(3) Treatment. The following drugs are only effective against mature worms and, at best, are only 80 percent efficient:
1-CC Oil of turpentine per bird.
½-CC Tetrachlorethylene per bird.
½-CC Carbon tetrachloride per bird.
(4) Prevention. This is relatively simple and practically 100 percent effective.
(a) Clean loft daily and provide fresh water.
(b) If aviary does not have a wire bottom spread clean sand about 1 or 2 inches deep over its floor once every two weeks.
(c) Replace moisture and shade by sunshine and dry conditions.
b. Strongyles are the most dangerous of the common round worms and one of the most common causes of death among poorly kept pigeons. The “strongyle” is a very small parasite which multiplies rapidly and is a vicious blood sucker. Adult worms are from ½ to ¾ inches long and about the same size as thin thread.
(1) Habits. This worm has a “direct” cycle; that gives the key to successful control ([fig. 45]).
Figure 44. Life cycle of pigeon ascarids.