Canker treatment

[NeilA]

You're right Neil

When you see the yellowy "crust" in the mouth that's an excessive form of canker that's been allowed to develop

The only sure fire way to understand if your birds have got canker or not is to test for it

Cheers Mike
I guess constant testing is the only way to be sure but even then a few races can pass you by unless you top with a microscope

[MIL]

I agree Neil

Of course, one could always be an idealist athough and pat oneself on the back every Saturday night and say "I did that all on my own" as they are holding up the sheet

[Andy]

I never treat mine for canker or worms. Only had canker in 2 pigeons in 50 years. Both disposed of.

How would you know Andy other than the obvious yellow in the throat ?

Through observation Neil. You should know within seconds of walking in the loft if there is any problem. The most important time to detect any problems is the minute you walk towards and into the loft, that’s if you know your pigeons. If all is well no need to worry.
All these medications have no residual effect and all have side effects. You could treat your birds today and get rid of what you’re trying to clear but within a couple of days they can pick it up again and the treatment you had given a few days precious would have no effect. Look at all the side effects in the drugs we can take. Many people are on a combination of drugs just to reduce the side effects of each other. Yes I could treat because someone tells me it’s what I need to do but without testing treat for what. I did a few years ago get my birds tested by a well known firm because I felt things weren’t quite right. They came back with nothing but told me to treat with this that and another just incase. I did but made no difference. A certain level of bacteria is needed for the pigeons immune system and there are loads in the gut that help breakdown the food. Treating with antibiotics kills them all.
Others can treat and waste their money as much as they want but after years of working with many different forms of livestock I know there’s no point. The biggest thing in our armoury is obsivation.

[Murray]

Through observation Neil. You should know within seconds of walking in the loft if there is any problem. The most important time to detect any problems is the minute you walk towards and into the loft, that’s if you know your pigeons. If all is well no need to worry.

That is so true.

Andy was like me. A stock man for many years.
I was a jockey and a racehorse trainer. the moment you walk into the yard and one head isn't over the door, something isn't right.
When Andy was milking, and the cow which was always at the front, suddenly wasn't, he was aware of that.

I believe that the best support the pigeons should have is..us!
It is easy to mix 5 grams, or 1 scoop of Makethemgofast in a litre of water, and join the craick online.
I prefer to spend that time on the end of my scraper and putting my youngsters in a clean nest bowl.
But then, that's just me.

[NeilA]

I never treat mine for canker or worms. Only had canker in 2 pigeons in 50 years. Both disposed of.

How would you know Andy other than the obvious yellow in the throat ?

Through observation Neil. You should know within seconds of walking in the loft if there is any problem. The most important time to detect any problems is the minute you walk towards and into the loft, that’s if you know your pigeons. If all is well no need to worry.
All these medications have no residual effect and all have side effects. You could treat your birds today and get rid of what you’re trying to clear but within a couple of days they can pick it up again and the treatment you had given a few days precious would have no effect. Look at all the side effects in the drugs we can take. Many people are on a combination of drugs just to reduce the side effects of each other. Yes I could treat because someone tells me it’s what I need to do but without testing treat for what. I did a few years ago get my birds tested by a well known firm because I felt things weren’t quite right. They came back with nothing but told me to treat with this that and another just incase. I did but made no difference. A certain level of bacteria is needed for the pigeons immune system and there are loads in the gut that help breakdown the food. Treating with antibiotics kills them all.
Others can treat and waste their money as much as they want but after years of working with many different forms of livestock I know there’s no point. The biggest thing in our armoury is obsivation.

I’m not sure I could detect canker in a mild form to be honest I’m not talking about when it gets to the yellow lumps I don’t think I could detect mild respo or fungus either thinking about it or maybe not hair worms as Steve advised they can be small
I would have to look at performance on the Saturday if there suddenly 5 mins behind in the club then I would know something isn’t right and then have to use a all in one or get the test kit sent off to treat . I just couldn’t win here on the sprints if there off in anyway

[Andy]

If you can see no signs of them being off colour you have nothing to worry about. There will be low levels of infection there but that’s perfectly normal. We all have low levels of infection in our bodies at all times but that’s why we have an immune system, to deal with it. As I’ve said before as a county swimmer and waterpolo player I never took any sort of medication and although didn’t always feel right it rarely inhibited my performance. To the contrary sometimes as if the body is fighting a sickness it is actually stronger than ever.
You have good pigeons and a good system and work hard with your birds Neil and get the success you deserve but are blinded in the mindset that the only way you can win is to treat for all sorts. The trouble is now is that you wouldn’t won’t to stop because you think it will have a detrimental effect on your birds if you did.
As I said before all these medications have side effects, which unlike human drugs, we aren’t told about. You could be doing more harm than good sometimes.
Just continue doing things the way that you are happy with Neil.

[George and Morgan]

what are members thoughts on cleaning nest bowls when breeding

[NeilA]

I’m not blinded by treating constantly Andy it’s only 3 months of the year on a cycle
I just know I need my birds in perfect health for 3 months a year without that they can’t perform sprinting week to week the other months from now there be wormed twice and canker twice so not a great deal
I don’t believe many could detect a mild respo issue for example but it could be enough to take 5 min off your time
I look for things in training how they clear as a guide and the obvious droppings but I do think they can have worms and canker and respo to a mild level that doesn’t get detected and when people are off the pace they blame others like the amount another bloke sends where it could be there not in the very best health that they could be

[NeilA]

what are members thoughts on cleaning nest bowls when breeding

I don’t clean the bowl but do the box but not each day

[George and Morgan]

same here will clean the bowl very soon ready for next year they have been outside since breeding finished