The Importance of the Intestinal Lining

[Devo1956]

What are members thoughts

A free roaming pigeon, has the freedom to choose the best environment in which to live. It can move from one place to another until it finds the proper shelter, with the correct amount of ventilation, dryness, and light. These birds are not forced to eat in the same area as where they live. If a particular perch does not suit them, they have the option of finding more suitable housing.
None of these options are available to housed racing pigeons, the fancier makes all these decisions for better or for worse, and we should not call the environments we create for our birds as natural. Therefore, the birds are not building natural immunity. At best, our birds are housed in an artificial environment and their immune systems must try to adapt to the results of this imposed environment.
Now, I am not saying that our race birds are less healthy than wild type pigeons, but I am saying that the methods many fanciers use to maintain health can end up damaging the racing ability of their birds without the fancier even being aware of that damage.
If pathogens like coccidiosis and e coli are allowed to colonize your bird's digestive tract, you might succeed in “weeding out” those birds which are unable to overcome this challenge, but at the same time, you allow damage to the intestinal villi which will be irreversible. It is true, that a fancier may end up with birds better able to survive the challenges of this artificial environmental test, but the birds may also be diminished in their capacity to race at their full potential.

On the other extreme, you have fanciers that allow outbreaks of pathogens to run unfettered through their YB sections, thinking that the birds must build natural immunity to these pathogens. Unfortunately, there is little that is natural about keeping racing pigeons.

[Devo1956]

I got a phone call from a old guy, who lived the other side of Manchester. He was telling me his birds were dying, i told him i would visit him in 2 hours time, i wanted to see what was going on. When i arrived at his lofts he showed me birds that had already died in a box, then he took me to a section where birds were dying. It was not a good time he and his birds were having. I made up a container of what i thought would help his birds recover.
A week later he phoned and said his birds were flying out. I took a trip back to his lofts and seen for myself. I told him to put use the same stuff for two days a week then reduce to 1 day a week.

[king]

What are members thoughts

A free roaming pigeon, has the freedom to choose the best environment in which to live. It can move from one place to another until it finds the proper shelter, with the correct amount of ventilation, dryness, and light. These birds are not forced to eat in the same area as where they live. If a particular perch does not suit them, they have the option of finding more suitable housing.
None of these options are available to housed racing pigeons, the fancier makes all these decisions for better or for worse, and we should not call the environments we create for our birds as natural. Therefore, the birds are not building natural immunity. At best, our birds are housed in an artificial environment and their immune systems must try to adapt to the results of this imposed environment.
Now, I am not saying that our race birds are less healthy than wild type pigeons, but I am saying that the methods many fanciers use to maintain health can end up damaging the racing ability of their birds without the fancier even being aware of that damage.
If pathogens like coccidiosis and e coli are allowed to colonize your bird's digestive tract, you might succeed in “weeding out” those birds which are unable to overcome this challenge, but at the same time, you allow damage to the intestinal villi which will be irreversible. It is true, that a fancier may end up with birds better able to survive the challenges of this artificial environmental test, but the birds may also be diminished in their capacity to race at their full potential.

On the other extreme, you have fanciers that allow outbreaks of pathogens to run unfettered through their YB sections, thinking that the birds must build natural immunity to these pathogens. Unfortunately, there is little that is natural about keeping racing pigeons.

A racing pigeon IS FREE TO ROAM. It can live wherever IT chooses. MANY THOUSANDS EVERY YEAR do make that choice.

[Devo1956]

Yes true King, but is it because it was not healthy enough when sent to a race or training. I know you can loose youngsters from your home.

[king]

Yes true King, but is it because it was not healthy enough when sent to a race or training. I know you can loose youngsters from your home.

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

[Devo1956]

Yes true King, but is it because it was not healthy enough when sent to a race or training. I know you can loose youngsters from your home.

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

To be honest King, i have my railway birds coming daily for their feed, I must say they look really good for the wild bird seed and a few peanuts i feed, Along with Mothers cider vinegar in their water. some look better than some race birds i have seen.

[MIL]

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

I'm a bit confused by this statement Dave.

So, lets say someone has a "good pigeon" and it goes missing. You're suggesting that not all those that are missing are dead.

Are you suggesting then that one day the pigeon just thinks "Ah sod it. I'm not going home I'm going to Bristol City Centre to live on scraps of chips instead"

I'm more inclined to think that good birds that don't return home are indeed the victim of "something" that has stopped them returning - whether it be BoP, wires, shooting etc..

[Murray]

I think some good pigeons are lost because they are sent just once too often. Especially with young birds, but also with old birds.
Example, long time ago I had a widowhood cock called Sky that had raced until he was 7 years old. He was pretty good and he'd had a heap of races over the years.
One Saturday morning I took the cocks that were having a week off between longer races out for a short toss just to keep them spinning over. Let them out, off they went. Except the old bloke, who stood in the ground looking at me for a few moments then away he went. Got home, no Sky. Half an hour latter he wandered in.
He was saying quite plainly he'd had enough. I have no doubt he would have been lost if I had sent him to a race that weekend.

[king]

Whilst health may play a part in some, good pigeons go missing also. And a fancier has to be a little naive thinking that good birds that fail to return are all dead.
Health plays a major part in winning races, but not in homing ability. Street birds fly many miles and they will have health issues. Strays can be taken many miles yet return often in very good time despite not being 100% fit.

I'm a bit confused by this statement Dave.

So, lets say someone has a "good pigeon" and it goes missing. You're suggesting that not all those that are missing are dead.

Are you suggesting then that one day the pigeon just thinks "Ah sod it. I'm not going home I'm going to Bristol City Centre to live on scraps of chips instead"

I'm more inclined to think that good birds that don't return home are indeed the victim of "something" that has stopped them returning - whether it be BoP, wires, shooting etc..

Hi Mike I'm not talking about a champion going missing, as you are right it probably will have met with something that has prevented it returning. But the countless pigeons many fanciers believe are good pigeons. I've met many fanciers that believe all their birds are good. I've visited many places over the years and seen rung birds living quite happy where they were. I recall a member on chat believing his lost YBs must be in others lofts as he was not getting any reported.

[MIL]

I can accept that there are "racers" living in various Town Centres. Like you I've seen them knocking about on my travels throughout the UK (including York 2 weekends ago )

Question is why do they end up there?

Pigeons have an inbuilt homing instinct, so they know where home is