dead Collared Doves

[grant_w]

Over the last couple of weeks my girlfriend has had 4 collared doves die in or around her garden (Rainham, Kent). They feed off of her bird table and have done for about a year.
She is getting paranoid and thinks it is something she is doing.

Does anyone have an explanation of what could be going on?

Thanks in advance

Grant

[simondix]

Hate to say it. Open there beaks and look in. You should see a yellow gungy lumpy mess. An infection, called trichomonas or canker, which is spread from Dove to Dove and is not helped by infected bird tables. I hasten to add not necessarily yours. Clean all your tables thoroughly anyway to help prevent the spread. Any further casualties if still alive may well not be untreatable as it can be treated if caught early.

[janine13]

I agree with what simon said. It is always a good preventative measure to clean bird feeders and baths regularly. Apart from canker, feeders can be a source of mouldy seed which can cause illness or death. Clean feeders are less likely to hold mouldy seed, parasites, or disease. Use a bleach and water solution or chlorhexidine, rocal, or any other veterinary grade disinfectant/virucide/antibacterial. Be sure to rinse them well once you have given them a good scrubbing!

It is also of interest that raptors can get canker from eating an infected dove or pigeon, in which case it is referred to as "frounce."

Good luck to you, let us know what happens.

[grant_w]

Thanks for the replies. She does keep the feeders and table clean, but as you say it could be from somewhere else.

[simondix]

Which reminds me I must do mine this weekend.

[Anthony Morton]

Hi Grant,

Some good advice already about canker and the importance of general feeder hygiene, but have you considered that the doves have been shot?

Are there perhaps other properties overlooking your girlfriend's garden which offer a concealed vantage point for someone with an almost silent air rifle?