be due to numerous intestinal problems, including bacterial infections and viruses. It can cause rapid weight loss due to the bird being unable to absorb nutrients from the undigested food, which is concerning in a bird the size of Zucchini. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform a thorough physical examination to see if they can appreciate any abnormalities when feeling the crop and intestines. They may recommend diagnostics to look at the feces themselves, so if you can bring a few fresh droppings with you to the veterinary visit, that may be helpful. They will look at them under the microscope and see if there are abnormal populations of bacteria present. They can then provide treatment recommendations and medications. Please do not give Zucchini any human medications, as many of these are harmful to birds. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Zucchini feels better very soon.