weather putting birds down??

[jordanp31]

hi

i only have a small loft with 10 birds in it and i have noticed that since we have had some bad weather...(it has rained solid for a week) a couple of my birds have been puffed up and are not their self(if you no what i mean). i picked one of them up and he lost a few feathers on it back. As i am new to the sport i was just wondering if any one thinks their is any thing really rong with them or if they are just down because of the weather???

 

thanks jordan...

[Guest]

Jordan,

 

It's difficult to diagnose what is wrong with your pigeons without seeing them. Perhaps you could get s member of your local club to pop in to look at the birds.

 

Being as your weather has been bad may I suggest that you look for a respiratory infection in your birds.  Hold them up to your ear and listen for any gurgling when they breathe

 

[jordanp31]

thanks for the advice hyacinth...

i am not in a club but i have had someone look at my birds and they said somthing about coxi??? i dont know much about it... is it curable and will it kill any of my birds??

 

[carl]

Jordon just the otherday i noticed a youngbird sitting all puffed up like you say so grabbed it and checked it over,when looking over the bird i noticed sticky like fluid in its mouth and its respitory track didnt sound that clever,there was also some spores on the upper mouth,i had a look at a few others and some were ok some had the sticky like fluid in there mouths,i treated all the youngbirds for respitory 100% better.

 

 

Get someone to have a look over your birds and have a look in the throat see if the mouth looks clear

[carl]

thanks for the advice hyacinth...

i am not in a club but i have had someone look at my birds and they said somthing about coxi??? i dont know much about it... is it curable and will it kill any of my birds??

 

How could he tell it was cocci without a microscope,

 

 

Jordon theres also some of this forums members have there own microscope and im sure if you ask them they will test the droppings for you.

 

[jordanp31]

i dont know anything about the illness...but my friend was looking at the birds and i think he made the suggestion about coxi by the way they were puffed up etc.

 

i will definatly check them for respiratory... but if they have the signs that you described carl, what must i do to treat them???

 

thanks for the help

[Guest]

I think there is a full thread on respiratory treatment sosmewhere on the forum.  We have DoxyT on hand in case we get it.  I beleive you can get it in the UK. It's a mixture of Doxycycline 75% and 25% tylan.

 

Hope this helps, please keep us posted

[Matthew]

jus to be on the safe side i would treat them, but yes the weather is rotten and this does have sum effect on the pigeons.

[Guest]

Its very difficult to tell if somethings wrong with a pigeon just by the way its standing or looking. A bird sits kinda puffed up when its just relaxing on the perch.

 

Try to look for more than one 'problem'. For example

 

puffed up & very thin;

 

puffed up & not eating when others are;

 

puffed up & sitting alone in a corner of the floor, utterly dejected looking.

 

puffed up  & surrounded by green, watery droppings.

 

 

And never treat for anything unless you know for sure that the bird is 'ill' and the stuff you are using is the right medication for that 'illness'. Remember that like you, the pigeon's normal state is healthy, and they are normally very healthy birds, seldom [if ever] sick.

 

Maybe pay a visit to your local library and see what books they have on racing pigeons? Colin Osman, 'The Racing Pigeon' is a really good one for a beginner, down to earth and very easy to read.

[Guest]

A water cleanser to be used during wet weather to keep the droppings nutty.

 

Megamix is a mixture of organic acids used to protect the health of the flock during wet weather or when the humidity rises above 65%. The increased acidity does not damage the bowel in any way, but does prevent the acid fearing germs, notably E.coli and thrush from multiplying. It is used in lofts when a humidity problem turns the healthy nut-brown droppings to green. The principal function of Megamix is to protect the healthy flock from the damaging effects of a high loft humidity, but it must be used at the first signs of a dropping change. When used at the very first signs of the green discolouration. Megamix gives immediate results, returning the green droppings to nutty brown droppings within 8 hours. The very best fanciers of every Federation in Australia are all using Megamix. It is used for one day or can be given continuously during wet spells to protect the health and form of race birds, breeding and young birds, eliminating the need for stronger medicines.

 

Megamix & high humidity

To the uninitiated it always seems strange that high humidity (i.e. a moisture content of above 65% in the air) causes illness in birds, but it is an undisputed fact that the health of the racing pigeon does not enjoy a high humidity. It is obvious to all fanciers that pigeons look duller on rainy days than when the sun is out and that the droppings "go off" when it rains and tighten up when it is dry. This occurs because a high moisture in the air is accompanied by an increased bowel germ count (E.coli and thrush) which causes "gut ache" and green, loose droppings. During racing the "upset" bowel will take the birds off form and when the wet spell continues for more than a day their health is endangered. The Megamix lowers the germ count and immediately protects the fitness and health of the race birds.

 

Race birds

The form of the healthy racing pigeon can change from day to day depending on the ability of the training pigeons to recover from the exertions of the day. The well designed loft provides the pigeon with best conditions to fully recover because it protects the birds from the effects of high humidity. However, there are times when this is not always possible. During prolonged rain the humidity in every loft becomes too high and this is when Megamix is best used to protect the form of the race birds.

 

The dose of Megamix varies from loft to loft depending upon the humidity in the local area and the hardness of the local water. Some use it at 2mls per litre of drinking water to good effect, whereas another loft may require 5mls. Some humidity susceptible lofts need very high doses of up to 10mls per litre. You must calculate your own dose by noting the response of the droppings to the Megamix. Start at 2ml per litre and work your way upwards until you get the desired effect and then stick with that dose. Not only do the droppings return to normal by the afternoon, but also the overall appearance of the flock improves. Look for the return of the glass eye, the bloom on the flights, down feathers on the droppings and a return to the silky feather of the bird in top form.

 

Young birds and moulting.

During wet weather the young birds are highly susceptible to health problems. Megamix given at a dose of 10mls per litre controls most young bird health problems without affecting their developing natural resistance. Megamix is completely safe to give during the moult.

 

Megamix versus KD

Megamix is used as the first choice acid cleanser for the healthy loft. It is used for E.coli and thrush problems in lofts with a humidity problem. It can be used for one day or continuously during wet spells for race, breeding or young birds. Megamix never depresses the form of the healthy pigeon and is safe to give to birds feeding young babies.

 

KD is a stronger medicine which is used in lofts, where E.coli and thrush is associated with other underlying health problems (fungus, toxins, worms ,"respiratory" diseases etc.). It kills E.coli, thrush, fungus, viruses and respiratory illnesses without affecting the immune system, whereas Megamix protects the healthy loft from E.coli and thrush alone. KD will depress the form of the race team when it is healthy, but lift the performance when it has an underlying health problem including E.coli, thrush.

 

[jordanp31]

Thanks for all the response

especially bruno and sbelbin... i found all of the infomation you gave me very helpful. I have noticed that all of my birds droppings are not the normal colour. They are definatly green and very wet...What does this mean???Would it mean that they just have a virus or could it somthing more serios???

 

 

many thanks

[Guest]

The above megamix is hard to get hold of in this country, but there are other things that you can put in the water when its damp. When its damp (like today) I put probiotics in the water to try and stop any bad bacteria from affecting the birds, and they keep the droppings nice and firm. If you go to your local corn shop and get some Gem-Strike and put it in the water the droppings should return to normal. If they dont you may have to get the droppings tested. I have a humidity guage in my loft that indicates my loft was 95% humid this morning, which is a dangerous level, yet the droppings were perfect, due to putting probiotics in the water.

[Guest]

Shelbin,

 

You mentioned Megamix was used in Australia.

 

Perhaps if you dropped The Flying Vet - Colin Walker an e-mail, he may be able to help you.

 

sorry I don't have his e-mail address

[Guest]

 

 

His e-mail address is Australian Pigeon

 

or visit our web site

www.auspigeonco.com.au

 

or Email  on:

Inquiries@auspigeonco.com.au

 

or write to Colin at

1 1 Henry Road, Wantirna South, Victoria 3152, Australia,  

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Guest]

Cheers Hyacinth and Craig,

 

Ive tried to get hold of it through a contact, that I get other APC products. This is my last year racing so hopefully B4 winter the birds will all be gone and will have no need for it. Its sounds like a good product to use though, and was something I found while surfing the NET.

 

Stephen  ;

[Guest]

 

This is my last year racing so hopefully B4 winter the birds will all be gone and will have no need for it.

 

quote]

 

Stephen, why are you packing in?

 

[Guest]

Im just not getting a buzz anymore from racing the birds, and its becoming more of a chore than a hobby  . Im going to keep some of my old favourites, and maybe breed a few to enter into a few one loft races.

[peterpau]

Colin Walker is the man, He advices to treat ; week 1 worms week 2 cancker week 3 cocci, On a four week cycle. However there is a new wormer from Chevita that will treat all three. Colin would advise to treat these three and nothing else.  Chevita's ascapilla. is available from body & ridewood on line at www.everythingforpets.com. Rather than buy more birds buy his book you will keep 'em healthy then

[Guest]

I had the pleasure in attending a seminar given by Dr. Walker at the AU Convention a couple of years ago in Florida, and also an opportunity to chat with him for some time.

 

You're right Peter, He's the Man

[Guest]

Agree with Sbelbin on use of probiotics.

 

Funnily enough, my youngsters droppings haven't been spot on recently, thought they'd picked something up and gave them live yoghurt on their corn for three days. Started second course of three days tonight. Hadn't connected that damp weather / high humidity could cause problems???

[peterpau]

Canker and cocci counts rise in damp conditions, yoghurt will acidify the gut and reduce canker and cocci counts also e-coli as will lemon juice or cider vinegar (my choice)

[Guest]

I've gone over Sbelbins' Colin Walker article again. Doesn't quite gel with me.

 

How can a normal everyday occurrence like rain [bloody rains somewhere every day in Scotland] possibly have an adverse affect on health when you've adaptive evolution at play?

 

Other point of course is the conflict of interest present in being a pigeon vet offering health advice; running a pigeon specifics company and advertising your own pigeon health products.

[Guest]

I could find you a ton of info on humidity affecting pigeons on the NET from people who aren't advertising products if you like?

 

You only have to open your eyes when you walk in the loft on a damp day to see it affects the birds. .

 

The information is there for you to use it, if you like, but if you want to ignore it, then flairy fluff, makes no difference to me.  :-

[Guest]

I could find you a ton of info on humidity affecting pigeons on the NET from people who aren't advertising products if you like?

 

You only have to open your eyes when you walk in the loft on a damp day to see it affects the birds. .

 

The information is there for you to use it, if you like, but if you want to ignore it, then flairy fluff, makes no difference to me.  :-

 

 

Think you've missed the point I was making in my last post Stephen.  

 

First reading of the article made sense, as I said, I hadn't connected humidity being a problem as after all it is a normal every day feature of our climate.

 

+

 

Why does it just put pigeons down? Shouldn't it affect every living creature the same? And I made the point about adaptive evolution because an organism adapts to its normal environment over time ... or dies out.

 

= doesn't add up.

 

 

Was meant to be food for thought, Stephen. No digs at you or your information intended.