Young birds 2025

[PeteDerby]

Its that time of the year, youngsters looking healthy. It is all about keeping them healthy, so here is a small video for some it may help.

https://youtu.be/I05ROQ_AqM4?si=SF2SnSugujKFEyFq

Thank you for sharing. Back in the 70’s in my final season my YBs went down with some mystery illness that nobody knew anything about. Clearly a lot has happened since then so I know I’m on for a bit of a rough ride in this first year, particularly because my newly-acquired stock pigeons and foundation YBs have come in from several different sources. This video helps.

[PeteDerby]

I haven’t watched the video Pete
What are you particularly concerned about

From what I understand, each loft colony has its own tolerance or immunities to whatever ailments due to exposure to them, therefore they carry ‘things’ but show no symptoms. Mixing birds from multiple colonies as I’m doing in this first year, again as I understand it, means I have to be particularly vigilant and my lack of experience concerns me in case I don’t handle ‘events’ in the right way.

I’ve got a vaccination regime going on from Tollisan, but trying to go antibiotic free (as in no flock treatments) as Frank McLaughlin advocates, but I’m not sure how wise this is going to be?

[Albert]

That’s the thing Murray your not racing
When you did it’s different I imagine you had to be treating once you mix with others
How do you trust others

Neil it's a 2 way street, I don't treat for anything, and only like racing at 350 +, I don't like my birds mixing with treated birds, but I don't have an option. In todays world a lot of fanciers prop thier birds health up with medication. I go along with the thought, that my birds will be able to stand up to what they may encounter in the basket, with thier own natural immunity.

[jack walker]

I will be testing regular this season i think it as got to be one of the simplest things to do thanks for making me think cheers jack

[PeteDerby]

I can tell it’s a bloody minefield I’ve walked into and the only way forward is considered step by considered step. I really appreciate the insights, thank you.

[PeteDerby]

I can tell it’s a bloody minefield I’ve walked into and the only way forward is considered step by considered step. I really appreciate the insights, thank you.

I think if you don’t want to blind treat pre season Pete just go with regular tests

I just prefer to blind treat for the regular 4 things I do 2 in February 2 in March so then I can just keep on top of respo and have a monthly test , that’s just my way and not by any means correct

It would probably work out cheaper to have the tests done than constantly treat
and If you had a serious problem then there are other tests available at a higher
cost
Then you only need to worry about respo and the rest treat on advice
When you think 6 kits are £72 you’re only looking at £1.50 a week to have 6 kits
All I would say if you are 10 /15 min off the pace it could well be something a test would pick up and you could sort in a week rather than thinking it’s the pigeons or feeding or drag etc
Could be all them things but the test will give you a definite answer on one of the issues

Interesting Neil and something I’ll hopefully be in a position to delve into this time next year. At this stage all my focus is on getting the YBs settled and vaccinated. Next it’ll letting them out for the first few times and getting them to trap etc. Even educating and training seem a mile off at this stage even though it’s a matter of weeks away.

Bear in mind it’s over 50 years since I first had the experience of letting YBs out for the first time and I can STILL remember the anxiety. And that’s before birds of prey were ever the issue they are now!

[worm]

Pete get them out asap don't wait they only want it at that age have their feed down waiting every time they go out and they will go in faster everyday does get tricky if you go in cabin for something and 6 babies follow in your heals

[PeteDerby]

Worm is right Pete, don’t fanny about get them out

The more you delay the stronger they are getting

Interesting one this. I’m told a lot that the sparrow hawks are very active at the moment but it starts to calm down in 3 or 4 weeks so I should wait?

The main reason they’re not out yet though is that I bought a big settling pen /aviary on wheels that fits over the front of the yb section. The idea being they can come out, flutter about then trap through the Universal traps. I’d feel more confident with getting them back in following being scattered by a hawk attack if they knew how to get in. It’s just arrived and the concrete pad it runs on was put down on Monday so still curing.

I’m probably being over-cautious, but bear in mind I have zero birds that have been out before to show the YB how to get on. It’s just prisoners and babies right now and I’m figuring another week or so whilst they trap-train isn’t going to make much difference?

[Judder69]

Chris debakker video is an interesting watch and
makes alot of sense