Adverse Weather---Heat Stress

[Tony C]

Do you think youngbird racing should be cancelled if temperatures exceed 30C ?

 

 

Transportation

Racing pigeons (Columba livia) participating in homing contests are transported

from the home loft to the release site at a high stocking density. Dutch

transport guidelines suggest transporting pigeons at a space allowance of 225

to 300 sqcm per bird (Gorssen and Koene 1997). Transport conditions are not

only affected by high stocking densities but, since the racing season ranges

from April to September, inadequate climatic control of the transport vehicle

may put the pigeons at risk of heat exposure during summer. In addition, water

deprivation for a period of 12 to 24 hours may occur (Gorssen et al. 1993).

Marder (1983) noted increased aggression in heat-exposed pigeons. A

combination of heat exposure and water deprivation results in dehydration of

pigeons (Arad et al. 1987). In addition to that during transportation, the

pigeons` behaviour might be affected by the motion, noise and vibration

associated with a driving vehicle and during racing pigeon contests the time

pigeons spend in a stationary truck with the engine off is considerable and this

may also affect their behaviour (Gorssen and Koene 1997). These stationary

periods include the waiting time before departure of the vehicle and especially

the time between arrival at the release site and final release of the birds.

Adverse weather conditions at the release site or between the release site and

the home site often delay the moment of release by several hours or even days

(Gorssen and Koene 1997).

Scope et al. (2002) carried out a study on the influence of stress from transport

and handling on haematological and clinical chemistry blood measures in

racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica). They found that stress has an

influence on some blood variables in racing pigeons, though within 3 hr, most

values did not exceed the reference ranges. The quality and extent of any

changes are likely to depend on the severity, type, and duration of stressful

events, like transport and handling. Assessment of these facts is difficult if not

impossible and may differ in individual cases and, therefore, can hardly be

standardised.

Gorssen et al. (1997) carried out a study on how water deprivation and thermal

stress affect racing pigeons during transport. They concluded that 32°C is the

upper critical temperature for pigeons housed under transport conditions. When

pigeons have access to water (Gorssen et al. 1997), the variation in body weight

loss within a group increases above the upper critical temperature. Water

deprivation increases heat production, body weight loss, and dry matter content

of the breast section at temperatures above the upper critical temperature. The

resulting dehydrated state probably reduces the flying capacity of the pigeons.

Hence, water deprivation and heat exposure during transport for homing

contests may increase bird losses.

[Guest]

cant transport cattle over 30 oc i think it is

[Guest speckled]

;D ;D ;D lol tony c , ;D ;D ya been specking to bruno, long post for you. :P lol. Read a bit about that i think in the BHW,(quote me if im wrong lol). Speck

[Tony C]

Yes Speck it was a bit long, had to have a lie down afterwards. :)

[Guest]

The 'even longer' version is kicking about the forum [somewhere] precis I did on the Dutch paper runs to 12 pages [paper runs to 127].

 

Been thinking lately [headache] that some of the more important works posted from all around the globe by members should be captured somehow - a sticky library - for the benefit of new members and older ones like myself, as a memory aid. Also saves posting same info for same questions ......

 

 

  ;D Need to stop now and let the hot keyboard cool down.   ;D

[Guest speckled]

;D ;D ;D lol it must be the "Heat" got to the pair of ya. ;D ;D ,as long as it was not on the "kleenex" paper run bruno  ;D ;D ;D then ya best start running  ;D ;D ;D ;D sorry to say clockie pups have run of with it lol ;D ;D ;D,couldnt resist that on sorry /lol :X :X :X :D Speck ;)

[Guest]

One thing to bear in mind in intense heat is that young birds body temperature is slightly higher than old bird, so when filling the training crates or shipping panniers, bear this in mind and put less birds in the pannier or basket.

 

I have read posts here and elsewhere that flyers are training their birds early in the morning or late evening to avoid ther heat, in the long run this may be penny wise and pound foolish, if this heatwave continues both in the UK and The States (we have 110 degress F forecast for weekend) our birds are going to have to race in it, if you don't gradually break them into the heat now, they will not be able to handle it on race day.

 

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Good point about acclimatising birds to the heat Hyacinth, I put my young birds out for a fly early in the morning usually about 5-30_6-00 and then get them back in then they are put back out at noon when it is getting really warm and are locked out till 6-30 at night obviousyt they don't fly this long but they are used to being out in the heat and on our first race last saturday I had the most birds back when we went to do the clocks,didn't help me to win though, also some members only feed  their young birds early in the morning and thats it I feed mine early as well but I give a light feed of barley a couple of hours before basketting and then I know they will have taken a good drink before they go.

[Guest jason]

I don't think it really matters for the shorter races as they are basketed in the evening when its cooler then taken to the race point through the night when its cooler and if the weathers right they could be liberated early morning.

 

anyway I'm sending 10 to stafford (62 miles) this weekend!

so we'll have to see how they get on

 

 

jason

[Guest]

God luck Jason

[Guest jason]

cheers linda, did you mean good luck? lol.

[Guest]

were at stafford also light rain forcast on sat.

[Guest jason]

are you sending gezza?

[Guest]

not sure yet ill kepp an eye on the weather tomorrow if they keep the promise of rain i wont bother i dont think we there again next week only got 22 to race so dont want to throw them away.

[Guest]

yes Jason I did, have a brace on my hand at the moment and my typing suffers lol

[Guest shadow]

If I was still racing pigeons there is no way I would send them in this heat as there is no way of knowing what time they will be liberated as has been shown the temperrature is not dropping a great deal overnight and it is still very humid best of luck if you send