Pigeon With a Twisted Neck: What to Do

A pigeon whose head is twisted round, held upside down or tipped back to stare at the sky is a distressing sight. The most common cause is pigeon paramyxovirus, usually called PMV. There is no medicine that kills the virus, but that does not mean the bird is lost: most adult pigeons recover if someone keeps them fed, watered and quiet while the nerves heal.

Signs of PMV

PMV attacks the nerves and the kidneys. A bird may show one set of signs or both.

• Nervous signs: a trembling head, a neck twisted sideways or upside down, walking in circles, falling over or backwards, and pecking at seed but missing it.
• Kidney signs: very wet droppings and heavy drinking. Look closely: the wet part is mostly urine, a puddle of clear liquid with a small, normal-looking dropping in the middle. That is different from true diarrhoea.
• General signs: a quiet bird that is reluctant to move or eat.

Other problems can look similar, including paratyphoid (salmonella), adenovirus, poisoning and a knock to the head, for example after flying into a window. Only a vet can tell them apart, so if you can get the bird seen, do.

What to do straight away

1. Keep it away from other birds. PMV spreads easily between pigeons. If you keep pigeons or poultry yourself, house the bird well away from them, and wash your hands and change your outer clothes after handling it.
2. Make it safe. Use a box or small cage lined with a towel, with no perches, because the bird will fall. Keep it somewhere quiet, warm and dimly lit. Stress makes the twisting worse.
3. Help it drink. Give water in a heavy dish deep enough for the bird to push its beak in, as pigeons drink by suction. A bird that cannot aim may need its beak gently dipped in the water, keeping the nostrils clear. If it still cannot drink, it needs water given by syringe several times a day; a vet or pigeon rescue can show you how to do this safely, as water given too fast can go into the airway.
4. Help it eat. Put seed in a deep dish so it can find food even when it misses. A bird that cannot pick up food at all needs small, soft, easily digested meals given several times a day. Ask a rescue or vet to show you how.
5. Weigh it if you can. A kitchen scale and a box are enough. Steady weight means your care is working; falling weight means the bird needs more help.

How long recovery takes

Expect weeks rather than days. Many birds take two to three months to recover fully, and the signs often get worse when the bird is frightened or trying to eat, then settle again. Most adult birds come through and go on to live, fly and breed normally. Some keep a slight head tilt. Vets writing about PMV note that nervous signs still severe after about three months are unlikely to go away completely.

A recovered bird is ready to go home or be released only once it is flying well, eating and drinking on its own, and has been free of signs for some time. A pigeon rescue can advise. If the bird has a ring on its leg, it is someone's racing or show pigeon: read the ring and contact the owner.

If you keep pigeons

Pigeon paramyxovirus is a notifiable disease in Great Britain. If you suspect it in your own birds you must report it straight away; failing to report it is an offence.

• England: Defra Rural Services Helpline, 03000 200 301
• Wales: 0300 303 8268
• Scotland: your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) field services office

Anyone running a pigeon race or show must make sure every bird taking part has been vaccinated, and owners must keep a record of the races and shows each bird enters. During an outbreak, stop flying and racing, put off pairing, stay away from shows and other lofts, and clean daily with a disinfectant that kills viruses. Talk to your vet about vaccinating, including young birds as early as the vaccine allows.

If you have found a feral or stray pigeon and do not keep birds yourself, a pigeon rescue or vet is the place to start.