Final Report On Young Bird Sickness (Ybs) In Pigeons

Ian McKay · March 13, 2017

Survey Report on young bird sickness (YBs) in pigeons

Introduction:

The reason for the survey is I have 2 subjects who have never knowingly

had YBs and thought that was a good starting point.

The products I have asked about are all used by these 2 people with some red herrings thrown in. It is not about finding out what you use, it's about finding out which products these 2 guys use that appear to be helping them avoid YBs, and, if this is the case, after 4/5yrs with no YBs I don't think it is luck.

I hope this gives you an insight into what I am trying to do. Will it help? I do not know but it is interesting, I have two other people who have answered and are amazingly close to what these 2 guys use and they also have NOT had YBs.

Method of returns:

2 Pigeon Forum Sites:

Pigeon Basics

Pigeon Chat

Plus some direct by E-mail

Findings:

Some people are not willing to give answers but I assured them it would be confidential. A lot of people use products even though they admitted they did not work. I was quite shocked to find the amount of antibiotics and non approved vaccinations being used.

Conclusions Based on Data:

133 fanciers had YBs (76%)

17 of this group used Permitherin (12.78%)

42 fanciers did not have YBs (24%)

13 of this group used Permitherin (30.95%)

On further investigation of the fanciers who had YBs and used Permitherin, it was established that most used it incorrectly.

Other products that faired well were Egg Food and Hormoform see Chart

It appears that an insect may be the probable cause of this problem. Whether the birds eat the eggs/larva or get bitten is inconclusive by this survey.

It is not a Virus as all birds that mix in training vehicles / crates would be affected

(as advised by the experts)

Recommendations:

The use of an insecticide like Permitherin or a substitute would be beneficial.

It is important to clean the loft and saturate it to eliminate insects with a regular spray to help eliminate the problem in the future.

A water based product is more cost effective and beneficial to our birds.

Aerosol sprays cannot saturate the loft properly and are expensive and ineffective.

Immediate Recommendations:

Start with your YB loft / section saturate it before you put your youngsters in, giving your birds as much protection as possible.

Future research is needed:

It may be that fanciers do not realize there birds have a problem until they start training or racing then it hits them with poor returns. This may explain why we have such losses in some races and why Federation / Club birdages plummet soon after racing starts especially in the young bird season.

I have at least 4 fanciers who have had what they believe to be YBs and have decided to trial a Permitherin type product for 2017. They will follow the instructions to the letter to see if it helps them in 2017. The results will not be known until approx September 2017

Should you wish to know more or ask any questions I am on Pigeon Basics or Tel: 01224 741028

Ian McKay

â€œKingsleaâ€

Kingswells

Aberdeen

AB15 8SL

Ph 01224 741028

E-mail

ian.mckay@btinternet.com

Ian McKay · March 13, 2017

Below are the fanciers who have opted to disclose the use of permitherin for the 2017 season all have purchased it and will follow the instructions to the letter

I am still open to trialists if you wish to join in as the more I have will give us a better idea if I am on the right track

This will be the biggest test of the survey results and might give a huge clue if it is helping

I will not ask for a report from any of them till late August / September

by which time they will know the results

If they wish to disclose there findings as they go along I have no objections to this

I think this brings the survey results out in the open for all to see

I wish them all the best for 2017

Trialists 2017

Name Site name

Jim Coutts & son Jumbo

Stuart Lammie jast

Andy Burgess andy Burgess