Dosage Help!!!

[SubourbonChicken]

Update chirping was audible this time but in the form of a very wet whistling sound.
Crop did not fully empty of food matter, was quite doughy, so instead of feeding this morning, I gave papaya juice (supposed substitute for baby apple sauce) gently massaged crop, then gave vet meds.

 

[SubourbonChicken]

Does anyone else have any input? I don't really know what to do from here.

 

[Qwerty3159]

For the four in one can’t you mix a whole gallon or quart or whatever per the instructions on the packaging and syringe out of that to give to the squabs?

 

[Painted Calls]

@casportpony is the dosing queen

 

[SubourbonChicken]

For the four in one can’t you mix a whole gallon or quart or whatever per the instructions on the packaging and syringe out of that to give to the squabs?

I considered that but I was worried that maybe for their age it could be problematic.
The dosing instructions is for adult birds. Though it varies, because the package has a picture of a rooster, a finch, and a pigeon on it, so I wonder if it makes any difference?

 

[SubourbonChicken]

For the four in one can’t you mix a whole gallon or quart or whatever per the instructions on the packaging and syringe out of that to give to the squabs?

Also the four in one is set to arrive on the 12th of this month, so I will need to start around then,

 

[SubourbonChicken]

Unfortunately...the chick has passed.
I arrived home to it.
I still have another chick remaining I do not wish to meet the same fate. Should I finish off the prescribed medication with this chick? They appear fairly well but droppings are yellowish and pasty and crop is not emptying as it should.

 

[SubourbonChicken]

I believe it would be best if someone knowledgeable about Pigeons gives you some suggestions.

Let's see if @Qwerty3159 @ColtHandorf @Old_Strain_Lover or @Liz Birdlover can give you some tips. Or if they know someone who can.

I'm not familiar enough with pigeons to make suggestions. But doing some reading about the 4in1, some info says not to give to birds under 4 months of age. I am going on the assumption adults are treated and youngsters would benefit from that treatment when feeding. (Could be wrong)

@ColtHandorf @Old_Strain_Lover @Liz Birdlover
@Qwerty3159

Do you have any suggestions or know any one who could help? The other chick, whom remains, is much more feathered and lively. Crop has been slow to drain so I've been feeding infant apple sauce until empty, and treating with Nystatin, though tomorrow is the last dose, (left over from previous chick)
The 4-1 was delivered today and contains furaltadone and Ronidazole. Is this plausible for treating possible canker etc? I don't know what caused the last passing, and I don't want another situation to arise. Pox still prevalent,
Occasionally during chirps it's voice will get caught in its throat for a brief second.
Should I be concerned?

Here are some recent photos along with latest droppings.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I really don't. I usually thin formula, feed smaller amounts, and add grape seed oil extract (few drops) to the formula to help with crop issues. I have no experience with the other health issues.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Sorry, just now saw this post. I'm sorry to hear one passed.
I've had Pigeons for decades and have never even seen pox before, but it is a virus, and in addition to visual aspects, it will also be very draining to a bird's immune system, especially a little squab just starting out in life. It seems you are doing the very best you can under these circumstances.

I've had occasional squabs with some issues & had to intervene, set up a warm brooder & handfeed, etc. I use typical handfeeding formula for birds, either Embrace by Zupreem or Exact by Kaytee. Petco & most pet stores carry Kaytee. The oral syringes they carry aren't always great though, so I usually get them either online or at Walgreens. Baby pigeons are as easy to handfeed as baby Cockatiels, they learn & adapt fast when it comes to eating. If a crop was slow to empty or digest, I'd add a pinch of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to the formula. If a crop smelled sour & nasty, I'd give a few syringes of just warm water with a pinch of baking soda, to get the crop moving, because if you add more feed at that point, to an already full sour crop, it only gets worse. I've had to give a few the warm water & baking soda, mush it through the crop area then empty the crop, but it is very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, it has to be fast as a bird can aspirate. I don't suggest it, if the bird is digesting, and since you showed a pic of poo, then the bird is indeed digesting. You can add a pinch of baking soda along with meds, it does help sweeten the crop & aid digestion. I've also used unflavored Pedialyte instead of water at times, in the baby bird food mix, but not combined with baking soda.

Handfeeding formula must also be the correct warm temperature, I mix with hot water & place the bowl of mix inside another bowl of hot water, to keep it warm & I mix it up til creamy then let it sit a min. as it thickens, sort of like if you mix up yourself some porridge, but you can make it a bit more runny when a bird isn't digesting well. You can even add a pinch of probiotics (I've used ProBios). Use your finger to feel temperature, it should feel warm but not too hot. If it's too hot on your finger, let it cool a bit. If you feed a bird too hot, it can burn the crop, if it's too cool it will cause sour crop, so feed temperature is important for babies.

A bird under the weather also needs warmth in general, even if fully feathered. If you don't have a brooder, you can set up a basket with a lid, cushioned with a small towel then paper towels, and set half of the basket on a heating pad on low. Half, because if the bird feels too hot, it will scoot over to the cooler end. I have a little temperature humidity battery operated gadget, I set it in there with the bird, the warm side can get about 93 degrees and the cooler side is 78 degrees, when my house is 72 degrees. It works out. Baby birds scoot over to where they are most comfortable. I can monitor their droppings easy on paper towels, too.

Droppings...should not smell bad or be runny, a dark green is best. Gradually as bird improves, the Droppings should improve.

If a bird has respiratory, I do keep penicillin in my refrigerator & have mixed in the handfeed formula, or for older birds in the drinking water. Penicillin is good for lower respiratory (chest rattle) or staph & is a good basic medicine we can still buy reasonably at Tractor Supply. For upper respiratory (mucus from nares or puffed up eyes) I've used Tylan, .25 ml for adult pigeon (estimate .1 or so for squab) injection intramuscular (I find breast muscle is best, find the breast bone & just to either side of it are breast muscles with bone behind them so you can't accidentally stick needle in too deep), or it can also be given orally, but as it tastes nasty you should use oral syringe or mix with baby food to ensure bird gets correct dose. Birds will avoid drinking something that tastes bad, then end up dehydrated.

For canker, usually you'll see stuff that looks like cheese clumps in the mouth and/or throat. I keep powdered Ronidazole or Metronidazole on hand.

You say you just got the 4in1 med. It's a good product, especially when you aren't sure if a bird has canker, or paratyphoid. I have used it for adult Pigeons before, the mix instructions were probably 1 teasp per gal of water...usually folks are dosing several Pigeons in a section, mixing a gallon each day, so that's why dosing instructions are mentioned per gallon. Well, you mix up fresh batches daily...you can mix in a gallon just of distilled water then keep it in the refrigerator & use that for only drinking water as well as mix it with the baby food. It is hard to correctly dose this way, but I've also used a tiny pinch in the handfeed formula. I think you can do whatever way it best for you. Just know that once you mix up something in a gallon jug, the effectiveness of the medication does gradually deteriorate, so maybe you can mix up half or quarter gallon per time? I open the packets & use measuring spoon, then put packets in a zip lock bag to try & preserve freshness.

I don't know what else to suggest, but I know it is darn hard to find a vet that treats birds. And not all birds are the same, as far as giving medicines, how easy or difficult it can be, etc. Fortunately, Pigeons are much more congenial patients than parrots!

I hope this helps.

PS) I've never fed a baby pigeon apple sauce...can you get Kaytee Baby bird hand feeding formula where you are? If not, I know one suggestion that someone did use, they hard boiled some eggs & mushed up the yolks only, mixed with some apple sauce & some Pedialyte. I've never done that but if you can't get baby bird formula, it is worth a try.