wear masks

[Guest]

some fanciers NEVERtakes masks, i wonder why?

[Guest]

I'm aware that people who have lung allergies to pigeon proteins need to wear a face mask when around them. I'm fortunate that I have no allergies. (I think     )

 

Although I posted I NEVER wear one, its just occured to me that I do when spraying the club baskets... protection against breathing the chemical spray.

[Chatrace]

The first time you can only get half breaths and have to sit down,you will wish you had put that mask on.

[jimmy white]

never wore a mask in over 50 years  [ maybe i should :) ] but ive never been effected by the birds, unfortunately some fanciers are

[Guest]

Jimmy.

 

There is a lot of dusts you should wear mask while you cleaning your lofts.

[Guest]

Readily acknowledge your warning, Chatrace.  Made me stop and think.  

 

What is the current medical advice? For example, should a person thinking of taking up pigeons be advised to undergo tests to establish if he/she was susceptible, and if they tested 'positive' or 'at risk', advised to take up another interest?

 

How effective is the mask filter, and how do you remove the mask without contaminating yourself with proteins caught in it?

[Peckedhen]

Does it have to be a special mask to catch the proteins, or will one from B&Q do?  The loft white certainly makes me cough, think I've been using too much so haven't used any for several days and there's still plenty blown around when they fly.! :-/

[Guest]

Two seperate things, Peckedhen.  

 

If your loft white is blowing about, and the dust is making you cough, your using too much - also remember you've to brush it in too. Bit of practice...    

 

'Pigeon Lung' is a recognised medical allergic condition... Chatrace has described the symptoms adequately ... you would feel uncomfortable even in an empty loft....

 

Outwith these two points, a B&Q dustmask would be OK for cleaning-out.

[THE FIFER]

IF LOFT WHITE IS USED PROPERLY (RUBBED IN) THERE SHOULD BE NO DUST, OR VERY LITTLE, I HAVE USED IT FOR A LONG TIME, ONLY USE IT TWICE A WEEK, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE BLOWING ABOUT, WILL NOT DO THE BIRDS ANY GOOD IETHER, AND IF LOOSE WILL STICK TO THEIR FEET.

[Guest Silverwings]

never wore a mask .smoked 30 fags a day ,hand cut asbestos sheets ,breathed fumes of e.d.m machines ,riddled deep litter in the loft  etc .................. ended    up in the crash unit ? now have a wicked heart condition and carry a daft spray around all the time, so pack the gaspers in  and wear a mask when you clean em out !

[Peckedhen]

OK thanks, I HAVE been using far too much - I brushed it in, but also sort of sprinkled it around to dry up the droppings.

[james_mc_laughlin]

All the above makes interesting reading. I have been keeping pigeons for 30+ years and have never wore a mask. I think some fanciers (including myself) have a die hard attitude and dont really consider the dangers of inhaling all the different airbourne bacteria especially when scraping out and working about the lofts, definately food for thought. Thanks Pat.

[jimmy white]

i think you could be right james, sometimes we olduns, become set in our ways, definately food for thought.

[Guest]

I'V GOT TO PUT A MASK ON ALL THE TIME IN THE LOFT ,IN 1997 I WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR OVER A WEEK WITH PIGEON LUNG, I HAVE NEVER WENT INTO THE LOFT WITHOUT IT ON AND THATS THE ITS GOT TO BE.

[snowy]

yes i think all the new starters should wear one while cleaning the loft!

[Guest]

yes i think all the new starters should wear one while cleaning the loft!

 

all the new starters should wear one BUT I think every FANCIERS should wear masks while cleaning the loft.   :

[carl]

Yes i agree GET A MASK ON,I put mine on everytime im in the lofts with the birds cleaning out,catching them etc.I have tryed it without it and couldnt stand the dust.

 

Loft white,im sure i was told always were a mask while using it.

[Guest]

I do not disagree with anything that has been said or any of the reasons given for wearing a mask.

 

But I think that it must be made clearer that there are two seperate issues here with totally different reasons for wearing one:

 

(1) Medical - Pigeon lung, or another 'lung' allergy like asthma etc.

(2) General - Hygeine, don't inhale dust.

 

On the medical side, a clubmate who suffers pigeon lung, pointed out that the mask alone is not sufficient. Fanciers forget that their clothing is also contaminated, as soon as the mask comes off, their clothing causes them problems. So its a coat too, and the coat never leaves the loft.

 

Same problem with clothing on the general hygeine side.

 

And as I posted earlier - there's protective masks and there's masks with a weave equivalent to breathing through 0.5 inch mesh. And with both, a further problem from the contaminated mask when you take it off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[snowy]

 

all the new starters should wear one BUT I think every FANCIERS should wear masks while cleaning the loft.   :

 

correct, yes not just new starters, but everyone should wear one!

what i meant was that people who have not wore one for the past 30 yrs, its probebly too late for the damage is probebly already done, but you are correct in saying that everyone should wear one,  i think the RPRA should actually state that new starters MUST wear one & maybe give one free in every starter pack to encourage this more.

regards

[Guest]

 

correct, yes not just new starters, but everyone should wear one!

what i meant was that people who have not wore one for the past 30 yrs, its probebly too late for the damage is probebly already done, but you are correct in saying that everyone should wear one,  i think the RPRA should actually state that new starters MUST wear one & maybe give one free in every starter pack to encourage this more.

regards

 

Yes snowy, argeed with you about RPRA, and I think they should let new starters know at Blackpool show every year, there's a group of Young Fanciers and New starters, not sure if they already told young fanciers about masks yet.  

[ian_jones]

 

My wife is always telling me to take my mask off,  even when i do not have one on  lol

 

Ian

[Guest]

As always, interesting posts and interesting viewpoints.  

 

Homing Union involvement with facts for new starters terrific place to start. Well done!!!!  

 

 

[westy]

i brougth some the other day i will only weare them when i am cleaning them out

[westy]

yesterday the 3rd december i wore a mask cleaning out for the first time

[Guest]

Basket day do you wear a mask when you catch your birds for training and sending birds in the club for race?