Why Is My Pigeon Vomiting?
Throughout your journey of keeping pigeons as pets, you will face several difficulties. And a sudden change in their health is one of the most challenging ones to handle.
For example, one day, you can suddenly find them vomiting. Pigeons can start to throw up for bacterial infections, parasites, poisoning, intestinal obstructions, allergies, diabetes, and motion sickness. They can even find it hard to accustom to a new diet, which can make them vomit.
But that does not answer your question, “Why is my pigeon vomiting” entirely, right? Well, you will find more valuable info regarding the topic below. So, keep on reading.
Want to learn more about pigeon habits:
Is It Normal for a Pigeon to Vomit?
Sometimes, pigeons try to be comfortable after having a large portion of a meal. That makes them regurgitate. If the bird is regurgitating, the vomiting is completely normal.
On the other hand, if the pigeon is vomiting for an underlying health issue, it is not normal. In fact, vomiting is often considered to be the first sign of critical bird-related health issues.
So, even if you think the bird is just regurgitating, you should investigate and find out why. In fact, the health condition of the pigeon can degrade substantially when you choose to ignore the vomiting.
Learn about pigeon lifestyle in “Pigeon Habits” . We cover their eating, nesting, and interactions with humans.
How Can I Tell if My Pigeon Is Vomiting or Regurgitating?
It is quite easy for bird keepers to confuse vomiting with regurgitation. But there is a key difference between the two, which can allow you to scrutinize whether the bird needs to be checked up.
Vomiting generally is accompanied by violent head motions. You must understand the fact that vomiting is an involuntary reflex. Just like humans, the stomach of pigeons will forcefully expel the food content during vomiting.
On the other hand, regurgitation is a natural behavior. The birds will do it voluntarily, which can be to feed their mate or younglings. So, you will never find a pigeon struggling or moving its head violently while regurgitating.
What Things Could Be Causing My Pigeon to Vomit?
In order to get to the bottom of the condition, you need to understand why the bird is vomiting. To make things easier, a brief description of the possible reasons is given below:
Improper Diet
Feeding the pigeon a diet that is low in nutrients or has spoiled food will make them throw up. This type of food will lead to digestive problems, which will then result in the bird vomiting.
Infections
Over time, pigeons can catch different types of infections. For example, it could have a bacterial or fungal infection. These will make gastrointestinal issues come up, leading to vomiting.
Parasites
Pigeons eat a lot of different things. Sometimes, due to their eating habits, parasites, such as tapeworms, roundworms, and coccidia, can end up in their digestive tract. That will cause the birds to throw up.
Stress
These birds can go through stress due to changes in the environment. You can even put stress on pigeons for handling them improperly. And when they are stressed, they can vomit as a natural response.
Poisoning
Whether accidentally or intentionally, pigeons can eat toxic substances. For example, pesticides can eventually end up in their stomach through food. These substances will make the digestive system have a tough time, leading to vomiting.
Diseases
Pigeons can develop a range of diseases. Some of these diseases, such as diabetes, will make them throw up.
Are There Any Home Remedies to Treat a Vomiting Pigeon?
Some home remedies will let you support the recovery of the pigeon when it is vomiting. For example:
Ensure Fresh Water Intake
Check the water bowl of the pigeon’s nest. Make sure that the bird has easy access to fresh and clean water. Dehydration will make the vomiting worse, while any fluid intake will alleviate the condition.
If just water does not help, add brown sugar to the water bowl. Brown sugar is known to help with the condition and support a speedy recovery.
Adjust the Diet
The best diet for a pigeon is a mixture of seeds, grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. While there can be problems with grains and seeds, vomiting can come up when you feed the birds contaminated veggies and fruits.
So, if you add vegetables and fruits to their diet, feed them fresh. Also, to ensure that the birds do not ingest any toxins with the food, wash the fruits and veggies before feeding them.
Probiotic Supplements
Digestive issues can be commonly treated with probiotics supplements. In fact, these supplements can even promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. However, you should always consult with a veteran before giving the birds any supplements.
Allow the Birds to Rest
You should not let pigeons participate in too many physical activities when sick. Instead, try to encourage them to rest more and limit activities, which will help them recover quickly.
What Foods Should I Avoid Giving My Pigeon to Prevent Vomiting?
Certain foods are known to cause digestion issues in birds. So, if you avoid feeding them, you can prevent vomiting in pigeons. Want to know what those foods are? Some are described below:
Fat-enriched Foods
Pigeons require a balanced diet to maintain proper health. A diet with high-fat content will not only make them obese but also can make them throw up. So, limit foods such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, and fried foods.
Dairy Products
These birds are naturally lactose intolerant. That is, they can not digest dairy products. Things such as yogurt, cheese, and milk will make them vomit.
Avocado
Aside from just having a high-fat content, avocado has a toxin called persin. So, if you have been feeding the pigeons avocado, you should not continue to do so.
Chocolate
While chocolate might seem like a sweet treat for the birds, it contains theobromine. It is a toxic compound to pigeons, which can eventually make the birds vomit, has diarrhea and shows other health issues.
Final Words
Are you still asking yourself, why is my pigeon vomiting? The pigeon can be regurgitating, which is a natural process and should not be of concern. It can also be vomiting due to having an underlying health issue.
No matter the case, you should do a health checkup immediately. And adhere to the remedies stated in this discussion to make the pigeons see a speedy recovery.
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References:
- https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/vomiting
- https://be.chewy.com/dont-feed-your-pet-bird-these-6-foods/
- https://beautyofbirds.com/vomiting/
Images Credit:
- Canva.com/photos
