Just wanted to post this pic of round worms. If you get new pigeons or if you have had some for awhile don't forget to worm them. Also do a follow up treatment 8-9 days later.
The person I got some birds from told me they were "just wormed". Maybe he didn't do a second worming?

Oh wonderful !! I had spagetti for supper

Worming is very important.
Something that sometimes gets forgotten.
I hope your bird gets better soon.

Thanks Ed.
My birds are fine. Well except for the one. But he's doing better every day! These were some new birds I got so I decided to worm them
and that was the result. Now all I need is some Ragu....lol

Hi Bruce,

I hope you don't mind me moving your thread to this section of the forum. Since it is an important general health topic, I felt it would make a good reference post for other members wanting to know what worms look like and how to treat them.

This is also something I think about often and have some questions myself about it. My two pigeons haven't been wormed for years and although they appear to be healthy, I do wonder if I should be worming them. Jax was last wormed probably back in 2003 at the vets when she was rescued as a squeaker. I did receive some panacur to reworm her a year or so later but since this wasn't specifically indicated for avian use, I was reluctant to use it. I'm sure I had also read elsewhere at the time that Panucur can cause toxicity in pigeons. Does anyone know about this? Paddy has never been wormed to the best of my knowledge since I took her in, unless she was wormed at the vets after she spent a month there from severe malnutrition and other injuries. She is an ex homer racer so will have been wormed at some point in her life but after a spell on the streets for a while after becoming lost, she could have picked up anything I guess. I've had her for almost 3 years.

What do you use to treat pigeons safely?

Many thanks,

MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORMS AND PARASITES IS NOT TOO MUCH, BUT I KNOW THE PERFECT MEDICINE FOR THAT. SOYBEAN IVERMECTINE 1%. FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARASITES

Lindi, that's fine that you moved it. To be honest I did not know where I should have gone with it.
I would worm them if I were you. They can get worms from just about anything they eat.
Panacur does work but it's hard on them. Can kill them if given too much.
I use pyrantel pamoate, this is used on dogs/pups, horses and people. It's a safe one to use. I mix 1and 1- 1/2 ml/cc to a gallon of water. I know you don't need that much but it's the easiest way to mix.
Ivermectin as Palomero stated will work also but it's not cheap and you have to buy way more than needed.
You can get pyrantel just about anywhere the sell dog and cat supplies and in small bottles!
Hope this helped you out some.
Bruce

Most use something other than Panacur for worms.

However, my Avian Vet swears by Panacur. When I first got Squeaks and had his poops checked, I was told they were negative for worms. Well. some weeks later, I saw a Round Worm in his poop - ALIVE! Having worked for a Vet, I knew a Round Worm what I saw it. Took worm to my Vet and he prescribed Panacur, I was to give dosage for 3 days and then repeat in 3 weeks. He said that should take care of any worms. Squeaks passed SIX more worms! Haven't had any problems since.

Of course, my Vet prescribed the precise dosage based on his weight. From what I have heard, don't use Panacur unless you have an Avian Vet who knows his stuff. Mine also had pigeons of his own.

Love and Hugs
Shi

Thanks all for the info.

I'm glad I didn't use the panacur the vet gave me. I don't remember getting full instructions with it and they weren't avian vets. I have never heard of pyrantel Bruce, but I will look out for this thanks.

My pleasure!

Hi Bruce,

Yep, I remember seeing those icky little buggers before too! One of the first times I wormed my birds several years ago, about 10 minutes or so after treatment, about 25-30 of those came out of my birds! They were still alive, writhing on the bottom of the pen and DISGUSTING!

Even though my birds are indoors, you have reminded me that I should probably worm them again and since it's been a couple of years since I last did it. They can pick up worms from eating other bugs or contaminated feed.

I use ivermectin myself and since it's got a wide margin of safety with pigeons. It works for round and thread worms which is what pigeons get most commonly. You can buy smaller bottles Lindi, but it is expensive stuff. I got a small little bottle from one of the pigeon supply stores in the USA several years ago. Just search the different stores under worming meds and see what they have.

Good topic and reminder here! Even though the pictures aren't exactly pleasant to look at.