1st round of youngsters

[Buster121]

They are looking well Andy

[Andy]

I have still got the widowhood hens in with the youngsters at present but today I had 6 youngsters out in the aviary. I think I am going to have to start getting them out soon. I am planning on repairing the hens in a couple of weeks but not sure I can wait that long as the youngsters may be to strong.

[Murray]

I see your point there.

[Andy]

I see your point there.

I won’t be pairing up any earlier I may just need to move the hens into their own section.

[Trev]

I handled a few of the youngsters this evening. I must say that I am very pleased with them. They are growing nicely and have a good amount of weight on them. They handle really well. They are very friendly and are all around my feet while cleaning them out. Some are now up in the box perches but a few still prefer the bit of straw I have put down in the corner lol.

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They are looking well Andy
As you say, they will be keen to get out soon, I just hope they can avoid the Hawks

[Trev]

The only thing I would say against that Devo is how can you prevent sickness? You wouldn’t get any benefit from treating for something they haven’t got. The best way of prevention is just to keep a clean loft. I was an athlete as far as being a swimmer and water polo player and I have never taken any treatments for anything. I still don’t take anything prescribed if I’m sick now.

Yes i understand what you mean Andy, but there are different ways in Prevention. And you can gain this with natural products.

Even if preventative measures are used, in what ever form, pigeons are going to be exposed to many different forms of disease over their lifetime. This is when the fancier plays their part. You could treat with anything you can lay your hands on when first noticed but then your treating for things they don’t have, both being costly and a waste of time. You could have tests done to find out what is effecting them and then treat for that. That again takes time to get the results back before treating and again can be costly. I also think that both these ways although may clear up the problem it can come at a hidden cost in that it may make inferior pigeons look well. These could then be bred from or be carriers of the disease. I prefer to let things run their course and have the best survive.
The other thing for us as fanciers is to recognise when a pigeon isn’t right. My way is then to not separate them from the flock but to give them time to recover. This may take a bit of time but if they are good pigeons they will recover. I think this is the problem with many losses during the racing season. Pigeons pick up whatever from the race basket and may then not be right. Given time, maybe just a week or two off, they will be back to full health. Too often pigeons aren’t given time to recover, sent racing again before being right and ultimately put in a bad performance or are lost. I do think this does happen in OLR where there is a need to push the birds on regardless. If mine missed a few races or even the rest of the season so be it. But if you have a team of strong pigeons not propped up by treatments this would rarely happen.

I agree with what you and Muzza are saying Andy and also won't treat for things unless absolutely necessary. I think everything is too hygienic and medicated these days so natural immunities are suffering badly. However I don't think Devo is talking about treatment's/medication, he his more meaning natural plant based products that can/will help to boost the birds natural immunity, at the end of the day as a stickman you know that animals will automatically look for what they need and know is good for them, as we have intervened with nature and domesticated these creatures it's now our job as their protectors to ensure they have everything they need to be able to survive and do what we are going to ask of them !! Our predecessors used to add the little things like, Iodine, lemon juice, brewer's yeast amongst other things just to help promote/support condition their natural immunity. That's why Muzza loves his birds to eat as much veg as they can and why birds on an open loft often thrive as they are more likely to find those little extras they need.

[George and Morgan]

looking good Andy good luck with them