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Looking for advice on routine pigeon health management. I know prevention is better than cure so I'm looking for information on preventing the most common ailments my (future doos) may encounter. There are so many products on the market since I last had the burds in the 70's and to be honest I haven’t got a clue. Would appreciate anyone sharing their experiences of preventative medications etc. For lice we used a powder, is this still available or is there an alternative. Are there products for adding to the drinking water for worm control etc. Thanks.

for worms and us equavelin horse wormer  kills lice as well  1inch paste 2 lte warm water

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

for worms and us equavelin horse wormer  kills lice as well  1inch paste 2 lte warm water

The above may be good advise etc   But I don't think I will be trying it I'm afraid   I will just have to put up with my worms & lice one could say   .
Enjoy.

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

for worms and us equavelin horse wormer  kills lice as well  1inch paste 2 lte warm water

Thanks Chris. That's good to know as we have horses as well. How often do you give it. I take it I mix with the drinking water then. I know the wife uses different wormers throughout the year so is that still ok or do I have to use a specific one. Ta.

onece a fortnight  but no more than 1 inch in worm water   i only use eq so dont know

Quoted from Lennut Tar

The above may be good advise etc   But I don't think I will be trying it I'm afraid   I will just have to put up with my worms & lice one could say   .
Enjoy.

for  12 qied a tube to last a year  how much for youer method

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

for  12 qied a tube to last a year  how much for youer method

"Nothing" I haven't dewormed my pigeons in years, & I can tell you here now !!!!!!!!!      most pigeons I handle on race night etc, don't have the feather on them that mine have.

Enjoy.

Quoted from Lennut Tar

"Nothing" I haven't dewormed my pigeons in years, & I can tell you here now !!!!!!!!!      most pigeons I handle on race night etc, don't have the feather on them that mine have.

Enjoy.

Is that due to the climate you live in that there is not a problem with them?

i have not had birds long  40 years  if you  dont worm its no wonder  youers look handle  diffrent to club mates

Quoted from Lennut Tar

"Nothing" I haven't dewormed my pigeons in years, & I can tell you here now !!!!!!!!!      most pigeons I handle on race night etc, don't have the feather on them that mine have.

Enjoy.

Thanks. Yes I know healthy birds are achievable with no medication but I would like to hear how other fanciers prevent their birds getting ailments. Reading articles is no substitute for hands on experience. Bearing in mind I'm just starting up and will hopefully be getting birds from different sources so there is a chance they may be carrying something. What are the most common ailments and how to treat / prevent them is really what I was asking. Types of vaccines for young birds etc. I know good clean water, quality feed, fresh air, sunshine (WTFIT) and exercise are paramount.

Basically if a pigeon has worms, then DOO use a pigeon wormer. If it doesn't, then don't. The way to tell is to test the droppings and treat only when necessary.

Equvalan (ivermectin) is a horse wormer  What you are being told to do (blind treat on a regular basis) basically led to the downfall of ivermectin in farming - worms are now resistant to it and other wormers e.g. levamisole.

Many of the pigeon teas contain natural wormers (vermifuges) and these include St Johns Wort, Tansy, Wormwood, garlic, gingko, aloe, thyme, sesame seeds,  oregano etc.

i  have used it for years get no lice or feather mite        so can only say how ifeel   you say what to use  thats as good   my  birds  have no side affect and per form well

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

i have not had birds long  40 years  if you  dont worm its no wonder  youers look handle  diffrent to club mates

You have done me   I'm afraid "Good one". Still !!!!!!! not that I show much etc these days. But   , I did win grand champion of the last show I was in here   with a hen, that was 1st club 3rd fed & 6th national 400miles etc & she was just typical in condition   to most of my birds I'm afraid.
PS, Dovescot!!!!!!!!!!. Yes ??????? it could have something to do with it etc. But I have a microscope that I use, if & when I think I may have a problem. Well worth the investment in my view & it's amazing what you can find on top of a pin head   , so to speak.
Enjoy.

Quoted from Lennut Tar

You have done me   I'm afraid "Good one". Still !!!!!!! not that I show much etc these days. But   , I did win grand champion of the last show I was in here   with a hen, that was 1st club 3rd fed & 6th national 400miles etc & she was just typical in condition   to most of my birds I'm afraid.
PS, Dovescot!!!!!!!!!!. Yes ??????? it could have something to do with it etc. But I have a microscope that I use, if & when I think I may have a problem. Well worth the investment in my view & it's amazing what you can find on top of a pin head   , so to speak.
Enjoy.

shows  are a walk in park   check my wins  shows   races   to 668 miles

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

shows  are a walk in park   check my wins  shows   races   to 668 miles

I know they are   . But each to their own etc & I would never deny those that enjoy the showing side, the pleasure that they gain from them & good luck to all the show men & women, if that's their thing. Not really my cup of tea thou. Just a little thing now   I also have won many 600+ miles races in my neighbourhood here & at federation level also in the biggest federation in the country at one time. Also !!!!!!!! I will bet you a $ to a brick   . Because of the way we do things here I have bred a lot more 600 mile pigeons than you ever have (I'm talking in the hundreds & hundreds )   .
PS, I'm enjoying the banter  
Enjoy.

Freebird asked  a very sensible question....Some of the answers are not helping him.

not one to blow  but i have bred two nat winners  twelve fed  four open   last year won nine shows with my race birds

Quoted from scoobybob

Freebird asked  a very sensible question....Some of the answers are not helping him.

yes your right sorry  we have taken over

Quoted from ChrisMaidment08

yes your right sorry  we have taken over

My apoligises also   some of us old blokes ??????? here, tend to ramble on I'm afraid, at times. Please make allowances   now. We don't have that long to go I'm afraid on this planet. Thats my excuse anyway   .
Enjoy.

Quoted from Freebird

Looking for advice on routine pigeon health management. I know prevention is better than cure so I'm looking for information on preventing the most common ailments my (future doos) may encounter. There are so many products on the market since I last had the burds in the 70's and to be honest I haven’t got a clue. Would appreciate anyone sharing their experiences of preventative medications etc. For lice we used a powder, is this still available or is there an alternative. Are there products for adding to the drinking water for worm control etc. Thanks.

first of all in my opinion , your right, prevention is better than cure, but there are times when we need to treat,, the most common" ailments" are worms,  cocci, and canker,, all birds will have some level of these in them, its when it goes over the danger line , then it becomes a problem , droppings and swabs can be taken to a good avian vet who will let you know IF you have to treat     coccidiosis is is an over the limit count of this worm   , secreted as oocysts [eggs] in their droppings therefore spreads by the birds picking directly at these droppings or contaminated grain , these oocysts or eggs thrive on damp humid conditions , so this is where it pays to keep your loft clean ,disinfected and bone dry [this also applies to the area around the loft ,obviously this cant be kept dry, but can be disinfected]   this can aid to keep this cocci count to a minimum,
worms are much the same although theres different types of worms, the most common being round worm, this can also be kept at a minimum by the same , canker is different and can be spread through the communal drinker or from another bird, or even a  carrier , so again hygiene is paramount ,i,e clean water ,, dry loft , airy loft and clean loft, sometimes a bird going through a lot of stress can become vulnerable to all of these , then sometimes these can be secondry infections of something more serious , this is very basic , but if you look under the health posts you will find a lot of info there,,,hope this is of some help to you