Pigeon

Over the past few weeks, several lovers visited our clinic, which indicated that they wanted to follow a natural program, but could not work with the catalog they had taken on the Pigeon Fair. Initially, I thought that was somewhat exaggerated because I was assuming that is was described clearly. When I discussed this in the clinic, two new assistants also struggled with the summary in the catalog.

Microbiome
 
Good health starts with optimal bowel function. The statement that 'death is in the intestines' is not an empty cry. You do not want to know how many completely healthy pigeons still carry viruses and bacteria that can cause major problems and even mortality as soon as circumstances change in favour of these pathogens

Pigeon vaccination yes or no?

Most of the questions in recent months still concerned the paratyphoid problem. I have discussed the subject several times from different sides, but the questions keep coming back. Apparently, there is still a lot of uncertainty about this subject. Partly this is also because the opinions of the pigeon doctors on this subject can vary quite a bit. There are and remain veterinarians, who, in the event of a detection of a paratyphoid infection, immediately give the advice to cure all pigeons and whether or not to vaccinate the pigeons afterwards.

The breeding period

After the moulting period, the breeding period is also an important period in the year. Where it is important in the moult to help the racing pigeons to a good and solid new plumage, the breeding period is important to give the youngsters an optimal start in the new life.

A few years ago I had a conversation with the chairman of a pigeon club about feed. 

Moulting period
 
Now that the moulting period is just around the corner, I get questions on Messenger, Mail, App and phone what one can do and give best during the moulting period. Now there are many roads that lead to Rome. There are various possibilities to guide the pigeons in the moulting period. However, one thing must be borne in mind.

Vitamins and minerals
When I started studying veterinary medicine in Utrecht 50 years ago, as a 17-year-old. On the one hand, it was indicated that vitamins played an important role in cell metabolism, but on the other hand, the risk of deficiencies was rather laconic. At the time, it was believed that deficiencies at that time were absolutely impossible and that diseases such as Scurvy, Rickets, Pernicious anaemia and the like, diseases that express the end stage of a vitamin deficiency, were something from a bygone era.

I am regularly emailed or called by enthusiasts, asking if I can help them. They have problems. Often for a long time. The performance is below par. A few say the first weeks of the season then it will still go, but after that I don't get them in the prizes anymore. I then ask what has already been done. Whether the pigeons were examined and what the findings were. Usually I am told that 'everything' has already been examined but that the vet has said that everything is fine.

Breeding
 
The winter months
As soon as the winter months are approaching, many enthusiasts start making plans to pair up again. Finding new possible couples and re-pairing is usually an interesting activity. Also fitting in newly purchased pigeons.

Did you know that…..?
The moulting period is pre-eminently the period to take extra good care of the pigeons. Most fanciers know that the prices of the following year are partly made during the moult of the previous year. Yet there are still enough fanciers who don't take it all that seriously during the moulting period and leave the pigeons more or less to their own devices, to focus on other things. But especially during the moult it is important to support the pigeons well.

Leftovers.
A few years ago, before the Corona era, I visited a pigeon association to examine the pigeons of the members. In a conversation beforehand, the chairman and a passer-by told him that he fed the remains that were left over from the youngsters and the racing pigeons to his breeders.

ransport of pigeons
 
The transport of the pigeons to the release points is a tricky subject. Conversations about this often turn into altercations. Those responsible for transportation usually do their best to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. In that case, a comment or remark is quickly interpreted as criticism.