Letter from the readers n°23 – racing pigeons
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A French fancier from the Franco-Belgian border has problems with pigeon plumages. These “widowers” have a “tie” (lost feathers in the crop). A Peruwelz pharmacist advised him to treat them with Acarol, a solution to be mixed with lukewarm water and applied to the crop.
What was my surprise, he writes, to find all my “widowers” from the same loft affected by this depluming mange, and all in the same place. I returned to Belgium to find Acarol, but this product is withdrawn from the market and I have been provided with potassium polysulphide.
Is this product really effective, when one bath is enough, I’m told. Pardon the smell! Both for the clothes and in the loft. Do I also have to disinfect the loft? With a sprayer?
The females who have been in contact with the “widowers” do not present a “tie” for the moment. What should I do with this product?
Second question, a two-year-old male received this year was coupled, without going out. The eggs were good and the young were born normally. But at the birth of these, this male no longer managed to reach his locker (the highest). He started to lose weight and limp in one leg. His droppings were always nice. Then an eye closed on the side of the lame leg. A week later I found that he had lost his pupil. I eliminated it. Can you tell me what he was suffering from? Thanks in advance.
Answer: Syringophilus parasitism is progressively contagious. The extension to all your widowers is therefore logical. If we want to intervene effectively, we must take into account the biology of the parasite: it lives in the shaft of the feathers that it eats from the inside up to the fracture. Of course, small feathers break faster than large ones, hence the usual location at the crop. During moulting, the parasite enters the new feather through the operculum and settles there. The first damage does not appear until the following February-March, but the feather has been parasitized since September-October. It is therefore at this time that it is necessary to act:
– application of aqueous lindane-based lotion on the parts most often affected (acarexane 2 tsp for a glass of lukewarm water).
– administration via the drinking water (pigeons kept in the loft) of Ivernnectin (3 mg of active ingredient per liter of drinking water). Renew 3 times at 15 day intervals during the moult.
– spray Acarexane throughout the loft, after thorough cleaning. See a veterinarian near you.
I add that potassium polysulphide has no efficacy. Your blue male was carrying a microbism, probably paratyphoid (salmonella), articular and cerebral (the optic nerve was affected, hence this white eye). You did well to kill him. If you still have young, watch them, although the disease is not always sexually transmitted when the microbe is located outside the genital tract.
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Mr. R. Lheureux de Braives is worried: For three years, I have been confronted with a big problem, despite the fact that I consult the veterinarians four times a year. Diagnoses are always negative for trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, paratyphosis, paramyxo and worms. I am told that it is a problem of the upper respiratory tract, rhinitis etc.
I administered several products but nothing changed. My youngsters fly for 4 to 5 minutes, without gaining height and fall to the roof with their beaks wide open. The losses are enormous, even among the “old”. I suggested that people come and see my installations, but without success.
I am always asked to present the pigeons. There are amateurs who succeed with my pigeons, including a neighbor a kilometer away, and they do not know this problem. Understand my dismay.
Answer: For me, your problem is mainly due to your installations. I would like to have a detailed plan of your dovecotes and nearby buildings. Include windows, hatches, air inlets and outlets, boxes, etc. A plan is better than a photo but does not prevent it. In terms of care, stop all treatment except antitrichomonas (Ronidazole – 150 milligrams of active ingredient per liter of water, i.e. 1.5 g of 10% soluble powder) 1 day per week. Stop the use of any white, disinfectant etc. After reviewing the plans, I will give you a final opinion.
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Wishing to remain anonymous, a French pigeon fancier from the third region offers: As I have not received any specifics anywhere concerning the dosage to be respected for administration: from Baytril 2.5%, Emtryl to 40%, Labiavers to 12%; Avimixol, orally, I would like you to enlighten me on this.
A good pigeon fancier in my area gives Emtryl 40% each time he returns from a race and his pigeons are in perfect condition. But at what dose?
Answer: I answer your questions:
– BAYTRIL 2.5% – 4 ml per liter of water 3 to 5 days in a row.
For paratyphoid 8 days + vaccination + reminders.
– EMTRYL 40% – 1 g per liter of water 1 to 5 days depending on prevention or deep cure (Sunday on return or Monday).
– LABIAVERS 12% – 1 tsp for 2 1 of water.
We only deworm if a diagnosis has shown the presence of worms. In this case mandatory reminders, disinfection etc…
– AVIMIXOL – 1 tbsp. coffee per liter of water. Product of little interest in pigeon racing.
Remember that drugs do not replace:
– a good loft (dryness – light – dynamic ventilation)
– hygiene
– the fingering of the amateur (ration etc …)
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An amateur from Hainaut writes. A youngster came back to me after three days of absence and two days later four of my youngsters became ill: looking sad, no appetite, mucous and smelly droppings.
The veterinarian consulted diagnosed viral septicitis and prescribed a cure of Baytril 10% with an additional drop in the beak for the affected pigeons. Despite this, my sick youngsters perished one after the other. I am really afraid that the disease also affects others and I allow myself to seek your advice.
Answer: I think you have to think about:
– acute trichomoniasis
– complicated by a microbism (virosis is not excluded).
I recommend 4 to 5 consecutive days:
– antitrichomoniasis –
+ 1 measure of Bactrim solution 0.25 g per liter of drinking water, active ingredient, followed by Colistin, 1 million units per liter of water 4 – 5 days in a row as well. Follow with a good shot of vitamins. All these treatments for all the youngsters, even apparently healthy ones. Reminders of 3 days each after a break of 15 days.
Ask your veterinarian for the corresponding products, there are many trade names. That the doses are well respected.
Dr. J.P. Stosskopf
Instructions:
It is now during the period of great moult that pigeons which have defeathering mange must be treated. Ivermectin, mentioned by Dr. Stosskopf, is the modern and very effective active ingredient for combating the group of parasites called “Cnemidocoptes” to which the feather mite parasite belongs. Ivermectin is marketed under the name Ivomec from the M.S.D. Instructions for use of Ivomec in case of scabies: 0.1 mg per pigeon to be administered directly in the beak and repeat the treatment after 10 to 15 days, or brush the scabs with a 1% solution (1 cl per liter of water).
[ Source:Article edited by Dr. J.P. Stosskopf – PIGEON RIT Magazine]
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