Help! Pigeon losing feathers on back of neck

[Gooselover567]

Pls help! My male pigeon has a large bald spot on the back of his neck. It looks pink. What is wrong with him? Is it mites or lice?

 

[biophiliac]

Probably not mites or lice, you would see the critters.
Feathers pulled out by another bird?
Starting a molt?

 

[Gooselover567]

the thing is, I can't get near to see him closely, but his mate just laid an egg, if that has anything to do with it. I doubt his feathers have been pulled out because we only have 2, him and his mate.

 

[biophiliac]

the thing is, I can't get near to see him closely, but his mate just laid an egg, if that has anything to do with it. I doubt his feathers have been pulled out because we only have 2, him and his mate.

Well, mites and lice don't usually cause bald spots. I suppose it might be excessive grooming by his mate, but you would see that. Can you grab him at night after dark for a closer exam? Or maybe just wait a few days and see if the feathers start to re-grow.

 

[biophiliac]

Sorry I can't give you a better answer. I keep a flock of homers and haven't seen a pink bald spot on the neck. One of my hens lost all of her tail feathers to a hawk and that left a bald patch of pink skin the size of a quarter.
Let us know if you figure it out.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Are you sure that it's a male? It might be the female, who has had excessive pecking by the male. Other than that, perhaps it's starting a molt? it seems a little early for that though...

 

[Gooselover567]

Maybe it is the female, that would make more sense. But the male was sitting on the egg then...

 

[backyard pigeons]

Maybe it is the female, that would make more sense. But the male was sitting on the egg then...

Makes will sit in the eggs during the day, and hens at night. They will both feed the babies. I would recommend getting and reading a pigeon book. It helps alot.

 

[Gooselover567]

Did some research... Helps a lot. Thank you for the info!

 

[Gooselover567]

I just reread that. The one with the bald spot (female) sits on it during the day though?!