drops in the nostrils

[Guest]

Drops into the nostrils.

 

 

Why pigeon fanciers have traditionally always been ready to put drops into the nostrils of their pigeons before a race and when they return.

 

By doing this they hope to assist the breathing of their birds on their homeward flight, to have a positive influence on the results and to practise a kind of decontamination once the pigeon has returned to the loft.

 

This rinsing of the nasal fossae (these are two cavities, separated by a central partition, which start with the nostrils in the front and open at the rear into the buccal cavity) has become a pointless action; there are many different products on sale and fanciers often wonder whether the procedure is effective and which product to use. We believe that it is right for a fancier to raise these questions, since it is important not to use just anything; it is absolutely essential to avoid the use of irritating solutions. The pigeons nostrils are in fact provided with a good filtration system and care must be taken not to damage it. The inhaled air passes through a labyrinth. The circumvolutions of the nasal fossae act like a filter which mechanically traps the very fine inhaled particles carried in the air. The sinuses are covered with specialised cells, cells with cilia and cells which secrete mucus which catch viruses and infectious particles in the inhaled air and prevent them from entering further into the respiratory system and causing infection in it. The trapped particles are moved back towards the outside by the mechanical action of the epithelial cilia and are finally ejected by sneezing. This is a noisy event to which fanciers are particularly attentive. As may be understood, this is flot always a symptom of infection but may well be a defence mechanism. On the other hand, when sneezing is frequent and runny noses are observed, it is probably the beginnings of a cold. We must therefore take the necessary steps to prevent the propagation of the infection to the trachea and bronchi. In most cases reinforcing the local immune defences and rinsing the nasal fossae with a sterile saline solution are sufficient to stop the infection in a few days. Isolating the pigeon in a sunny, well-ventilated place accelerates its recovery. If there is no improvement after a few days, a consultation with a vet specialising in avian medicine is called for.

The nasal fossae are therefore the first line of defence so it is important to maintain these structures at any cost and to assist their function. Interaction with the normal microbial flora, the barrier of mucus and the specialised cells are the primary defence mechanisms which prevent infectious agents from invading the organism and causing infection in it. These barriers are non-specific and prevent a whole range of infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, yeasts etc.) from entering the organism. A fancier can easily understand that any damage to this system will have repercussions on the pigeons health, and hence on its condition and its ability to win prizes. We should beware of the repeated use of antibiotic drops as a preventive measure, since pathogenic bacteria have almost total resistance to the usual antibiotics; in addition they are ineffective against viruses and favour the multiplication of harmful yeasts such as Candida. Other preparations containing disinfectants often achieve the same undesired result by modifying the normal flora, thus weakening part of the defence mechanisms. We shall not mention here irritants, the use of which must be avoided at all costs because such irritating products cause irreversible damage to the epithehum with its cilia. As a general rule we should avoid everything which affects this defensive system and which will make the pigeon more susceptible to all types of infectious agent; among these factors we include inadequate diet, polluted air, poor hygiene and the preventive administration of inappropriate antibiotics which make the pigeon more susceptible to viral and parasitic infections such as candidiasis. Nature has provided the pigeon with an excellent means of resistance to infection. Let us leave it to work properly.

 

[snowy]

read a good article in BHW, a fancier puts 1 drop of OLBAS OIL in each nest box, he said helps the birds breathe a bit better & himself, i tried it this morning, & after work popped in the loft & could still smell a slight minty smell, oh well better than garlic i suppose. ;D

[Guest]

Good minds must work alike, as I saw an advert on TV this morning and have just been to the shop to buy some to do exactly as you have suggested. Weird or what.

[westburylofts]

 

have to agree with you sbelbin, you are both weird.  LOL

 

only joking with you

 

RAY

[westburylofts]

ALL WAYS KNOWN YOU WAS A BIT WEIRD ROSE,  LOL

 

ONLY JOKING   ;D ;D ;D :K) :K) :K) :'( :'( :'(

 

RAY

[jimmy white]

WAS TOLD TO USE NASELINE AT ONE TIME,, TRIED IT ON MYSELF FIRST EYES WATERED ALL DAY NOSE RAN ALL DAY, NO WAY I WOULD USE IT ON PIGEONS, IF YOUR VENTILATION IS RIGHT AND THE CONSTITUTION OF YOUR BIRDS ARE RIGHT, YOU SHOULNDNT NEED ANYTHING [MIND YOU THE OLBAS OIL DOES SMELL NICE]

[carl]

I must be weird too,as i thought about using olbas oil also.

so a drop on each pen,how often

[bewted]

hi jimmy,,,agree with you about ventilation,get that right and pigeons thrive,,,,,a lot of fanciers should read OLD HANDS articles on ventilation,i tried it with excellant results,,,,fanciers should at least read it,makes you THINK!!!!!  then you would not need any medication or such like for respiratory problems,,,,,could save faciers heaps of money and pigeons more healthier,,,,bewted

[snowy]

I must be weird too,as i thought about using olbas oil also.

so a drop on each pen,how often

 

carl, i just put 1 drop in each nest box floor every 2-4 days,

or put a little bowl of hot water in a spare locked nest box with a couple of drops in.

smells fresh..

[ribble]

a guy i know soaks a small piece of sponge and pins it up in his loft.also read about another bloke who soaks a rag and places it in front of vent.

[slatey]

Hi all

I put alabas oil on a rag on the vents also being using this for the last six years thursday take out fri morning,

jimmy i use nazeline its a good product i use it every 5 to 6 weeks in racing season. but if you do use it i will give you a tip go to the house and dont go back until the next day or you will think you have killed the lot.

tomo

[speedbird]

yeah slatey your right it makes em grasp ive been told to use every week!!

[slatey]

speedbird dont use it every week at least every four

[westburylofts]

 

WE USE IT EVERY 3-4 WEEKS AS WELL

 

 

RAY

[perk]

read some where best thing and free for pigeons is plenty of fresh air (bert somebody?)

[westburylofts]

 

 

BRASSPENNING

[perk]

thank you westbury been out on the pop(pickled)

[pigeonchested]

I soak a beer mat in creosote and put it below the nestbowl. Keeps the birds healthy and keeps beasties away. ;D

[MsPigeon]

I soak a beer mat in creosote and put it below the nestbowl. Keeps the birds healthy and keeps beasties away. ;D

 

Is this creosote you use the same stuff they use to treat wood, like fence posts, the part you put in the ground? If it is they have banned it here where I live, WA, USA.

Can't even buy it anymore. Not sure I would want my pigeon breathing it, it smells pretty strong even after years in the ground! I know I think it sure smells!  :-/

[Guest]

Carol, I always used it and had no worries as far as the birds were concerned and not one of them asked me for a nose peg <VBG>.

 

Yep it's the same thing as was used for fence posts, they seem to ban a lot of things here, can't even get my Wrights Coal Tar soap and more and the customs officers took my long awaited Beef Oxo cubes off him at the airport.

[Guest]

Off my son I meant to say

[MsPigeon]

the customs officers took my long awaited Beef Oxo cubes off him at the airport.

 

What could possibly be wrong with Beef Oxo cubes????

Thanks for the info on cresote. I guess then when I'm smelling it on a sunny in the barn, because the uprights have been treated with it, it is getting rid of the bugs about.

Carol

[Guest CS]

Is there any else you want to say something about drops in the nostrils?  

[Roland]

Was a Time when some, incuding a very good farmer fancier that would take all the birds out and repair a mite and soak his whole loft with creasote. Then 3 weeks or more later would add new litter, and then place soe sifted litter from the stuff took out and sprikle that on top before returning the birds ... not cleaed out again for a year or so... then ame again.

[Guest Paulo]

What could possibly be wrong with Beef Oxo cubes????

 

Mad cow disease you lot are a bit paranoid about our meat products since the scare. Doesn't help Linda to get a nice bit of gravy for the sundays roast through lol.

 

My mam uses wrights coal tar soap quality stuff for getting the muck off.