Young bird sickness.

[Murray]

Dutch champion Ad Schaerlaeckens (AS) spoke today in his usual plain manner about young bird sickness or Adeno /e Coli,


"Selection and medicines.
Why do pigeons from one fancier suffer much more from Adeno/Coli?
I can't prove anything, but when I look around me there can only be one explanation.
Some weaken their stock by using excessive and often incorrect medicines. And it seems obvious that weakened pigeons are more vulnerable."

I do agree with that. Like Andy I do not give my pigeons medications, sometimes for years on end. Also like him I am not so pig headed that I would not use medicine if it was required.
But a good loft, good hygiene, a good diet and good management appear to me to be the basis of good health. And healthy pigeons, like healthy people, don't need antibiotics on a regular cycle to stay well.

Just my opinion on it.

[Devo1956]

I would say stress causes problems in the loft, which can then lead to YBS. Over crowding, youngsters being weaned to soon. I feel this can play a part in YBS. Just my thoughts.

[Murray]

You are not wrong, Devo.
Youngsters being weaned at XX days old, because "I always wean my babies at XX days old."
Even if the weather is cold, the parents always raise smaller youngsters or they just aren't as forward as they might be, some people always wean them at a certain age.
I am a bit of a worrier, if they are a little bit smaller or not as feathered up I like to leave them just another day or two, or three, and when they do come out I am like an old mother hen.
They are only babies once. There's a short time between them being nest youngsters and being in the young bird team. Only a few days.
I think those few days really matter.

[king]

I would say stress causes problems in the loft, which can then lead to YBS. Over crowding, youngsters being weaned to soon. I feel this can play a part in YBS. Just my thoughts.

I totally disagree. What ever causes YBS has only arrived since 1983 (when we first vaccinated for PMV)
STRESS is an easy thing to blame, but Young birds are under no more stress than Young birds were before the arrival of YBS.
Anybody who raced BEFORE 1983 will tell you there was no such thing as YBS. And the word STRESS was never used by fanciers.

[Devo1956]

I would say stress causes problems in the loft, which can then lead to YBS. Over crowding, youngsters being weaned to soon. I feel this can play a part in YBS. Just my thoughts.

I totally disagree. What ever causes YBS has only arrived since 1983 (when we first vaccinated for PMV)
STRESS is an easy thing to blame, but Young birds are under no more stress than Young birds were before the arrival of YBS.
Anybody who raced BEFORE 1983 will tell you there was no such thing as YBS. And the word STRESS was never used by fanciers.

King I understand what you are saying, but I still say stress as a lot to do with YBS. Nurture plays a big part in development, every living thing needs stepping stones in life.
Growth and development all takes time, so more nurture helps relieve stress. Again different views makes a very good topic.

[Albert]

I don't know what it is, but I think there is a connection between PMV vaccination and Y/B sickness.

[Devo1956]

So over the past years YBS, people say it's viruses and bacteria that come into the loft. Circovirus , E coli and Cocci they say, so how can we try and make sure we can keep a healthy loft. We can look at Ventilation, no drafts coming into the loft.Cleaning of the lofts, making sure the loft floor and breeding boxes are kept clean and perch boxes. A dry loft is important, as well as clean water daily and fresh food, grit, and minerals, in all of the daily tasks.
It is all about minimising the risks for the health of our birds, in fact I would say paramount. Its all about building up a good immune system, nutrition plays a big part also. But I still feel that stress also plays a big part
in young birds. My own views, but others may differ.

[king]

I would say stress causes problems in the loft, which can then lead to YBS. Over crowding, youngsters being weaned to soon. I feel this can play a part in YBS. Just my thoughts.

I totally disagree. What ever causes YBS has only arrived since 1983 (when we first vaccinated for PMV)
STRESS is an easy thing to blame, but Young birds are under no more stress than Young birds were before the arrival of YBS.
Anybody who raced BEFORE 1983 will tell you there was no such thing as YBS. And the word STRESS was never used by fanciers.

King I understand what you are saying, but I still say stress as a lot to do with YBS. Nurture plays a big part in development, every living thing needs stepping stones in life.
Growth and development all takes time, so more nurture helps relieve stress. Again different views makes a very good topic.

Stress MAYBE is a trigger to YBS, but it's NOT the cause. And I've known fanciers get YBS before their birds are subjected to any stress ie training or racing? The majority of fanciers catch YBS when racing with their birds bringing it back while racing.

[Devo1956]

I totally disagree. What ever causes YBS has only arrived since 1983 (when we first vaccinated for PMV)
STRESS is an easy thing to blame, but Young birds are under no more stress than Young birds were before the arrival of YBS.
Anybody who raced BEFORE 1983 will tell you there was no such thing as YBS. And the word STRESS was never used by fanciers.

King I understand what you are saying, but I still say stress as a lot to do with YBS. Nurture plays a big part in development, every living thing needs stepping stones in life.
Growth and development all takes time, so more nurture helps relieve stress. Again different views makes a very good topic.

Yes I would agree with you King, another factor of YBS.

Stress MAYBE is a trigger to YBS, but it's NOT the cause. And I've known fanciers get YBS before their birds are subjected to any stress ie training or racing? The majority of fanciers catch YBS when racing with their birds bringing it back while racing.

Yes King , I agree another factor towards YBS.

[Devo1956]

Can i just ask other members, looking back over the years. Can anyone remember any kind of sickness with young birds? Before the 80s shall we say.