Doves and Pigeons: Potential husbandry related welfare problems and how to resolve them

Parasites:-  can be a major cause of suffering for domestic pigeons. Effective ecto-  and endo-
parasite control is essential. This involves removing faeces regularly, checking birds for parasites
regularly, and treating not only the birds but also their housing, as some ectoparasites such as red
mites do not live on the host when they are not feeding.
Aggression:  –  subordinate birds may be bullied and denied access to resources such as food,
water and perches. Monitoring birds carefully and making sure that there are sufficient resources
for all the birds to use them at once will help to prevent birds suffering through being bullied.
Ensuring that birds can escape from one another will also help to prevent stress and injury.