UkPigeonRacing

Sorry I've not been on for a while guys but it's not been a good two weeks for me or the birds.
My thoughts on over doing the protein in my birds causing loose droppings was more than proved to be incorrect two weeks ago I suddenly had youngsters going light and looking off colour, initially I thought it was ybs so treated them with Gem Strike and electrolytes. As a precaution I also ordered some cocci treatment as the symptoms could also lead to that being the problem, this arrived next day and with birds now dying I started them on the course of treatment. Sadly within the space of 5 days I had 12 dead youngsters, some of which had shown no sign of sickness. Having spoken to a friend at the pigeon club he gave me another treatment to try which I gave them straight away, this too didn't seem to stop the flow of the sickness and I lost a couple more birds. All the symptoms and deaths have led me to conclude that its PMV I've had as no old birds were affected, I took a chance mid week and vaccinated all the youngsters. I've still got half a dozen that are struggling and have lost a couple more but I think the worst is passed and have had no new cases for a couple of days. In total I have lost 18 babies and in all honesty don't think those that are still struggling will make up to much which will leave me about 15 for this years young bird season. I have had alot of strays in this year and have a lot of feral birds around which is more than likely where the disease has come from, one thing I will take form this is that next year I will vaccinate my youngsters at weaning age rather than waiting until I start training them.
As are result of this I obviously haven't raced for a couple of weeks but hope to send to our last OB race next week
The young bird season starts in two weeks but due to the problems I've had mine probably won't be ready by then.
Onwards and upwards, all the best.

sorry to read this Trev hope every thing works out for you and rest of season turns out ok for you

Sorry to see this mate, can I ask how you vaccinate for example new batch when birds are done or do you say do old birds then do youngsters after keeping in fridge inbetween

Circo and rota could cause same or similar mate one of these would be my bet old vaccinated birds can still get PMV or so I am led to believe, which takes me back to rota or circo virus

Hopefully things improving there now

Shocking news, Trev. My heart goes out to you. So much work and effort gone, just like that. It guts you, I know.

Yes probably PMV, but Buster might have got it too, Rota. That kills them real good.

I note your comment about high protein feed causing digestive upsets. I would put that out of your mind. In years gone, pigeons were raced on beans and peas, and because that was all they knew they did fine on it. Some people still feed the stock pigeons only peas or beans. I think that is wrong, but who am I to say?

What appears to cause digestive upsets is suddenly changing the corn. When I found mine were hungry for carbohydrates, in the cold, and leaving the legumes, I simply reduced the legumes, peas and beans, from 20% to 10 %. The rest of the mix is the same. The birds eat what they need, and I am not throwing peas to the doves.

This morning the birds had two trays of this,

This is what they left

Not much left for the little wild doves, so I threw them a cup of wheat as well.

I hope your problem is sorting it'self out, Trev. Keep an eye on thge ones that recover. They can look okay after Rota, but they can't stand training for a long while, some of them.

I know it’s been a terrible couple of weeks for you Trev. It does sound like you’ve turned a corner with them. Although some of the symptoms weren’t quite what I would have expected from PMV and you have lost a lot more than I would have thought you should but as I said to you I still think it was probably PMV especially as your old birds were fine. Just make sure the ones you have left are fine before you start any training with them.

Looks a nice mix Murray.

Andy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:02 am Looks a nice mix Murray.

It's nothing special, really.
Equal parts of maize, milo, wheat and safflower, with a few peas and beans in it.
Good enough for these spoilt critters. .

Thanks guys for your ongoing support and advice, always appreciated
Apart from a few isolated birds I think the worst has passed and the remaining birds are mostly looking ok

Trev wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:07 pm Thanks guys for your ongoing support and advice, always appreciated
Apart from a few isolated birds I think the worst has passed and the remaining birds are mostly looking ok

Great news mate fingers crossed for you

Pleased to hear that.

I hope they all bounce back fine for you Trev.