Young Bird Racing

[geordie1234]

Peter your correct many ppl don't admit they have a problem maybe they are embarrassed bt nothing to be embarrassed about it happens to EVERYBODY

[greenlands]

Once you've got your young bird sickness sorted and have stopped treating with the appropriate anti.what is your next step,multi-vits ? electrolytes ? probiotics ? nystatin ? Sedachol ? or have you something else up your sleeve ? :emoticon-0138-thinking: :emoticon-0138-thinking:

[greenlands]

Just seen this interesting article,thanks to Nick for putting it up.

 

Peter Boskamp news letter for August

 

Youngsters that stay away

The question of why so many youngsters stay behind is regularly asked to use pigeon veterinarians by pigeon breeders. There are colleagues who want to have all the answers and say they know exactly the absolute cause. That is nonsense in my eyes. There is no single cause, there are several reasons for this. Old friends like clear skies and easterly winds, and also those inversion can be quite though among the youngsters in an unguarded moment. But there are other causes. If we look at the diseases that play a role, there are multiple to mention. Again, there are again some old acquaintances such as heavy cancer infections, respiratory infections, and also the "coli". But this is what too general and too easy.

 

Personally, we believe that the herpesvirus plays a significant role in the loss of the youngsters. And it is not directly then at least indirectly. Since we have to vaccinate against this disease, which according to the books has to be done twice. There is a clear trend that the pigeons who are vaccinated do not get lost that often.

 

The question remains whether this is purely caused by the Herpes vaccination or the fact that it vaccinates in this way also twice against paramyxovirus (as intended is), as this plays a major, or perhaps greater role. To rule that out we should look at people who only vaccinated twice against salmonella as the leaflet prescribes. But the vast majority of those who vaccinated only do this once, because it is simply a "must".

 

Anyway, as I said, we clearly see a reduced loss of the youngsters by the pigeons that are double vaccinated against the herpes virus. This is just a given. But even by double vaccinated birds the losses can be considerable.

 

In addition, we often establish a significant presence of "the bully bacteria '. Both last year and this year usually the losses stop after a cure against this bacteria.

 

On a personal basis I report that I still suspect that radiation is not as innocent for pigeons as people claim (those who have an interest in this). The dependence of radiation equipment that produces or is subject to radiation is so big that it is a given that we will have to deal with. We can not change much.

 

At the beginning of this century, I read an article in which German doctors had determined that there is more risk of leukemia in children when they live near radiation masts. Means of research Quite shocking. But then almost nothing happens. Indeed, the number of masts rose and is only increasing. A price we have to pay for evolution.

 

All in all, there are a number of factors to mention whether or not just cause problems for the pigeons, which ensure that they do not know to find the way home. Against some factors it is possible to take action. Against others less.

 

Probiotics

As known probiotics are the so-called 'good intestinal bacteria. Prebiotics are referred to as the substances that help the good intestinal bacteria help it grow. We distinguish species-specific probiotics and probiotics from other species. The species-specific probiotics occur in the species concerned. The advantage of providing these probiotics is that they nestle in the intestine. The other probiotics do have a positive influence in the intestine but are much more excreted with the feces.

 

Many pigeon breeders ask me the question whether the provision of probiotics is needed. The answer is simple. On water and feed the pigeons can live well. But a racing pigeon must be able to deliver a optimum performance. In order to achieve this, the circumstances have to be more than optimal.

 

Probiotics are good intestine bacteria. As long as these are majority in the intestine, pathogenic and other more harmful intestinal bacteria have less opportunity. It is a matter of competition. As the intestinal flora is getting stronger the disease has no chance.

 

Providing probiotics therefore falls under the heading of preventive health care.

 

In addition, probiotics are important to give after giving antibiotics, to get the intestinal flora level back up again. Antibiotics destroy not only the poor and pathogenic bacteria but also the good intestinal flora. If a rapid recovery, after a necessary antibiotic treatment, is desired then give probiotics to contribute to this.

[Tony C]

There's no treatment for it. You can give them a 4 in 1 antibiotic to stop other infections jumping on the back of it but I choose not to, I just let it run its course. Rest is the most important thing, locked up for 4-5 days normally does the trick but the best guide is when their droppings return back to normal.

 

 

I get the impression their is a stigma attached to this problem but I certainly dont feel that way and wish more would be open about it. As for Tony in an earlier post reccomending to let it run its course and do nothing well one of my mates did exactly that and when they started dropping DEAD did he go to the vet. He lost quite a few and ended up with losing the lot as Yearlings. Please dont give false information about a serious problem which is affecting many but being shoved under the carpet so their racing can continue.

 

I never recommended 'do nothing' I stated I choose to do nothing! I shall expand on this. There is a possibility they'll contract a secondary infection but this doesn't mean they will. Its the secondary infection that does the damage and not the y/b/s in itself. If a secondary infection does take hold I'll deal with this when the time comes but until that time no antibiotics will be given. NB the use of the word 'secondary', if y/b/s opened the door up for a specific infection to each and all it wouldn't be called a secondary infection it would be called by its correct name. It so happens one loft could get e-coli whilst another loft could go down with a respiratory infection another cocci and yet another not have any secondary infection at all .........and here lays the biggest problem. Fancier A treats with an antibiotic that clears up the e-coli and tells fancier B what he treated with and it cleared the problem up in no time, fancier B believing that's the stuff he's going to treat he's birds with but finds it doesn't help he's pigeons one jot. Each individual loft has to be treated different and how you deal with it will either make or break your team. More damage can be done by administering the wrong antibiotic as it kills good bugs too leaving the initial infection less to fight against and as a result get stronger and stronger until the pigeon drops of the perch.

 

And this is why I chose to do nothing.

[philg50]

Well as far as i am concerned the birds are starting to pick up ,big change in them since Sat morn just as i said gave section good disinfect have not fed them and Potasium Permagnate in water ,will start feeding lightly the morn and give them a tonic,build them up ,there hasnt been up to now any secondary type infection that i can see ,fingers crossed.

[peter pandy]

I see where you are coming from Tony BUT by approaching Belgica De Weerd and following their advice regarding treatment for YB sickness with the course laid down of 5 days THEN sending a sample of droppings plus crop swab they will advise if a secondary infection is present and the treatment required. Surely it is better to get professional advice from the start where the vet knows what you have been treating with and can discount certain aspects if secondary infection is found. I am now on day 3 of the course prescribed and the sickness has stopped with the droppings firming up nicely and the youngsters looking lively again.

[robbiedoo.]

I see where you are coming from Tony BUT by approaching Belgica De Weerd and following their advice regarding treatment for YB sickness with the course laid down of 5 days THEN sending a sample of droppings plus crop swab they will advise if a secondary infection is present and the treatment required. Surely it is better to get professional advice from the start where the vet knows what you have been treating with and can discount certain aspects if secondary infection is found. I am now on day 3 of the course prescribed and the sickness has stopped with the droppings firming up nicely and the youngsters looking lively again.

 

Peter i see you are in day 3 of your treatment when will you be racing these youngsters again . The reason i ask is cause i know of members that have had the YBS at the start of the week and by the end of the week their birds start to look ok again so they send them in the transporter at the weekend. One of the things thats sickening me about it at the moment is a old fanceir in my club sends his youngsters for their first race last weekend and by Monday or Tuesday they start showing signs of YBS and this fanceir has never had it to the best of knoledge .

[dal2]

I see where you are coming from Tony BUT by approaching Belgica De Weerd and following their advice regarding treatment for YB sickness with the course laid down of 5 days THEN sending a sample of droppings plus crop swab they will advise if a secondary infection is present and the treatment required. Surely it is better to get professional advice from the start where the vet knows what you have been treating with and can discount certain aspects if secondary infection is found. I am now on day 3 of the course prescribed and the sickness has stopped with the droppings firming up nicely and the youngsters looking lively again.

So what do you need the vet for?

[eastcoaster]

I have taken a bit of a hammering today with Lanarkshire , the birds are natural and it was their first race but I expected them to do the 117 ok not fast but ok , is there more to my bad race than just a hard day ! When basketing my birds yesterday I picked up a couple and noticed the very slightest of darkness in the wattle so took no chance and left them both at home. The rest looked fine but were they ! today's race has me wondering ,

The two hens I left have no markes today ? But 4/16 is not good .

[peter pandy]

Peter i see you are in day 3 of your treatment when will you be racing these youngsters again . The reason i ask is cause i know of members that have had the YBS at the start of the week and by the end of the week their birds start to look ok again so they send them in the transporter at the weekend. One of the things thats sickening me about it at the moment is a old fanceir in my club sends his youngsters for their first race last weekend and by Monday or Tuesday they start showing signs of YBS and this fanceir has never had it to the best of knoledge .

 

Hoping to resume training next Monday and see how they go from there. I certainly wont be racing unles I get the all clear from the vet as I dont wish to pass my problem onto anyone else.

 

So what do you need the vet for?

 

Confirmation that all is well.

[philg50]

Peter i see you are in day 3 of your treatment when will you be racing these youngsters again . The reason i ask is cause i know of members that have had the YBS at the start of the week and by the end of the week their birds start to look ok again so they send them in the transporter at the weekend. One of the things thats sickening me about it at the moment is a old fanceir in my club sends his youngsters for their first race last weekend and by Monday or Tuesday they start showing signs of YBS and this fanceir has never had it to the best of knoledge .

This was how it happened with me i was going to put Saturday past, Friday they looked ok flew well at home exersising well then sat morning food thrown up all over floor and them lookin sorry for themselves .I am not racing next Friday but i will be putting the week after i hope thats long enough to get them back to normal.

[greenlands]

Why

 

By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent 07:31AM BST 23 Jul 2014 23 Comments

Bats get ‘the Bends’ when they fly too near wind turbines, experts have claimed.

Queen’s University Belfast said pressure from the turbine blades causes a similar condition as that experienced by divers when the surface too quickly.

Conservationists have warned that the bodies of bats are frequently seen around the bases of turbines, but it was previously assumed they had flown into the blades.

However, Dr Richard Holland claims that bats suffer from ‘barotrauma’ when the approach the structures which can pop their lungs from inside their bodies.

Dr Holland said energy companies should consider turning off turbines when bats are migrating.

Related Articles

Wind turbines may be killing bats by 'exploding' their lungs 13 Sep 2013

Radar could prevent bat deaths 17 Jul 2009

Eco-motoring made easy Volvo

"We know that bats must be 'seeing' the turbines, but it seems that the air pressure patterns around working turbines give the bats what's akin to the bends," he said.

'"It's most common in migratory species, with around 300,000 bats affected every year in Europe alone. You just find bats dead at the bottom of these turbines. One option is to reduce turbine activity during times of peak migration."

The team at Queen’s University also found that bats use polarised light to navigate as well as echo-location.

Greater mouse-eared bats were shown to react to the way the sun's light is scattered in the atmosphere at sunset in order to calibrate their internal magnetic compass, in a study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Researchers said a huge number of animals including bees, dung beetles and fish use this system as a form of compass, but bats are the first mammals to do so. They said they remained baffled as to how bats achieve this feat.

The finding adds to a growing list of systems used by bats to navigate including echolocation or sonar, the sun, stars and the Earth's magnetic field, as well as smells and sight.

'"Every night through the spring, summer and autumn, bats leave their roosts in caves, trees and buildings to search for insect prey.

"They might range hundreds of kilometres in a night, but return to their roosts before sunrise to avoid predators. But, until now, how they achieved such feats of navigation wasn't clear," Stefan Greif of Queen's University, lead author of the study, said.

"'Most people are familiar with bats using echolocation to get around. But that only works up to about 50 metres (164ft), so we knew they had to be using another of their senses for longer-range navigation."

In the experiment, scientists showed 70 adult, female mouse-eared bats one of two different types of polarisation patterns at sunset.

They then released them in Bulgaria around 20 to 25 kilometres (12-15 miles) from their home roost in the early hours of the morning, when no polarisation was visible.

The bats that had been shown a shifted pattern of polarised light headed off in a direction at right angles from those that had not.

 

And pigeons use and see polarised light as well as Ultra Violet

 

Summary

Of 12 homing pigeons tested, four could be trained to discriminate between a linearly polarized light source with a rotating axis of polarization and the same light source with a stationary axis of polarization. Initially, all 12 pigeons were trained to discriminate between rotating and non-rotating cross hairs. The cross hairs were gradually faded until only polarized light remained. The response was a classically conditioned increase in heart rate. An additional control series was performed using neutral density filters. This is the first evidence for polarized light detection in birds.

We thank Drs. K. Adler, J. Hatch, and T. Waterman for reading and criticizing an early draft of this paper. This work was supported by an NSF Graduate Fellowship to M. Kreithen, a grant from the Cornell Office of Sponsored Research, and NSF Research Grants GB 13046X and GB 35199X to W. T. Keeton.

Patterns of polarized light also appear to play a key role in navigation. Many of the nocturnal migrants start their flights at sunset or a little after. Birds apparently use the polarized light patterns to provide information on initial migratory flight directions.

[C WRIGHT]

several weeks ago i was training yb final long toss one in which they had previously all been twice and returned in good time

 

35 yb missing that day with until now onlt 3 reported

the ybs were in good condition and had a full bill of health report done through testing 1 week prior

so i knew it wasnt an inner illness unlike many

 

believed to be perigans as one fancier whom got one of my birds in told me his mate same day 7 minutes before me had tossed same point and had been wiped out with 4 perigans

 

now my next point the reason i have my yb fully tested apart from mine and the ybs benifit is for the benifit of other fanciers

if we just presume our youngsters are well which a lot do and even after a serious bout of yb sickness ect they pop them in the basket following week

this is atrosious and IMO they shoould be barred

it cost 50 quid for a test

lets say 300yb from your club and easy figure 2020 yb in the transp[orter

the 20 birds that the so called expert sent which HE ALONE decided they look fine now instead of spending 50 quid to clarify from an expert

infect the other 2000 birds which some off manage to return and infect the rest of there lofts

we now have an out break of yb sickness all to save 50 quid

 

It is my opinion that all yb should be tested and have a certificate prior to racing as we do or should do with vacinations sheets and this should be imposed

 

i can hear many shouting now that would cost us money

 

well does losing 2000 plus yb out infected on transporters not cost guys money even the guys who are doing there best and testing spending there 50 quid are hit by the out break

of the so called pro fancier who thinks his yb look all right cause he knows

[dal2]

several weeks ago i was training yb final long toss one in which they had previously all been twice and returned in good time

 

35 yb missing that day with until now onlt 3 reported

the ybs were in good condition and had a full bill of health report done through testing 1 week prior

so i knew it wasnt an inner illness unlike many

 

believed to be perigans as one fancier whom got one of my birds in told me his mate same day 7 minutes before me had tossed same point and had been wiped out with 4 perigans

 

now my next point the reason i have my yb fully tested apart from mine and the ybs benifit is for the benifit of other fanciers

if we just presume our youngsters are well which a lot do and even after a serious bout of yb sickness ect they pop them in the basket following week

this is atrosious and IMO they shoould be barred

it cost 50 quid for a test

lets say 300yb from your club and easy figure 2020 yb in the transp[orter

the 20 birds that the so called expert sent which HE ALONE decided they look fine now instead of spending 50 quid to clarify from an expert

infect the other 2000 birds which some off manage to return and infect the rest of there lofts

we now have an out break of yb sickness all to save 50 quid

 

It is my opinion that all yb should be tested and have a certificate prior to racing as we do or should do with vacinations sheets and this should be imposed

 

i can hear many shouting now that would cost us money

 

well does losing 2000 plus yb out infected on transporters not cost guys money even the guys who are doing there best and testing spending there 50 quid are hit by the out break

of the so called pro fancier who thinks his yb look all right cause he knows

 

Tested mine once, hmmmmm, no be doing it again. Nowt to say about much except how much it was going to cost

[C WRIGHT]

must have been to wrong place cause mine told me every thing tested for what was positive and what was negative

then u onl;y treat for the exact problem with the corect stuff

not just treat blind

i then sent samples away after treatment this time in another name and address and all came back negative

cant imagine any company just asking for money and giving you any information mmmm

like i said i think it should be compulsary for the sake of the sport and all birds health

[dal2]

must have been to wrong place cause mine told me every thing tested for what was positive and what was negative

then u onl;y treat for the exact problem with the corect stuff

not just treat blind

i then sent samples away after treatment this time in another name and address and all came back negative

cant imagine any company just asking for money and giving you any information mmmm

like i said i think it should be compulsary for the sake of the sport and all birds health

I had paratyphoid but wanted it confirmed, which they couldn't, I took matters into my own hands. I am a big believer in experienced fanciers info

[C WRIGHT]

i am quite new to this sport and

i also listen to experienced fanciers and respect what some say

but surely your not implying that youeself or anyone else whoms birds are sick know exactly when

they are 100 percent cured and wont spread desease

this is the point i am making and not just yb sickness but all deseases

i understand it may cost 50 quid for the test then the price to cure and then a final test to confirm they are fit to race with other birds and with no risk to others birds

a small fee to pay to prevent outbreaks in transporters and ripping through many more lofts

 

no other sport allows any unhealthy sick to compete not only for the sake of other cometitors but also for the sake of the unhealthy competitor