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Eurasian Jay - Scaly Leg Mites? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ChrisKten
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
What was the pic? Only just seen this thread for the first time now . . .
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Thanks for the interest, but I've asked elsewhere now... Scaly Leg seems to be the consensus. I gave up here with no replies after 11 hours and 80 views
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Should always wait at least a day, preferably 2 - not everyone checks in every day!
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Thanks! Doesn't look happy at all, sadly. Looking up, it does appear to be scaly leg (Knemidocoptes) mites, but as well as these, also worth checking Papillomavirus.
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Yeah, I'd also considered Papillomavirus, as it does look a bit "warty" - although it looks closer to Scaly Leg that I've seen in Finches. Either way, it's feeding fine, and easily fights off other Jays over food. Not much I can do - it's too smart to catch. Although not apparent from this picture, apart from his posture (more squatting than standing), he's otherwise fine.
Obviously the main concern is the spread of the Mites or Virus - with illness or injury to Pigeons, I bring them in to either recover or die - but my eyes and reflexes aren't up to the task of catching a Corvid... at least not one that can fly*. From behaviour, favoured perch, reaction to me, I'm reasonably sure it's the same bird that's been like this since last year. No other birds are showing symptoms, so I'll just keep alert for any changes in the other birds.
(*It's not that Pigeons are less intelligent than Corvids (IME they're not), it's just easier to pick one out from a feeding flock of birds than to catch a lone bird.)
Obviously the main concern is the spread of the Mites or Virus - with illness or injury to Pigeons, I bring them in to either recover or die - but my eyes and reflexes aren't up to the task of catching a Corvid... at least not one that can fly*. From behaviour, favoured perch, reaction to me, I'm reasonably sure it's the same bird that's been like this since last year. No other birds are showing symptoms, so I'll just keep alert for any changes in the other birds.
(*It's not that Pigeons are less intelligent than Corvids (IME they're not), it's just easier to pick one out from a feeding flock of birds than to catch a lone bird.)
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Put out a medicated bath for it to bathe in?
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
I add Citrosan (pic below) to all three bird baths during the breeding season - which may or may not help. However, over the years I've only ever seen a couple of Jays going near the bird baths, let alone bathing.
So to medicate the Jay, I'd need to catch it - the only way of me catching a Jay is if it's too weak to escape, and IME, that invariably means that the bird is beyond help.
I don't think there's anything I can do except remove all food and water, which I don't want to do at this time of year - although I'd have to rethink that if any other birds start to show symptoms. I'm afraid the Jay will either die, survive, and/or lose feet or legs... I've Pigeons with missing legs or feet (tangled in anti-roost netting) that have been visiting (and successfully breeding) for years, so losing feet or a leg isn't necessarily a death sentence.
Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to respond to my query.
