backyard67
20 posts
Jun 25, 2009
7:16 PM
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I have had two of my breeders die suddenly and I'm am not sure what caused it. I did notice some spider webs around the individuals cages. But dont know if a spider is the cause. The birds were perfectly healthy. One of them died and was fine about an hour before and the other was fine about 3 hours before i last checked on them.
Big Tee
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2009 7:37 PM
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donnie james
535 posts
Jun 25, 2009
9:17 PM
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i bet money on that spider that killed your birds.........donny james
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3757
1257 posts
Jun 25, 2009
9:26 PM
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backyard67 - Spiders have killed many a bird a the fancier did not know. They are deadly and it occurs more often than fanciers realize. I would take all of the birds out and rinse the loft with permectrin and then let it dry.
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fhtfire
1984 posts
Jun 25, 2009
10:02 PM
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I had the same thing happen about two months ago...My red Mottle Cock...one of my top cocks was totally fine...at night....when I went into the loft....next morning dead on the floor with a full crop of food....never thought spiders....I just killed three Black Widows in my loft yesterday...
I was thinking it ate some mouse poop...but my loft is sealed up good....
Could have been a spider...
rock and ROLL
Paul
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JMUrbon
714 posts
Jun 25, 2009
10:13 PM
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likely not a spider due to the way the feathers lay.there are very few spiders and I am not sure of any that can penetrate deep enough without an exceptionally lucky bite to kill a bird. You might want to treat your birds for paratyphoid. As the heat starts to increase throughout the summer the stress increases and if paratyphoid is present it will definately take its toll on the birds. You will notice a dizzy drunken looking bird. If you have any doubts put them on a good 4 in 1 or some other paratyphoid medication. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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backyard67
21 posts
Jun 25, 2009
10:26 PM
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Thanks guys for your help.
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Big Tee
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bigwilly
1008 posts
Jun 26, 2009
1:19 AM
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I swear I seen one drop dead right in front of my face. I was like wow
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BIG WILLY
TOPP FLIGHT/NCRC
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J_Star
1985 posts
Jun 26, 2009
5:27 AM
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I agree with Joe Urbon...Pretty soon everybody will be killing all spiders!!! Please spiders are beneficial and they keep the number of bugs down.
Jay
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3757
1258 posts
Jun 26, 2009
6:35 AM
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Jay - Are you saying you want spiders in your loft? Are we not supposed to keep the loft immaculate? Maybe I am getting the incorrect message.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2009 6:35 AM
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J_Star
1987 posts
Jun 26, 2009
7:22 AM
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Spiders are in the loft because there are insects. There is no business for insects in the loft if it is kept clean. Get rid of the insects and the spiders will move out on their own.
Jay
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J_Star
1988 posts
Jun 26, 2009
7:26 AM
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Backyard67, This might help you understand what happened to your breeders:
Paratyphoid (Salmonellosis) Made Simple
By Jay Alnimer (J_Star) 2007
Paratyphoid or Salmonella infection tends to stay hidden until the birds are stressed. Reproduction is the usual stress which triggers the clinical infections. There are other bacteria which can mimic the disease but they make the birds sick much less frequently.
Paratyphoid is common in breeding cocks which can become sick and die very quickly. The cock is fine one day and dead the next with no apparent reason or an obvious clue to the fancier.
Paratyphoid is spread by:
1. Inhalation of dust containing the pathogen.
2. Contaminated feed (insects, mice and rats).
3. Dirty feed troughs and water bowls.
4. Mating.
5. Transmission from the hen to the egg.
6. Feeding the nestlings with infected crop milk and billing.
7. Chronic carriers, which are pigeons that appear healthy after surviving salmonella infection, but shed the pathogen at irregular intervals and thus pose a risk to the current flock and their progeny.
Symptoms of the disease:
Acute form which affects young pigeons: Enteritis with pulpy, mucoid, greenish droppings; once organs (liver, kidneys, spleen) have become infected, there is growth retardation, emaciation and death. Embryos infected with salmonellae frequently die in ovo or during the first few days of life.
Chronic form which affects the adult pigeons are including but not limited to inflammation that causes a thickening of the joints, especially the elbow joints, wing or leg lameness, disorders of balance and torsion of the neck. Difficulty in eating or digesting, mainly water filled crop, won’t fly up to perches. Old birds demonstrate dropped wings, swollen foot (usually left foot), hens become barren and eggs fail to hatch.
There are many and varied symptoms which cause confusion among fanciers for treatment but the birds appear to be ailing in different ways. Fanciers often confuse this disease with PMV due to the symptoms.
Treatment:
Treatment consists of the use of certain antibiotics, preferably one to which the particular strain of bacteria has been show to be susceptible to. When “shooting from the hop” use antibiotics which have a higher degree of success such as Baytril, Saraflox, Cephalexin and Amoxicillin. When the birds are not producing eggs or feeding young, use Baytril. If you treat while they are in reproduction, the best choice is Amoxicillin. Treat for ten days, no less and no longer. Treatment success can be improved when the birds are vaccinated with SalBac while on the antibiotic. Do not vaccinate when the birds are setting eggs or feeding young as they will neglect their duties because of feeling so badly from the vaccine.
However, some cured birds may remain as future carriers. Therefore, the problem may continue until all carriers are lost or destroyed. When this illness is diagnosed, it is better to consult with a vet.
Best of luck,
Jay
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3757
1260 posts
Jun 26, 2009
8:52 AM
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Backyarder - To be safe you also want to get rid of all insects in the loft. To do that I would use permectrin as it is safe for the birds. Clean the loft well and spray the entire loft and make sure all of the birds are out of the loft.
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don33
8 posts
Jun 27, 2009
8:16 AM
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Very Good advice Jay and 3757. Thanks for sharing.
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