UkPigeonRacing

Albert wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 8:57 am

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.

Devo1956 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:12 am Young bird sickness is a problem that many have to deal with, so it helps when you can have a plan. So what next.? Some members dont believe in treating their birds, so here is some guidance.

Actionable Management PlanIsolate & Rest: Immediately remove any birds showing symptoms (e.g., lethargy, fluffed feathers, vomiting, or water retention) into a separate, warm, and stress-free section of the loft.Dietary Changes: Withdraw normal grain mixtures for 24 hours. Replace with a light, easily digestible depuritive mix (such as a Super Condition feed with minimal corn) in small, frequent portions.Supportive Water: Add electrolytes (e.g., Meditech UK YBS or Versele-Laga Intestinal Top) to drinking water to prevent severe dehydration caused by wet droppings and vomiting.Bacterial Control: Since YBS triggers make birds vulnerable to E. coli, consult a specialist avian vet about broad-spectrum antibiotics or chemotherapeutics to treat secondary bacterial infections.

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 10:31 am

Devo1956 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:12 am Young bird sickness is a problem that many have to deal with, so it helps when you can have a plan. So what next.? Some members dont believe in treating their birds, so here is some guidance.

Actionable Management PlanIsolate & Rest: Immediately remove any birds showing symptoms (e.g., lethargy, fluffed feathers, vomiting, or water retention) into a separate, warm, and stress-free section of the loft.Dietary Changes: Withdraw normal grain mixtures for 24 hours. Replace with a light, easily digestible depuritive mix (such as a Super Condition feed with minimal corn) in small, frequent portions.Supportive Water: Add electrolytes (e.g., Meditech UK YBS or Versele-Laga Intestinal Top) to drinking water to prevent severe dehydration caused by wet droppings and vomiting.Bacterial Control: Since YBS triggers make birds vulnerable to E. coli, consult a specialist avian vet about broad-spectrum antibiotics or chemotherapeutics to treat secondary bacterial infections.

Sorry Dev but I disagree with most of this post.
ImO if you isolate any birds all it does is prolong the illness. Again, I'm no vet but the longer it goes on, the worse it seems to get.
As you say, we all have different opinions and mine is to get it through your birds as quickly as possible. Once you have signs of it, there is no stopping it and again, just my opinion but once you have it, no amount of neds will stop it (I am not talking about prevention as I don't know enough about that, this is from the first signs that you actually have it)
With every respect Dev I don't think you should be advocating the use of anti- biotic to new starters.
That is a choice - and not the only way to deal with it.
Please note - I am not a tree-hugger.

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:05 am Ah, of course Dev. I Know everything you say n do is for the benefit of others and probably me being pathetic but the opening sentence in your post included the word "guidance". and that's how a new starter could perceive it.
It made me think if we had a poll on here as to how many do use anti biotics on a regular basis as an ongoing support to racing.

Tony-P- wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 10:51 am as a new starter, this make for a very interesting read, to see the different opinions of people and the way they deal with Y/B sickness. I can see that a lot of you have different ways of dealing with Y/B sickness and for me some of it can be very confusing on the best way to deal with it if my own birds ever got it (once I get the birds that is) I would be looking for the advice off someone who has the experience of keeping pigeons for many years and dealt with Y/B sickness over the years, and been able to help the Y/Bs to fight it back to being a healthy pigeon again. Now if this means Vaccination's, pills and potions ect to help the birds then I would do this but I would need the right advice from the start not 20 different ones to confuse me, as this would not help the birds or me.
But again good to read different opinions on this.

Devo1956 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:12 am

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:05 am Ah, of course Dev. I Know everything you say n do is for the benefit of others and probably me being pathetic but the opening sentence in your post included the word "guidance". and that's how a new starter could perceive it.
It made me think if we had a poll on here as to how many do use anti biotics on a regular basis as an ongoing support to racing.

Dave, can i be honest. Going through young bird sickness is very stressful, for the birds and yourself. I have been to some lofts with young bird sickness, and it was not a very good visit. I hope your bird improve and get back to normal. I took natural products to help this guy, birds were flying around after a few days.

Diamond Dave wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:46 am

Tony-P- wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 10:51 am as a new starter, this make for a very interesting read, to see the different opinions of people and the way they deal with Y/B sickness. I can see that a lot of you have different ways of dealing with Y/B sickness and for me some of it can be very confusing on the best way to deal with it if my own birds ever got it (once I get the birds that is) I would be looking for the advice off someone who has the experience of keeping pigeons for many years and dealt with Y/B sickness over the years, and been able to help the Y/Bs to fight it back to being a healthy pigeon again. Now if this means Vaccination's, pills and potions ect to help the birds then I would do this but I would need the right advice from the start not 20 different ones to confuse me, as this would not help the birds or me.
But again good to read different opinions on this.

That's a choice that you have to make for yourself
I guess that boils down to what sort if fancier you want to be.
Will it be a "win at all costs" type of fancier or do you just want to race and enjoy seeing your birds come home.
For me it is the latter. But I have been told by quite a few ppl on here (some that are no longer with us) that I am just a "pigeon keeper, that my birds are shit and I will never do any good."
They could all be right but the beauty of this sport is that it is for everyone - for me, I just love my birds and seeing them home I am not bothered -win or lose. I have other things in life that come before pigeons.
It will be whatever you want it to be mate and that's your choice of the type of fancier you want to be.
Good luck with them mate, can't wait to see the photos of your loft... and your birds.