Vet's Health Advice | Lice & Mites

Lice live all their whole life span on the bird, living off feather debris and bloom. They cause little damage outside of nuisance. Mites drink blood and other body fluids and not only live on the pigeon, but can also live in cracks and gaps within the loft itself. Pigeons can become contaminated from other birds while in race crates, from feral pigeons or while pecking around in the yard.

Feather lice are observed as small groupings of tiny dark spots in the webbing of the feathers. Holding a feather up to the light will show feather lice very clearly.

Symptoms for mites

• Anaemia due to blood loss

• Poor growth

• Late weaning