mask or not to mask

[blaz]

how many of you Ware a mask when cleaning out you birds. all the pigeon dropping that dry and turn to a fine dust more so in dry weather.also the bloom that comes from the birds when in good condition. all of which will sooner or later put an end to your racing or keeping pigeons in later years. how many of us know fanciers that have had to cut short their pigeon keeping due to the amount of the crap that thy have breathed in over the years. as for the masks thy are not very expensive . to any newbie reading this it is one tip you dont see very often when starting up . so  start wearing one early it soon becomes a habit

[little sam]

I dont wear one i know i should,

[Guest G.Drysdale + son]

I bought masks for my son for when he cleans out the lofts  

[just ask me]

great post blaz   i know a few fanicers that had trouble with breathing they used them yakkusso (spelling)  thought they were great

 

im sure they will be many opioions on this

[Guest G.Drysdale + son]

Went to Blackpool show for the 1st time this year and was amazed by the amount of people with masks.

[Guest chrisss]

i always use a mask because i use easibed as a deep litter [at about 10 inches depth] and because my stock shed is bone dry the dust gets "interesting",that plus the loft white i put on the perches/nest boxes means that if i did not use a mask ,my lifespan would be shortened by 10 years at least ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[blaz]

i always use a mask because i use easibed as a deep litter [at about 10 inches depth] and because my stock shed is bone dry the dust gets "interesting",that plus the loft white i put on the perches/nest boxes means that if i did not use a mask ,my lifespan would be shortened by 10 years at least ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

that would be ten years that your are cheating yourself out of not to mention your family and friends and of course another good few year withe your birds

[jimmy white]

havent used a mask in 60 years ;D, but really it does make sense to wear one,

[when you see my face ;D ;D ;D  i def should use one ;D ;D ]

[Guest chrisss]

 

that would be ten years that your are cheating yourself out of not to mention your family and friends and of course another good few year withe your birds

 

i agree mate everyone should use a mask [of any sort.the ones i use are only the one shot and dump version,but its better than nothing]

[Larry Lucas]

I NEVER go into the loft without a mask -- my lungs are too important.

[Guest TAMMY_1]

have to wear one all the time now as i have pigeon lung, wish i had used one at the start.  

[chrissy]

I think everyone should wear a mask,I do every day,I think otherwise even if you don't have any problems now you will eventually.

[Guest]

Mask at all times, make an absolute habit of it because as Larry said lungs are too important and your only got one pair.  Those who don't and think they are beyond damage are the ones who pay the price later down the day.    Prevention is the best form of cure.  

[Hogni]

I use a mask and a hat most of the time, the mask for myself and the hat for the family.

[grizzal]

I think everyone should wear a mask,I do every day,I think otherwise even if you don't have any problems now you will eventually.

 

totally agree

[PIGEONJIMI]

One of the main reasons I gave up pigeons was chest problems, And now it has cost me my job, If only I had worn a mask, But I thought "It won't happen to me", Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[sapper756]

Have to agree with all previous posts, masks should be worn, but like most fanciers I ignore this, however I wonder what our neighbours would think if they saw us wearing masks each time we enter our lofts, bad enough some people call our birds, flying rats :-/

[Guest IB]

Another of my clubmates with pfl uses a mask all the time. But he has noticed since changing his loft, with its improved ventilation system, that he can now tolerate being in it without his mask, whereas he couldn't in his old one. He still uses his mask of course, all the time.

 

It is worth pointing out that it is not really the pigeons to blame here as all human allergies are on the increase. Some in Medical circles believe the cause to be our 'overclean' society which has made  human immune systems hypersensitive to the normal everyday stuff that we meet in daily life and which shouldn't really cause us any bother. So the fault lies with 'us', and not with the natural environment.

 

So being one of the 'dirty' older generation without allergies, I have never had the need to wear a mask, but I now have ionisers in the loft, and plenty fresh air flowing though it. But if you feel you need a mask, wear it, and all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest chrisss]

Have to agree with all previous posts, masks should be worn, but like most fanciers I ignore this, however I wonder what our neighbours would think if they saw us wearing masks each time we enter our lofts, bad enough some people call our birds, flying rats :-/

 

i always put mine just before i go in, so the "new" people next store do not see me wearing it [they are not exactly pigeon people :B :B :B]i think they are convinced that bird flu by way of my birds will kill them all,why give them the excuse?

[Guest]

It does not bother my neighbours they know i'v got pigeon lung.

[pigeonpete]

Great post! in my opinion, you should all where a mask when cleaning out! i should take my own advise though, as i never do, but when its hot i can feel my chest tight when i have finished!! So i am going to get some deffo now! Practise what you preach!

[Guest]

Another of my clubmates with pfl uses a mask all the time. But he has noticed since changing his loft, with its improved ventilation system, that he can now tolerate being in it without his mask, whereas he couldn't in his old one. He still uses his mask of course, all the time.

 

It is worth pointing out that it is not really the pigeons to blame here as all human allergies are on the increase. Some in Medical circles believe the cause to be our 'overclean' society which has made  human immune systems hypersensitive to the normal everyday stuff that we meet in daily life and which shouldn't really cause us any bother. So the fault lies with 'us', and not with the natural environment.

 

So being one of the 'dirty' older generation without allergies, I have never had the need to wear a mask, but I now have ionisers in the loft, and plenty fresh air flowing though it. But if you feel you need a mask, wear it, and all the time.

 

But IB this is our natural environment, we are shaping it, it may not be 'intellectually good' but is natural, it is being created by us, it is what we live with!! We do not have an alternative to today's nature, tomorrows possibly but I doubt it.

[b.massey]

I always wear a mask. Also wear a mask at all the shows. I suffer bad with the pigeon lung but it wont stop me keeping my birds. I only found out Blackpool 08 that I had it. Got tested down there as I always felt ill coming home from shows. Horrible. Its flu like symtoms I used to get. Home from show and straight to bed. So mask is very important for me

[Guest pigeonboyno1]

I get very bad asma and i never use a mask in the loft so do u think i should start using a mask.

[b.massey]

I bought an air flow cap for in loft and a heavy face mask for when I at shows in winter months. Feel the wee cheap masks from hardware stores were not good enough so got a heavy duty mask from my uncle who worked on building sites. Does the perfect job