Herbal treatment for canker

[Elvan Willgrass]

Has anyone tried any herbal treatment for canker and if so what, and did it work or not. I once did try using a Gem product but I think I should of made sure that the birds had as little canker as possible before I started to test the herbs so the test was not conclusive.  

[Guest]

I use Gems Trikanox and I think it is a great product for keeping the Canker count down. I have not had canker since my first season starting up in 2001 when I had a couple of youngsters with it. I never use any canker specifics to treat my birds but every 4 - 6  weeks they get trikanox. So for my own methods test concluded. Lovely looking droppings after a few days with this too.

[Guest]

This is a brief description of gem trikanox from the internet.

 

Trikanox represents a significant step forward in pigeon healthcare and provides fanciers with a totally natural product containing three powerful active ingredients which work together to boost the pigeons defenses against diseases. Two of these properties have been shown by independent research to exhibit anti-protozoa and anti fungal properties.

 

Active Component 1 - Mixed Alkaloids

 

The first component of TRIKANOX is a mixture of plant Alkaloids with the dominant one being Berberine, which has been scientifically proven to have extensive activity in preventing the growth of many micro-organisms including protozoa such as Trichomonas.

 

Active Component 2 - Allicin

 

The second active component of TRIKANOX is allicin. This non antibiotic sulphur containing plant ingredient is now recognized as having a dramatic inhibitory effect on a wide range of micro-organisms including protozoa.

 

Active Component 3 - Echinacosides

 

The plant family Echinacea has long been associated with beneficial effects on the immune system. Scientific evidence is now showing that certain components within the plant are largely responsible for these effects. The end result is that the Echinacosides can boost the pigeons normal defense mechanisms

[Guest shadow]

bicarbonate of soda in the drinkers every wednesday will keep canker away

[Guest]

:)HI Shadow , i put bi-carb in the drinker on a sunday , after racing , was told to do this by an old hand in our club . Asked others and many do the same............ any comments please .........? THANK YOU   andy .

[Elvan Willgrass]

I have tried Trikanox as Darran McFaden describes but I did not give it a good enough test. How do you know Shadow, if the bicarbonate of soda is actually keeping the canker down, do you test the birds or get them tested. I will most certainly give a try as it cant hurt anything and cost little.

I have raced birds since the early fifties and still at school and usually the simply things are the best. Bicarb and things like that was all that was available and the birds still flew 600 miles maybe as good as they do now.

[Guest shadow]

Since using bi-carb never had a bird with canker in 20 years

[Guest]

Once again, a very interesting thread, and good background information given in Darren's post.

 

The original post did ask about HERBAL treatments, and with due repect, Shadow, don't think Bicarb can be included in that category. Also last time I had a look at it, there was a warning (a side effect for humans at least) that bicarb could cause digestive upset.

 

See allicin to the fore again ... the garlic active agent. Garlic is a herb.  ;D

 

The other schools-of-thought about Tric is that mild (low levels) might help the bird's immune system recognise, attack & destroy some of the more virulent strains that can cause full-blown canker, the disease; and that if you discover Tric levels HAVE risen, its an indication that there is 'SOMETHING ELSE' at work on the bird. Identify & Treat the 'something else', the real problem, and tric levels will return to their normal low levels, zapped back by the bird's immune system.

 

 

[Roland]

Canker is the same as the womens desiese of Thrush... ever present. There are I believe 27 diferent stains. Hence I feel thet a wide spread of herbs would be needed.

Also a mild canker is good, and very effective in keeping other Strains away. So if mild and not causing probles, why shift! Does it need shifting, for the bird will quickly get it's self another one. Indeed there are thoughts that it may well go with a healthy pigeon. I for one believe that, and so do many others, including Vets etc.

Like to see Bruno's views on my last post...

[Elvan Willgrass]

The trick is to know when a bird needs canker treatment or not, my birds have not had any treatment canker wise for at least 18 months as I did not race this season because I like racing out of France and I could see trouble brewing. When I check my birds I see quite a bit of activity in the Trichomonas Gallinae to give the full title but don’t confuse me with someone who is in the know about this sort of thing because I am not, I just might have a grasp on the basics. Again how do you know if treatment is needed or maybe the bird's immune system might have taken over?

[Guest]

Elvan: you obviously know something if you can recognise what you are seeing as Gallicinae, as Roland says, there are a number of different strains, some more worriesome than others. Personally, wouldn't know one from the other.

 

On your question: reckon it would be a case of whether counts were rising or not, combined too with whether there were outward signs in the bird ... off colour, off food, depressed, etc. Again counts are away above me because as I understand it, its based on numbers of organisms in each square in a grid. Bit too technical for, and way above me. If the bird seems 'otherwise' fine ... then its immune system is working,  if not, then you need to take action.

 

Roland: agree with what you say about tric and your question of why we should be trying to rid the bird of it in the first place. Not sure about the thrush thing tho; because that's caused by a yeast, Candida. Did read tho that one version of tric, tric Vagilis does cause a sexually transmitted disease in women, and like most 'opportunistic' microbes it acts in combination with another, in this case a bacterium called Chlamydia, to cause that disease.  So this fact supports what I'd said earlier about 'the something else' ... its not the tric levals rising that you should worry about, its what that means: that there's 'something else' at work with them in the bird, and if its something like Chlamydia, its far deadlier than tric., and you should concentrate of ridding the bird of that .....

 

.... and this takes me back to herbs, the thread subject. I've mention three microbes in this post: a protozoan, a yeast and a bacterium. Now you could go down the road of checking for everything and stocking enough medicines to start a pharmacy. Or you could use a single 'something' - that acts like a policeman in that it keeps general public order in the bird - and which will help it combat the three microbes mentioned and more, like cocci, ascarids (worms) and virus. That something is garlic .

[Roland]

True Bruno ... next time you correspond with Gordon ask him ... I think you'll find I am right.

Interesting that you mentioned the Yeast etc. Had a great  debate (Heated) on the Canadian site) where I was validated.

John Munns first put me wise in that respect. And it was from Vets in Belgium / Germany that emphasised the different strains. Was a time when no one bothered till it was taken from the throat wrapped around a match lol. 50 years ago now.

Was also, via John informed that many, him included, that sometimes use the same as what the get from chemists. Cleared it proper, because, as I stated, after 2/3 times whatever you use to clear Canker, it quickly becomes immune to it. Hence the reason I said one must keep changing the 'Cure' and once in a while go to the Supermarket lol.

[Roland]

Garlic is, I believe the most / Best preventive, and immune builder around. It is also good for letting birds lose wieght. and titghening up.

So too regular is a bad thing as they don't like it in the water, and won't drink a proper fill. Hence becaoming thirsty, and then dehybo to lose wieght.

[Elvan Willgrass]

I thought people who use Add-herb might have had some comment, but maybe they are not the type of herb that might keep the nasty things at bay.

[REDCHEQHEN]

Canker is the same as the womens desiese of Thrush... ever present.

 

 

'womens disease' ??????????   > > > > > >        

 

 

[Roland]

nO not a womans disease... men can catch it too ... but it is the same as what pigeons get... a form of canker.

[THE FIFER]

Garlic is, I believe the most / Best preventive, and immune builder around. It is also good for letting birds lose wieght. and titghening up.

So too regular is a bad thing as they don't like it in the water, and won't drink a proper fill. Hence becaoming thirsty, and then dehybo to lose wieght.

 

I PUT GARLIC IN THEIR BATH WATER KEEPS THEM CLEAN FROM LICE ETC,

 

[collect500]

thought the "womens  disease" might get a response lol

[Guest slugmonkey]

At one time there was a post on here having to do with canker and how there was a study done that exposed birds to several diffrent strains with some being very mild and seldom lethal to those that were usally always lethal these studys concluded that if birds were FIRST exposed to the mild forms then the more toxic forms the numbers of deaths fom exposure were reduced quite a bit it also went on to explain how that birds that showed elevated cocci counts didnt always show signs of sickness, BUT BIRDS THAT WERE STRESSED OR SICK USALLY ALWAYS SHOWED AN INCREASED COUNT

I think this shows that there are no easy answers and you must always find the happy medium when managing a successful loft

I use BOTH, garlic and medication, garlic 90% of the time I think it keeps the count down, but during the last strech of the season when the distances increase I go for the meds usally once after the 1st long race, I think if you have been keeping the count down with vinegar and garlic when you go to meds it really helps them work better my birds usally look better in the last half than the first and I seem to do better I dont think it is because my birds are getting stronger at that point just that they havent fallen off as much as others