<aside> 🐦 Some health issues will not present until you’ve had the pigeon for over a week, so if other birds are present in your home, ensure you quarantine upon arrival of a new bird! Quarantine should ideally be for a minimum of one month.

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Although rescues and breeders dedicated to producing healthy companion pigeons make the best efforts to ensure their birds are free of illness or parasites before adopting them out, sometimes pathogens may slip by without their knowledge. It’s recommended to have any new pet pigeon checked by an experienced vet upon arrival, if possible.

To determine if a veterinary visit is urgent, you can perform a basic health checkup on your own. Performing checkups routinely is also important to ensure your pigeon remains in top health!

Ears

• Check for any goop crusted to the feathers, or found inside the ear canal. If any is found, this indicates infection.
• Check the tympanic membrane (eardrum) for perforation, which will be seen as holes or often crusted blood on the membrane.

Nose

• Check for any discoloration, gunk buildups, or discharge on or around the nostrils. If present this indicates a sinus or respiratory infection.

Throat

• Check for plaques, mucus, ulcers, or any other visible abnormalities or growths inside the mouth.
• Check to make sure the tongue appears healthy (eg. nice pink color with no yellow or black spots).
• Make sure the choanal slit (gap on the roof of the mouth) and glottis (hole behind the tongue leading to the windpipe) are clear and not blocked by anything.
• Smell the breath to make sure there are no foul or overly sweet odors.

<aside> 🧑‍⚕️ Throat abnormalities can indicate canker, candida (thrush), respiratory infection, or wet fowl pox infection. Healthy pigeon should not have any abnormalities in the throat; healthy pigeon breath shouldn’t have much of a smell.

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Face

• You’re looking for a bright and alert bird, there should be no injuries or pox sores visible on the face.

Eyes

• Checking for any discharge, redness, or lack of reaction to stimuli. Could have an eye infection or blindness if any of these symptoms are present.

Crop

• Expect it to be empty on a new rescue or if the pigeon has been shipped to you. If you are checking after the pigeon has been fed, or contents are present upon arrival we’re checking there is no impaction or sour crop present.