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I wondered how separating them by colour cured canker, but you learn something new every day. 
I only race a small team of widowhood cocks but yes they hold their own against big teams without any treatment.randywatson wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 4:48 pmIf you don't mind me asking, are you successful without treatments?Andy wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2026 8:48 am In my 50 odd years of keeping pigeons I’ve only had canker in a handful of pigeons, probably no more than 4. These were removed from the loft and nothing else treated. Like Murray I never treat for anything.
I never canker during the off season, but before racing, I try to use emtryl if I can get it. Then treat for it every 3 or 4 weeks.
I didn't have emtryl this season and after getting a fairly light dose of youngbird sickness my birds had a high canker count.
Ill admit we found it very difficult to shift though. It was only once I got my hands on some emtryl did we finally get the birds clean
I use garlic and ACV in the water every so often even during the racing season. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a reduction of water intake because of it.goose1 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 8:47 pmTreatment of canker? Are we talking a pigeon with the clinical signs of canker? If so I don't think I've ever seen it. Something would have had to have gone massively wrong with your general management to see a pigeon showing clinical canker. In these cases and as a general treatment (which I'm not a big fan of) Ronidazol (first choice), Spartrix, or emtryl would do the job. However if your pigeons aren't giving you cause for concern I personally would stay clear of treating for treating sake. I actually think it's not a good thing to reduce the canker count in a pigeon to zero. My own personal preference for keeping on top of canker is the yellow drops. However garlic has also been proven to be quite effective at keeping it under control but I'm not a fan of using it in the racing season, particularly in the drinking water as the birds don't drink the same. Often fanciers say they use garlic in the drinking water and the down falls out the pigeons it will do but its due to dehydrationDevo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2026 6:14 pm Just for other new members to pick up some tips. So what do members use for the treatment of canker?
I agree. Every pigeon carries a natural number of canker germs and i think it's best to leave that alone. As goose says, if they develop clinical canker things have gone seriously wrong.goose1 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 8:47 pmTreatment of canker? Are we talking a pigeon with the clinical signs of canker? If so I don't think I've ever seen it. Something would have had to have gone massively wrong with your general management to see a pigeon showing clinical canker. In these cases and as a general treatment (which I'm not a big fan of) Ronidazol (first choice), Spartrix, or emtryl would do the job. However if your pigeons aren't giving you cause for concern I personally would stay clear of treating for treating sake. I actually think it's not a good thing to reduce the canker count in a pigeon to zero. My own personal preference for keeping on top of canker is the yellow drops. However garlic has also been proven to be quite effective at keeping it under control but I'm not a fan of using it in the racing season, particularly in the drinking water as the birds don't drink the same. Often fanciers say they use garlic in the drinking water and the down falls out the pigeons it will do but its due to dehydrationDevo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2026 6:14 pm Just for other new members to pick up some tips. So what do members use for the treatment of canker?
Few year back now I measured the water consumption over 3 weeks, first week clean, second week garlic added and third week clean again. I'd be lying if I said I could remember what the difference was but it was surprising. Could just be ours of course. Although probably does go for most things when added to water so during racing season we try to add nothing to the water where possible. Although we do like garlic in tbe off season, our old birds and stock currently have it in at the min. ACV is one we maybe should use more regularly, it's highly recommended by a couple of top vets for being effective at reducing salmonella bacteria. Although I suppose anything that lowers the PH would have the same effect.Andy wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 10:01 pmI use garlic and ACV in the water every so often even during the racing season. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a reduction of water intake because of it.goose1 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 8:47 pmTreatment of canker? Are we talking a pigeon with the clinical signs of canker? If so I don't think I've ever seen it. Something would have had to have gone massively wrong with your general management to see a pigeon showing clinical canker. In these cases and as a general treatment (which I'm not a big fan of) Ronidazol (first choice), Spartrix, or emtryl would do the job. However if your pigeons aren't giving you cause for concern I personally would stay clear of treating for treating sake. I actually think it's not a good thing to reduce the canker count in a pigeon to zero. My own personal preference for keeping on top of canker is the yellow drops. However garlic has also been proven to be quite effective at keeping it under control but I'm not a fan of using it in the racing season, particularly in the drinking water as the birds don't drink the same. Often fanciers say they use garlic in the drinking water and the down falls out the pigeons it will do but its due to dehydrationDevo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2026 6:14 pm Just for other new members to pick up some tips. So what do members use for the treatment of canker?
What is the difference between wet canker and I guess dry canker please King.king wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2026 12:50 pmI too have only seen it once in a bird of mine, wet canker in a YB. Can't remember the year but the I remember the sire was a 1970 bird.Andy wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2026 8:48 am In my 50 odd years of keeping pigeons I’ve only had canker in a handful of pigeons, probably no more than 4. These were removed from the loft and nothing else treated. Like Murray I never treat for anything.
while eating. Sometimes at roost you'll see them almost look as if their trying to chew something very subtly. These pigeons certainly aren't ill with canker but they'll be in the second flock and not the first. As has been mentioned by a few above their are ways to lower it without treatment. And if I was thinking of treating me personally I would always have them tested to confirm first.In my opinion the only way to go. treat them once a year with anything like rondiazole, dimetridazole etc. EVERY pigeon has canker inside of them. And you can even go to the vet with 3-4 and be lucky and they dont have much at all but that wont mean that the rest has non.king wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2026 11:51 pm Only treat for Canker once a year. A couple of weeks before pairing at the start of the season. I use Emtryl Soluble (40% dimetridazole)
Yes goose is right Wet canker is rarely seen as it's almost always internal. I've only seen it once in a YB that was still in the nest. It can be spotted by the rear end of the YB becoming bigger than normal and feeling spongy, the YB was smaller than it's nestmate which did not seem affected.goose1 wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2026 12:48 pm King will no doubt answer but my understanding is you won't see 'wet' canker as such. A pigeon with this will usually consume large amounts of water and as a result will have very watery droppings, the pigeon will also look in awful condition. Dry canker if we want to call it that usually presents as cheesy growths in the mouth/throat.
But again you absolutely 100% do not want to be seeing clinical canker in your loft period. However knowing how to identify a pigeon that may be carrying enough canker to effect racing performance while not actually appearing ill is far better. With that for me I would be looking for pigeons that drink even a small amount more than usual, sometimes you'll notice them go for the drinker after exercise even on cool days. They'll sometimes stretch their necks almost looking like a snake