Silky Feathers

[OLDYELLOW]

wednesday is always been the latest day before a race for a bath for me anyway (for my BIRDS  before all the numpties come calling me smelly) but sunday morn birds alw3ays have a very hot bath with salts and condish crystals  in it. MY BIRDS ALWAYS SLIP THROUGH YOUR HANDS

 

i wouldnt use the salts as it has an opposite effect and makes feathers brittle as salt aborbs oils hence why cheifs use it to soak up oil spills in a kitchen

[hotrod]

 

i wouldnt use the salts as it has an opposite effect and makes feathers brittle as salt aborbs oils hence why cheifs use it to soak up oil spills in a kitchen

 

well well we'll differ again mate lol. ive used radox bath salts and pigeon ones for years and have never and i mean never had dry feathered birds they are all like silk.what is it they say about roads and rome ?

[OLDYELLOW]

yup alsort right we can differ but i also knew a fancier that dipped all his birds in radox on return from a race and a very good flyer  

[Guest]

Don't waste your money, buy a box of trill (or buy canary seed at shop) and give it to them on a Thursday.

[Guest]

Silky feathers are a sign of the health or condition coming from within the bird,can't see the point in just bathing the birds in something,health/condition works from the inside out!.Provided you are happy with the birds health wise then I would think it would be just a case of ensuring the birds have access to clean water,live in a clean loft with plenty of fresh air and that you feed them good corn and provide grit,minerals etc,then good feather quality should come naturally to them.

In the showing world many,many things are used to encourage the birds to have the best feather quality possible as obviously that aspect is far more important thann in racing,some products have already been mentioned,ad herb,garlic,cider vinegar,origostim,brewers yeast,peanut oil,linseed oil,red band,on and on the list goes and each show fancier generally uses a few of these to some degree,all will help but to be honest if you have all the key factors mentioned above  [fresh air,good corn,keep them clean,healthy,grits and minerals] ie good loft management then the silky feathers which are a sign of inner health should come naturally.

[Guest asha]

NOT ONE  of you experts have mention a good clean moult  , with plenty of OIL SEEDS AND PROTIEN during this time .THE YEAR STARTS WITH THE MOULT .

      Rowdy,i`m not knocking you or your management,good sound advice,but please try this autumn time,1 small section,fed barley100%,or wheat/barley 50/50,and honest to god,you will have a big shock coming to you march time,the birds in that section,just with clean water and grit,will be silky,soft,sparkling,you will be shocked,will breed a beautiful round of babies,and be fit for most anything.I know it sounds stupid,but just try it on a few,if your scared,we did,even won best in show with a hen late dec that flew 497miles early july,good hard race,seperated sept time,left on 100% barley until march. No pulses no oil seeds no oil over food,certainly no cod liver oil. Just barley, grit,and fresh water.

[hotrod]

NOT ONE  of you experts have mention a good clean moult  , with plenty of OIL SEEDS AND PROTIEN during this time .THE YEAR STARTS WITH THE MOULT .

      Rowdy,i`m not knocking you or your management,good sound advice,but please try this autumn time,1 small section,fed barley100%,or wheat/barley 50/50,and honest to god,you will have a big shock coming to you march time,the birds in that section,just with clean water and grit,will be silky,soft,sparkling,you will be shocked,will breed a beautiful round of babies,and be fit for most anything.I know it sounds stupid,but just try it on a few,if your scared,we did,even won best in show with a hen late dec that flew 497miles early july,good hard race,seperated sept time,left on 100% barley until march. No pulses no oil seeds no oil over food,certainly no cod liver oil. Just barley, grit,and fresh water.

roads and rome mate as iv said many times .thanx asha

 

 

[Diamond dave]

Thank you all for your comments - however, I have a couple "quirks" that I would like to add to the debate. Firstly, my hens feathers are silkier than my cocks and all they are on is barley through the week and then widowhood mix Thurs and Friday. Some of these are prisoners and only get a bath once every couple of weeks - they do not fly out.

Secondly, if I want to keep my birds on a diet high in carbs and low in fat should I be feeding grains like linseed or putting oil on the corn - or is this where my problem lies.

Is there an oil that is low in fat and high in carbs?

 

Thank you all for your very welcome advice.

 

D.D.

[Guest]

yes hemp oil high energy

[Guest IB]

Think breeding (genetics) feeding, & environment determine feather quality ... my youngsters leave the nest with silky feathering, their parents are fed only breeding mixture & hormoform, nothing in the water..

 

Few years back now, but a member in NE England borrowed a hen from Jimmy White, and posted a remark on the bird's silky condition compared to his. That bird had access to an aviary, the NE England fancier hadn't. So internal and extrernal environment have a bearing too.

 

Note what you are saying about oil: I watched my birds being drenched in rain at beginning of week, saw one hen give itself a shake and saw a cloud of 'dust' - bloom. I see that happen often after a bath too; I think powder down (bloom) has a lot more to do with conditioning the feather than oil alone. Came across work on preen gland and its oil couple of years ago: in one work, birds' preen gland was surgically removed and the birds still remained waterproof afterwards....

[Guest Owen]

All my birds have pretty good feathering. They are fed exactly the same, individually in their boxes. However, some of them have silkier feathers than others. I think that genetics have a part to play.

[Guest Freebird]

All my birds have pretty good feathering. They are fed exactly the same, individually in their boxes. However, some of them have silkier feathers than others. I think that genetics have a part to play.

Think genetics have a BIG part to play.

 

 

[Larry Lucas]

. . . Came across work on preen gland and its oil couple of years ago: in one work, birds' preen gland was surgically removed and the birds still remained waterproof afterwards....

 

IB I would be interested in seeing that article if you can reference it. My information above (apart from the anecdotal experience of the hen with dry feather) comes from Dr. Reuben Landriet in Belgium and Dr. Gord Chalmers in Canada, both pigeon fanciers and capable veterinarians. The parasite that can cause problems with the gland is well-documented (according to Dr. Reuben) as is damage and bacterial infections of the gland.  In correspondence with Reuben he confirmed from veterinary literature that a damaged oil gland results in dry feather. My reason for the discussion with him was a valuable hen whose oil gland was damaged by birds climbing on her back during feeding at the hopper and as the birds "climbed" her back, their claws sliced the gland. Her feathering became dry and nothing could restore it because the gland was non-functional. I am not saying your source is wrong entirely, but it would be helpful to see the study you cite as it runs counter to my experience and the information from two good vets. Not having a go at you, I am interested.

 

[just ask me]

where is the gland situated

[Runt3]

I just give them a bath one day a week and

i feed oil seed to, my show and race birds look good

[Larry Lucas]

where is the gland situated

 

At the base of the rump, just before the tail feathers. If you spread the feathers you will see a bump, looking a bit like a tiny tit.

[just ask me]

 

At the base of the rump, just before the tail feathers. If you spread the feathers you will see a bump, looking a bit like a tiny tit.

 

thanks again

[Larry Lucas]

 

thanks again

 

Forgot to mention it is on the top side of the pigeon -- wouldn't want you digging around below the tail! ;D

[Guest]

not all silky ones win races

 

feather quality!! read ad schaerlaekens book and see how much he relies on the feather quality

[just ask me]

 

Forgot to mention it is on the top side of the pigeon -- wouldn't want you digging around below the tail! ;D

 

nice one but i guessed that  ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Guest IB]

I would be interested in seeing that article if you can reference it. I am interested.

 

Hi Larry, my interest in uropygial (preen) gland oil stems from email correspondance between myself and Dr Kaleta in 2006 on Avian flu. The principal preen gland researcher at that time appeared to be Diego Montalti, a Brazilian? he & collaborators had many papers published on it. Tried to email him at time (English) but got no reply.

 

Work I referred to in my last post was in poultry. Cannot find that one (typical) but this is some of the others I turned up back then. Sorry it will be rather long!!!

 

(1) Extract of article by  N Harcourt-Brown BVSc Dip ECAMS FRCVS

NH&FM Harcourt-Brown, 30 Crab Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 3BE

 

The uropygial gland is a bilobed holocrine gland. It is found dorsally at the base of the tail. When massaged, a small amount of greasy secretion exudes from the tip of the gland. It is held on the tip of the gland by the tuft of feathers. The bird wipes its beak on the papilla and spreads the resulting secretion over its body.

 

The uropygial gland is most developed in waterbirds. A pelican’s uropygial gland can be the size of a hen’s egg. Sebum from the uropygial gland seems to be more water repellent in aquatic birds. All birds need some degree of waterproofing but only 7% of sebum on a pigeon is derived from the uropygial gland. The sebum is also required to keep the plumage smooth and supple, vital for maintaining full aerobatic performance. It also enhances feather colour, has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and contains vitamin D precursors.

 

Feathers

 

Powder down feathers are found in pigeons (Columbiformes) and parrots (Psittaciformes), and some other families. These white feathers grow continuously and the barbs at the tip constantly break off. This produces a fine white dust made of keratin particles about 1mm in diameter. The powder down is a waxy coating that covers the whole bird and helps waterproof the feathers. In pet parrots powder down will also cover the surroundings; this is very obvious in white cockatoos

 

(2)

Title: Experimental test of the importance of preen oil in rock doves (Columba livia)

Author(s): Moyer BR, Rock AN, Clayton DH

Source: AUK 120 (2): 490-496 APR 2003

Document Type: Article

Language: English

 

Abstract:

Most species of birds have a uropygial gland, also known as a preen gland, which produces oil that birds spread through their plumage when preening. The plumage of waterfowl deprived of uropygial oil becomes brittle and is subject to breakage. For other groups of birds, however, the importance of preen oil remains unclear. Previous workers have argued that preen oil may serve little or no function in Columbiforms (pigeons and doves). We tested that assertion by removing uropygial glands from Rock Doves (Columba livia) and assessing their plumage condition after several months. The results of that experiment showed significant degradation of plumage in the absence of oil. Our results are the first rigorous demonstration that preen oil is important for plumage condition in nonwaterfowl. We tested one possible function of preen oil-that it has insecticidal properties and that reduction in plumage condition on birds without glands is due to an increase in ectoparasites.

We tested that hypothesis for feather-feeding lice (Phthiraptera:Ischnocera) using both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Lice raised in an incubator died more rapidly on feathers with preen oil than on feathers without oil, which suggests that preen oil may help combat lice. However, removal of the preen gland from captive birds had no significant effect on louse loads over the course of a four-month experiment. Although the results of our in vivo experiments suggest that preen oil may not be an important defense against lice, further experiments are needed. We also consider the possibility that preen oil may protect birds against other plumage-degrading organisms, such as bacteria and fungi.

KeyWords Plus: BIRDS; FUNGI; FEATHERS

Addresses: Clayton DH (reprint author), Univ Utah, Dept Biol, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA

Univ Utah, Dept Biol, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA

Publisher: AMER ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION, ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC NORTH AMER PO BOX 1897, LAWRENCE, KS 66044-8897 USA

Subject Category: ORNITHOLOGY

IDS Number: 695KG

ISSN: 0004-8038

 

(3)

 

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/uropygial.html

 

 

The gland secretion is complex and consists of a combination of extruded cells, ester waxes, fatty acids, fat and sudanophilic secretory granules.1,2 The secretion is spread over the feathers during the act of preening. Waterproofing is considered to be one function of the secretion (although it is not necessary for it), and another function is the suppression of the growth of organisms on the skin. The secretion helps keep the feathers, beak, and scales supple.

1. King AS, McLelland J. Birds, their structure and function. Bailliere Tindall, London, 1984:28,290.

2. Evans HE, Anatomy of the budgerigar. In:Petrak ML (cd). Diseases of cage and aviary birds. Second ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1982:127,613.

 

(4)

 

Copyright:     Copyright © Munksgaard International Publishers Ltd

Author(s):     Shawkey, Matthew D. ; Pillai, Shreekumar R. ; Hill, Geoffrey E.

 

Title:     Chemical warfare? Effects of uropygial oil on feather-degrading bacteria

Source:     Journal of Avian Biology 34, no. 4 (2003): 345-349

Additional Info: Blackwell Publishing; 20031201

Standard No:     ISSN: 0908-8857

DOI:     10.1111/j.0908-8857.2003.03193.x

Language:     English

Abstract:     Anti-microbial activity is a commonly suggested but rarely tested property of avian uropygial oil. Birds may defend themselves against feather-degrading and other potentially harmful bacteria using this oil. We preliminarily identified 13 bacterial isolates taken from the plumage of wild house finches Carpodacus mexicanus, measured bacterial production of the enzyme keratinase as an index of feather-degrading activity, and used the disc-diffusion method to test bacterial response to uropygial oil of house finches. For comparison, we performed the same tests on a type strain of the known feather-degrading bacterium Bacillus licheniformis. Uropygial oil inhibited the growth of three strongly feather-degrading isolates (including Bacillus licheniformis), as well as one weakly feather-degrading isolate and one non-feather-degrading isolate. Uropygial oil appeared to enhance the growth of one weakly feather-degrading isolate. Growth of the remaining isolates was unaffected by uropygial oil. These results suggest that birds may defend themselves against some feather-degrading bacteria using uropygial oil.

Accession No:     0908885710.1111_j.0908-8857.2003.03193.x

Database:     ECO

 

(5)

 

Histochemical and lectin-histochemical studies of the secretion from the uropygial gland of the rock dove columba livia (columbidae-columbiformes)

Diego Montalti1,2, María Alejandra Quiroga3, Adriana Raquel Massone3,

Julio Roberto Idiart3 and Alfredo Salibián4

 

The uropygial gland is the major sebaceous gland in most birds; but its removal does not affect the survival of passerine birds, hens and pigeons [7,14].

 

Early studies showed that the secretion served as a water repellent, which prevented the birds from getting wet [11]. However, we have questioned this hypothesis by showing that the size of the gland is not correlated with aquatic/terrestrial nature of the species [16].

 

(6)

 

APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, June 2006, p. 4245–4249 Vol. 72, No. 6

0099-2240/06/$08.00_0 doi:10.1128/AEM.02940-05

Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

 

Characterization of Antimicrobial Substances Produced by

Enterococcus faecalis MRR 10-3, Isolated from the

Uropygial Gland of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops)Antonio M. Martı´n-Platero,1 Eva Valdivia,1,2 Magdalena Ruı´z-Rodrı´guez,4 Juan J. Soler,4 Manuel Martı´n-Vivaldi,3 Mercedes Maqueda,1 and Manuel Martı´nez-Bueno1*

Dpto. de Microbiologı´a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain1; Instituto deBiotecnologı´a, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain2; Dpto. de Zoologı´a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de

Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain3; and Estacio´n Experimental de Zonas A´ ridas, Consejo Superior deInvestigaciones Cientı´ficas, Almerı´a, Spain4

 

Received 13 December 2005/Accepted 4 April 2006

 

The uropygial gland (preen gland) is a holocrine secretory gland situated at the base of the tail in birds which produces a hydrophobic fatty secretion. In certain birds, such as the hoopoe, Upupa epops, the composition of this secretion is influenced by both seasonal and sexual factors, becoming darker and more malodorous in females and in their nestlings during the nesting phase. The secretion is spread throughout the plumage

when the bird preens itself, leaving its feathers flexible and waterproof. It is also thought to play a role in defending the bird against predators and parasites. We have isolated from the uropygial secretion of a nestling a bacterium that grows in monospecific culture which we have identified unambiguously by phenotypic and genotypic means as Enterococcus faecalis. The strain in question produces antibacterial substances that are

active against all gram-positive bacteria assayed and also against some gram-negative strains. Its peptide nature identifies it as a bacteriocin within the group known as enterocins.. This is the first time that the production of bacteriocins by a bacterium isolated from the uropygial gland has been described. The production

of these broad-spectrum antibacterial substances by an enterococcal strain living in the uropygial gland may be important to the hygiene of the nest and thus to the health of the eggs and chicks.

 

[Larry Lucas]

Thanks, IB, for posting these here. The consensus of these articles is that the oil gland is important for good supple feather quality -- apart from other benefits. A search of precis for related articles on http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov shows the same emphasis. I could not locate any articles in English, Spanish or Portuguese (Brasil) supporting the idea of the oil gland not being related to feather quality -- which does not mean they are not published, only that I could not locate them.

 

I tend to think the oil gland should be examined when feather quality disappears from a pigeon -- but poor nutrition and/or a drop in general health can affect production in the oil gland, i.e., is it a chicken or the egg situation? For what it is worth.

 

[Guest]

NOT ONE  of you experts have mention a good clean moult  , with plenty of OIL SEEDS AND PROTIEN during this time .THE YEAR STARTS WITH THE MOULT .

      Rowdy,i`m not knocking you or your management,good sound advice,but please try this autumn time,1 small section,fed barley100%,or wheat/barley 50/50,and honest to god,you will have a big shock coming to you march time,the birds in that section,just with clean water and grit,will be silky,soft,sparkling,you will be shocked,will breed a beautiful round of babies,and be fit for most anything.I know it sounds stupid,but just try it on a few,if your scared,we did,even won best in show with a hen late dec that flew 497miles early july,good hard race,seperated sept time,left on 100% barley until march. No pulses no oil seeds no oil over food,certainly no cod liver oil. Just barley, grit,and fresh water.

 

I think Barley is a fantastic grain and would agree 100%. One thing not mentioned however is there are two types of feather, the long distance types tend to be silky but the fast hot day sprinters have a more hessian type feather. Most fanciers in this country however breed for the silky feathering beacuse of our climate. However on the continent I believe there are successful families of birds that race every week to the same race point short distance with this hessian type feather.

Jack Barkel if I remember gives an excellent definition of the different types?

[Guest Freebird]

 

I think Barley is a fantastic grain and would agree 100%. One thing not mentioned however is there are two types of feather, the long distance types tend to be silky but the fast hot day sprinters have a more hessian type feather. Most fanciers in this country however breed for the silky feathering beacuse of our climate. However on the continent I believe there are successful families of birds that race every week to the same race point short distance with this hessian type feather.

Jack Barkel if I remember gives an excellent definition of the different types?

Is it any particular type of barley as I tried some on my birds and they would not eat it. Got from a farm and still had the husk on. Looked good and had nice fresh smell and colour to it.

 

 

[Guest]

No, bog standard, they'll eat it when their hungry, I have 25 widowhood hens and they eat an ounce a day with a touch of linseed no probs it's all gone. I'd be more concerned about the quality of the Barley, had some from a supplier about 18 months ago and was musty, dumped it. Mine at the mo is from country wide, also used Gem. If I remember with the farm barley get  aglass of water and empty a handful in, it should float if it's decent. I'll try and check my facts to make sure I've not got that wrong though.