preston powerblast

He probably is and his new strain of birds will be called after him.

Paper bag!!Hehe. :X reminds me of when I'm fogging hen houses I wear a plastic hood. You only need a shallow tray for a boot wash. Any disinfectant is ok down the drain. Most disinfectants are usually ok for three or four days some are said to be ok for a week. Hope you put eye holes in the paper bag ;D

I dont mean use milton as a disinfectant, I dont really know if our disinfectants are available to the public as we buy in bulk. I think the two main ones that you can buy off the shelf is Avisafe or Virkon S. I use stuff similar to Vanodine. But i suggested Milton in the drinking water water as I use this myself and know it to be safe. http://www.evansvanodine.co.uk/contact-us.htm this is a site that will give you some basic info on disinfectants. Farm supply shops are a good source for disinfectants. (In my own opinion) I think the government reacted a bit slow to the foot and mouth crisis and could have introduced stricter measures sooner. When we disinfect we first pressure wash using water heated to over 90 degrees C, then we wash disinfect with a dilution rate at 100 to 1. http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/pdf/disinfectants_scotland.PDF This is another source of suppliers of disinfectants and their usage. Hope this helps. Another thing that has been brought to my attention is that some people use rain water that has been collected in water butts to water their pigeons, this too would have to stop.

You could still use an aviary as a section, so long as it covered and will shut out the elements and wild birds from soiling into it. The best quarantine section would be a single section with direct access. But unless you intend to bring in new stock you wouldnt really need a quarantine section as you could isolate your own birds in a nestbox. As we always say if in doubt disinfect it. Even atomiser sprays are handy tools. An Ioniser is a very handy item to have in any loft as it keeps down dust and airborne particles. In general as you say keep outside, outside.

No problem mate, I am only too happy to share my knowledge and anything else I find out.

Brilliant.

Biosecurity is basic common sense. If it comes down to it then fanciers need to keep a strict cleaning routine. protective footwear and overclothing should be worn when entering the loft, preferably footwear than can be disinfected. A tray of disinfectant that you could stand in when entering and exiting the loft. Over clothing that could be washed in the washer. Dont let stray birds into your loft. cover all aviaries. Have an active rodent control system, be vigilant for evidence of vermin, rats, mice. Feed bins drinkers food hoppers must be cleaned and maintained regular. Feed should only be obtained from a mill or supplier woh operates in accordance with the relevant Defra and UKASTA codes of practice. Keep all sections seperate and maintain them as if the were a seperate loft. Dont let other fanciers in and out of your lofts. Buying New Stock. These should be kept in seprate section and isolated from the rest of your birds and quarantined for a minimum of 14-21 days. Never re enter your main loft after dealing with isolated stock until you have washed and changed into clean overalls and thoroughly diinfected your footwear. Double bag and dispose of all your waste carefully. One scraper for each section and disinfect after use. Use a clean bag or vessel per section. One teaspoon of Milton per 8 pints of water could also be added to your drinkers to stop any germs of diseases being spread via the water drinker. Remember: That all perches and floors should be thouroughly cleaned before being disinfected as most disinfectants fail to penetrate. Keep domestic animals away from the lofts. But as I said before its nearly all common sense and these measures are only implemented in extremes. Dont buy cheap disinfectant use only recommended stuff. Most dilution are approx 100 to 1.

If I sounded a bit abrupt in my earlier posts, then i must appologise. But myself and people in the same business as me are the ones who help prevent the spread of disease, we are the ones on the front line. We disinfect trucks, premises machinery, poultry farms. When the risk becomes a threat we get told. We were the poor guys parked on a country road in the middle of nowhere washing down and disinfecting trucks when the foot and mouth crisis hit. We were working flat out, but we do get advance warning and get told how proceed and have to adhere to strict guidelines. At the moment all that is being circulated is guidelines for better Biosecurity

Your point is what, exactly? Where does it mention pigeons??? Where does it mention mass cull??? Where does defra mention locking birds up???

Thats what the powers that be are saying at the moment.

The experts agreed that the recent outbreaks of avian influenza in Russia are a cause for concern but that the risk of the virus spreading into the EU via migrating birds is remote or low. They concluded that it would not be proportionate to the current risk of disease to introduce a general ban on keeping poultry outdoors. This is the latest statement by DEFRA

believe me you wont be dissappointed. What strain are you getting?

I think poultry farms over here are taking the threat seriously as many in my area are moving poultry indoors, which obviously means more work for me. But I think this is more of a precaution than anything. I dont think there will be any free range eggs for a bit though.

Its like anything else if it works for you then stick with it. Over the years I have had some success with the all 3 systems, Darkness system, Light system and Natural. But the system I preferred is the the light system. But you have to train them hard and work them hard otherwise they just fall to bits. One good thing about the darkness system is that your youngbirds always look good as they come through the moult quickly and seem to hold thier flights well through the season. But i am a believer in keeping things simple.

Whenever our birds get loose droppings we give them two tablespoons of cider vinegar to a bullet drinker this usually tightens them up. But you find that watery droppings are quite normal after training or racing and should tighten up after a feed.

Over the years I have bought some 40 or 50 birds from Louella. Like all pigeons you buy there are good and bad. But I built a family based on some pigeons purchased from louella and had some good success stories. But I have had some duck eggs too. I must say that they were all in good health apart from 2 which died and he replaced them with no arguement on recieving back the rings. But like anything else you pay your money and take your chance. But they do have an excellent choice.