The Pigeon Racing Medicine Cabinet
Medicines which the fancier may be wise to stock, and the reasons to use them:
Baytril–a good choice for serious infections, mainly intestinal or systemic. This drug comes in tablet form and individual pigeons can be dosed at 5mg per pigeon per day. Flock treat with the liquid Baytril only (the tablets will not go into solution). Use for 5-10 days.
Do not use during reproduction and rapid growth of squabs.
Amoxicillin–a safer alternative drug to Baytril. It can be used during reproduction and racing without side effects. Not as broad spectrum as Baytril but often very effective in treating serious infections. Comes in tablet form (50mg) which can be used once or twice daily on individual cases. Flock treatment best accomplished using 3grams per gallon for 5-10 days.
Tetracycline drug (Terramycin, Aeuromycin, Tetracycline , or Doxycycline)–good for respiratory infections; best when used in combination with Tylan. One usually has no distinct advantage over the other and they share a common spectrum of activity. With the exception of Doxycycline, they are all available over the counter as poultry preparations. Use 4 teaspoonsful per gallon of the regular strength or 2 teaspoonsful per gallon of the concentrate. Doxycyline is dosed at 500-1000mg per gallon. Use these for 7-14 days.
Tylan–use as mentioned above, in combination with a tetracycline for respiratory infections. Tylan powder is dosed at 1-2 teaspoonsful per gallon. Individual dose at 50 mg per pigeon per day.
Delta Albaplex— this is a veterinary tablet which can be quite useful in treating individual cases of respiratory disease. It contains a tetracycline plus albamycin as well as a small amount of corticosteroid. Use 1/2 tablet twice daily for 3-7 days.
Amprolium— the standby for coccidiosis..treat at 1tsp/gallon of the 20% powder for 3-5 days.
Baycox (Toltazuril)–a newer more effective coccidiostat, not yet avilable in the USA but seems to be available through various channels. Can be used instead of Amprolium. Dose for 1-2 days at 4cc (100mg) per gallon.
Ronidazole (RIdzol)– for trichomonas…this is the safest of the three products commonly used but is not approved for use in this country. 1tsp per gallon for 3-5 days.
Emtryl (Dimetridazole)–for trichomonas…not approved for use in this country. Mexican or Canadian Emtryl dosed at 1/4-3/8 tsp per gallon for 3-5 days. Can cause seizures at higher doses.
Flagyl (Metronidazole)–for trichomonas…25-50 mg per pigeon per day for 1-3 days or 1250-2500 mg per gallon for 3-5 days.
Ivomec (Ivermectin)–wormer–500-1000micrograms(ug) per pigeon. Effective against Capallaria (hairworms) and Tetrameres and Dyspharynx (stomach wall worms); less effective against Roundworms.
Pyrantel pamoate–1-3mg per pigeon (75mg per gallon) for 1-2 days for roundworms only.
Tramisol (levamisole) 1-1.5 grams per gallon for one day for roundworms only.
Panacur (fenbendazole) effective against the three major worms but has potential to cause feather damage. Do not use during reproduction or moult. 5mg per pigeon per day for 3 days.
Quinacrine–antimalarial drug..use only in areas where malaria or Haemoproteus is a problem. Use for 4 weeks before flying season then one day weekly during races. Dosse at 200mg per gallon
There are many other choice available and I’ve kept it to what I consider a minimal, giving choices for some conditions. Not all of these drugs are commonly available. Consult your friendly veterinarian for help in acquiring some of these handy drugs as some are by perscription only.
See also Pigeon Medications Part 2
The Pigeon Racing Medicine Cabinet by Dr. David E. Marx DVM
I use antybyotics for my pigeons to keep Resportary at bay ,i give vitimens on race day its called Mallas the same you give Horses .The day after the race i give antybyotics to the race team ONLY ,NOT The Hole Team.
Give it a go Guys.
TREV
i do not use antibiotics on my pigeons i think over time they weaken the birds natural immune system i do also use bleach to clean out my loft i think it is so easy to get on the antibiotics merry go round you dont see road peckers falling over with wet canker and respitory because they have strong immune systems any way im a big believer in natural products etc garlic lemon which is a natural disinfectant poido
Please inform me How you cleaned(bleached) ur loft? Have u used any chemicals?
“Youngbird Sickness” first signs of YB Sickness,spongy crop,vomiting,birds drink a lot more water.birds will not take food,birds will not respond when you call them, floor is covered in slimy watery droppings.There is a product which a friend recommended to me called “pharma” He used this when his birds where sick and was amazed with the results as was i the following year when my birds got sick.This is one product i will certainly be keeping in my medicine box.Contact numbers for this product are :DR VAN der sluis labs,Tel:0031-346-242457….Fax:0031-346-242533….E-mail:[email protected]
colm
Chisholm Trail products also help. It keeps the birds very healthy,and in conjunction with apple cider, your birds should do well.
dear experts if you know plz kindly let me know how to use herbal medicines for pegion racing thanks
Josef,
Try using garlic. Use three or four medium size clove of garlic, grate them in a gallon size container and leave overnight. Then the mixture would be ready to give to your birds in the morning. Keep them on this garlic water for at least 3 -5 days with no other source of drinking water.
Sometimes I would use either limes or lemons when available by squeezing a tea spoonful of lime or lemon juice in a half gallon of water once a week. These are all natural for your racing pigeons with no side effects.
Youngbird sickness is traveling the us also. Our club cancelled the race season early due to it. Try 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon per gallon of water for 3 days. Cinnamon has been used by oriental cultures for centuries for intestinal problems. It is thought to be anti bacterial, anti viral. Birds like the taste of it and will drink it easily. Give them a probiotic afterwards.
Good advise Ken but also try pellets.If youngsters have a hard race give them pellets, or if ADENO hits( YB sickness), pellets also settle the gut…instant nutrition, and they recover quickly.
terry
DO NOT USE NOLVASAN OR CHLORAX IN WATER!!! IT IS POISON FOR YOUR BIRDS. I JUST ATTENDED A SEMINAR IN CHICAGO, GIVEN BY ED MINVILLE. HE SAID MORE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ON THESE TWO LIQUIDS AND IT IS LIKE PUTTING POISON INTO YOUR BIRDS. + COMMON SENSE WILL TELL YOU…. YOU DON’T PUT THAT IN YOUR DRINKING WATER… WHY GIVE IT TO THE BIRDS. USE APPLE CIDER AND OR ECOL TONIC.
Ed’s right, that stuff worked back in the day, but the concentration is a killer,stick with the natural products if you can, the birds will be the better for it.
Chris,
Ivomec sheep drench .08% for flock treatment. 28 ml/cc per gallon of water for one day and repeat 10 days later. This gets the eggs that were not hatched on the first treatment. Loft should be cleaned after each treatment. If loft cannot be cleaned, treat every 21 days for six months. Worm eggs only are infective for up to 6 months. 10ml/cc per gallon in bath water for external parasites. Probiotics should be fed after treatment.
Look at MOXIDECTIN for worming,it’s made for pigeons” DOWN UNDER “, and it doesn’t hurt them.After all, Ivomec is made for pigs not birds.
Chris,
MEDPET Ronsec tablets for individual treatment of resistant crop canker are a combination of Ronidazole 25mg and Secnidazole 25mg. Dosage is: 1 tablet per pigeon (450-500g body weight)on full crop after feeding. Skip one day and repeat again on third day. Very effective single bird treatment.
works for me too ken.The key is keeping down the number of birds so the cost isn’t to bad.I much prefer to treat the single bird than the whole flock, if the flock doesn’t need it why treat them.
terry
Chris,
Rondizole dosage is too low. Ridzol 10% jar has 1-1/2 tsp per gallon for 3 days prevention and 5 days cure. In case of resistance 2 tsp per gallon. In my own experience I used 3 tsp per gallon to be effective for the cure.
Good article…I think it is quite difficult to find those medicine here in the phillippines, any substitute medicines from the mentioned medicines that I can purchase at local markets?