UkPigeonRacing

Now i am puting this up for any new members or young people of the sport. To help them understand when other, members talk about different virus. So I hope it helps others.

Pigeon circovirus (PiCV) is a highly contagious, globally distributed virus that attacks the immune system of pigeons, particularly young birds. It destroys white blood cells, causing severe immunosuppression that leaves the birds highly vulnerable to fatal secondary bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.
Key Symptoms & EffectsBecause circovirus primarily disables the immune system, the outward signs are often non-specific and are actually the result of concurrent, secondary infections. Common indicators include:Young Pigeon Disease Syndrome (YPDS): A common presentation in birds under 4 months old, marked by lethargy, weight loss, and green mucoid diarrhea.General signs: Fluffed feathers, poor appetite, vomiting, respiratory distress, and dehydration.Poor Racing Performance: Infected racing pigeons may show stunted growth, drop out of races, or have weakened endurance.

Transmission and PreventionThe virus spreads primarily through direct contact, the fecal-oral route, and the international trade or racing of pigeons. It can also be passed from parent to offspring before hatching (vertical transmission).Currently, there is no commercial vaccine available for pigeon circovirus. Management relies entirely on strict biosecurity measures and reducing flock stress.

Diagnosis and ManagementDiagnosis is difficult based on physical symptoms alone. Vets typically rely on molecular testing, such as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay, to detect the viral DNA in feces or tissue samples.

How are your birds doing today Chris? are they showing improvement?

They seem to be looking bit beter so hopefully that medication should do the trick was told put them on nystatin a few days after get yeast out of them

Andy wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2026 4:08 pm

Diamond Dave wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2026 2:41 pm Don't be fooled by it tho Chris. You don't just hsve a bit of ybs - you either have it or you dont!!
It is an airborne virus so if one has it, they will all have it.
In my experience they all tend to handle it differently, some are not to badly affected and others are real bad and can die.
Imo Its not worth isolating any that are sick but better to let it go thro them.
Now I have seen the first signs I will keep mine in maybe for 2 weeks on a light feed or until they start being a bit more responsive.
I don't treat them for anything and those that can't get thro it on there own won't get through it!
It's not nice to see what they go through mate.

I agree with your approach on the whole Dave. As I’ve said before I don’t treat for anything, haven’t for years. Mine had it a few weeks ago. I changed nothing. Fed them normally. Those that wanted to eat did those that didn’t, didn’t. Nothing in the water. I still let them out. Some didn’t want to fly. I had one die. The rest were as good as back to normal within 3 days. Nothing given afterwards either.
I don’t want to be keeping pigeons that haven’t got a good natural immunity. I never treat a sick pigeon, although rarely get one. They either recover or not.

After over 30 years of Y/bs, I do exactly as Andy does word for word. I also had it a few weeks ago, some times I loss no birds sometimes a few, and I think treating for it only stalls it, and you get it later, and you are risking it showing up in some yearlings, I think it is better to run its course.

young bird sickness is a highly contagious virus called rotavirus mainly attacks the liver and intestines you can get a pcr test done first to confirm that it is rotavirus

You will hear it in a few weeks, youngsters being sick in the crates. If in doubt dont send.

Chris1978 wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2026 10:55 am They seem to be looking bit beter so hopefully that medication should do the trick was told put them on nystatin a few days after get yeast out of them

Good to hear Chris, keep us informed of progress.

Aaaaaaarrrgggh. Had one die last night.
On handling some that have had it for 5 days now - I can't believe the weight loss. I have had birds fly 600+ miles come home with more weight on them.
I am going to buck the trend and feed them an energy corn. Every one says feed light and I havre been feeding a depurative up to now but that's not making any sense to me at the moment. Surerly going in to it and coming out of it an energy corn must be more beneficial?
What are others thoughts......


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Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 8:19 am Aaaaaaarrrgggh. Had one die last night.
On handling some that have had it for 5 days now - I can't believe the weight loss. I have had birds fly 600+ miles come home with more weight on them.
I am going to buck the trend and feed them an energy corn. Every one says feed light and I havre been feeding a depurative up to now but that's not making any sense to me at the moment. Surerly going in to it and coming out of it an energy corn must be more beneficial?
What are others thoughts......


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Have tried it every way Dave, but if you are talking the energy mix that they sell, well it is small seeds anyway and easily digestible, and would make sense. But at the end of the day the birds that survive, are I.M.O. more robust. And when you get them over it, I have no fear of putting them in the baskets with others at the club. The birds that, get very severe weight loss, are usually the ones that don't survive, and sometimes you have to be kind.

how old are the Y/Bs when they get the jabs