This weeks discussion of the week is…
What do you think the current state of pigeon racing is?
For example do you think pigeon racing is growing or dying and why, express your views and share with others your opinions on the current state of pigeon racing by placing your vote in the poll below then posting a comment in the comment section below this post.
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Hey Chris,
I enjoyed a lot with your help through online about my hobby that is pigeon,its my childhood hobby.Currently pigeons sport’s growing slowly due high priced in the bussiness market.its a great oppurtunity to have contact like you in this current sitution.Becuase people are getting right path about their hobbies.
Regards,
Imran.
thank you very much alister will help alot the imfor is great thanks new in the sport
To Arock 7DS,sorry to hear the bad new’s about your young birds.There are many reasons why the young one’s could be dying.It’s not a simple matter of what you can give your birds to stop them dying.First you have to find out what is causing the problem before you can treat them.What is the health statis of your stock birds.Have you introduced any new birds to your loft.Do you have your stock birds separated from your race birds.How did your racing season go? Any health problems.As far as your stock birds are concerned, make sure all the basic’s have been covered.Clean disinfected nest box,with new clean nesting material.The birds have access to plenty of clean,fresh water.Plenty of fresh food available daily,also grit,pick stone,calcium cake,mineral powder.The feeding stock birds need and must have these basic materials or they will soon become run down and vulnerable to disease.Check for red mite infestation.These can move onto the birds at night and drive the birds off their nests.Look for the tell tail signs “pin pricks” under the babies wings where they have attached to feed during the night.If mites are a problem the whole loft needs to be sprayed with Permethrin solution 10Mls to 1Ltr of water.Also all the birds will need to be dipped in this solution but add some soap flakes to the solution to act as a wetting agent.It would also be wise to treat for worms at the same time.Moxidectin 5Mls to 1Ltr of water for 24hrs, and it will also help to kill any mites,or lice.There are also more serious reasons why youngsters may be sick or dying.Diseases such as salmonella,Fungal air sack,Circovirus,and herpes virus.There are many other problems that can cause disease in young ones.If your stock birds are stressed for any reason they could start to shed large numbers of Chlamydia,which is a micro-organism that is found within the system of many pigeons all the time.During breeding a time of stress,the birds will shed the organisms in their droppings,saliva,and eggs.If in the egg,The developing embryo is weakened and can die during incubation,or during the hatching process.The nestling can die or be a retarded youngster.It is too late to treat the stock birds once paired but for future reference Chlamydia is treated with Doxycycline 12%.The main problem encountered by many fanciers in the breeding season is Canker.Again if the birds get stressed,which can be due to,Loft design,nest box design,poor management practices,incorrect feeding,and other concurrent diseases.The feeding stock birds can shed large numbers of trichomonades which can in turn lead to clinical diseases in the babies.Usually the baby pigeon develops an internal canker nodule at the base of the crop or within the glandular stomach.As the nodule increases in size it squashes the windpipe making breathing difficult,and locks the crop outlet.Deaths often occur due to the nodule growing through the stomach wall,causing contents to leak into the chest and causing infection,or the nodule could damage the heart or large blood vesselsin the chest leading to sudden and severe bleeding causing death.I hope some of this helps in finding what is going on in your loft.If unsure it would be best to take a couple of stock birds to the vet for testing or send a couple of the dead babies for autopsy.Maybe expensive but at least you would get the correct diagnosis.Good luck and best wishes.
I really think that there needs to be more promtion by the sanctions. In the US the AU and the IF. There seems to be no control over the sport. Anybody can put on One Lofts or Futurity races if they have the cash to set it up.
The AU needs to start getting 4 H groups and kids all over interested. A small coop/loft to hold 5-10 pigeons is all a kid needs to learn to take care of the birds and work them.
Maybe have an age group limit. Kids say from 8-17 and keep the entry very low. There are far too many bad sportsmen in every sport.
My sons played softball when they were young, it was discusting to watch some parents… they yelled at their kids, they yelled at the coaches, they yelled at the refs…I would have kicked their asses off the field if I was in charge!
Hi Chris, In SA the sport are not so strong than 25 years ago when i started.The problem are not the cost of the sport. I found more people leave the sport due to bad people in the clubs that cant take a hiding , lets call it the bad sportman. If we set the right example for the youngsters and provide them with true pigeon love, they will get interisted
thanks lee and whamie big help live in orlando fl starting fast on it thank yous so much i have to much money in the sport new guy but old head always love the sport from new york had mix birds but now trying to race someday with help welcome for help [email protected]
You can breed birds any time of the year. It all has to do with light hours. If they are 12 hours of light they will breed. Birds in the wild breed all year round.
Dying in the nest can be caused by a number of factors. I have young right now that are growing like rockets. High protein and I make my own pecking blocks to supplement the adults. Were your birds vaccinated in late summer? Do not give antibiotics to parents while setting or after the hatch.
It is wise to use tobacco stem to avoid parasites. I have a electric leaf mulcher I chop the tobacco stalk and fresh straw together.
No drafts. I know of people who use 12×12 cardboard boxes with alot of straw in them and never loose a bird.
I would say go back and look at your sanitation, light/hrs., mineral grit, hi protein feed, and bedding.
This is to the fellow that commented that his birds are starting to breed but are being lost at a couple of weeks of age.
I am sorry to hear that your loosing youngsters but it is the wrong time of the year to be breeding birds at all. You should have your hens seperated from your cocks by late September to mid October and unless you have a heated loft or live in an area that is warm enough for the young not to get to cold at night then you wouldn’t start back till march, but if your weather is good then you can start them back by pairing as early as December so that the youngsters hatch out in Janruary.
There is another thing that takes place too and that is changing them over to a feed mix that is high in proteen and supply plenty of grit so that the adult birds can digest thier food properly and the young can too. Hope this helps you out.
God Bless You & Yours
Yours in the Sport
Lee
HI ALISTER YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BIRDS CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO GIVE MY BIRDS IM STARTING TO BREED AND SO FAR THE YOUNGS ARE DYING ON ME THERE ONLY LASTING A COUPLE OF WEEKS [email protected] SOS
Another problem as I see it is standardizing clocks. There needs to be a “standard” of calibration and let eveyone use their clocks but must be certified and sealed to use.
Seems like every club uses a different brand, buy their brand or you can’t race… There are far too many “chiefs” and not enough indians. Promotion and getting interest is the key to getting new people involved. They don’t need mega lots, just a few birds in their back yard… quality…not quantity…