NATURAL IMMUNITY IN PIGEONS
This is one of the most important part of the pigeon breeding. I have had great personnal experience in the last 6 years in my pigeon breedings. At that time, I was loosing many young birds in the young pigeon lofts. Now, with my new methods, mainly in my feeding ones, then by working on the immune system of my young pigeons, I very rarely loose any young bird.
Part one.
( THERE ARE 12 parts in this page about Natural Immunity in pigeons "Sorry about the scroling down to read all of them)
I will start to day a series of articles that would mainly talk about natural immunity in our pigeons. To do so, I have dozen of articles from experts that will be added to my own experience for this series. Of course, I am neither a vet nor an expert but the experience of others and my own experience might help me in writing those articles. It will mainly be a kind of articles that would be written to try to help all breeders, mainly modena breeders to understand why we have problems in our breedings presently.
We have already talked about immunity in this group but those articles, even if some will be repeated again, would help us to consider a better achievement in our beloved hobby. If it can help a few among us, my objective will be achieved!
The first item to think about is: ‘‘Young birds are prone to catching a lot of infections. This is simply because their immune systems are young and do not have the experience in dealing with them.’’ The second one is: ‘‘the pigeon fanciers’ management is not allowing the young birds immune systems to prepare itself against bacterial infections’’ (Re: Alan Wheeldon, Scientist)
Natural ImmunityPart 2-
The important point in item 1 was: the pigeon fanciers’ management is not allowing the young birds immune systems to prepare itself against bacterial infections’’ (Re: Alan Wheeldon, Scientist) and we will work later on on this! But before, I will go with another very important point that Joe Herbots from the great company Herbots Brothers (pigeon products manufacturing and sellers) answer to the following question:
Jos, how do you see the development of modern day pigeons with its profusion of products and medicine?
‘‘I am very much afraid that it is all going down hill. On the other hand, we can congratulate ourselves that good and effective medicines do exist. On the other hand, they can be misused. I will give an example: the so-called preventive treatment with antibiotics against bacterial infections is something I can’t agree with. It’s just NOT possible. Antibiotics fight the disease, once it’s there, not beforehand.”
You know, there is so much money, big money as it is said, in the pigeon products and Jos say the following about this: ‘I hope that the real value of all those products has been carefully conceived and develop’
Natural Immunity Part 3:
Victor Vasalen, writer of great pigeon books like the famous ‘Champion Reveal’ then write the followings:
I am afraid that many new sickness which now exist, like adenovirus, circovirus, E. coli complex, streptococcosis, the increase in head disease, and such like, are precisely to blamed on the immuno-suppressive effects of a number of antibiotics and other chemical substances as well as an increase resistance of germs. But I suppose that the so-called specialists will try to laugh my opinion out of course.
Jos Herbot then replied: Victor, unfortunately, you could be right but the reactions of pigeon fanciers are strange. They would rather come and ask for “strong medicines” than FOR PRODUCTS WHICH INCREASE RESISTANCE.
And Victor replied: I think that people don’t get the right information. When my son Marc started up again with pigeons, he didn’t vaccinate and gave no course of any treatments. He was against using medicine. He selected the birds according to the level of health. He worked on the immune system of the pigeons. In the long run, the birds build up a reasonable degree of resistance and in the following years, even when the birds get in contact with other birds, he had no sickness problem. Of course, before putting his birds with others, he then vaccinated them.
Immune system part 4:
We can even have much information about the IMMUNE system for our own health, in most important discussion from expert
In part 4, we will have a look on what the great Silvio Mattachioni have to tell us about it:
The Key To Good Immune Health.
How do we or should we act accordingly in the face of
all of these seen and unseen assaults to our health and the health of our
communities? Good question. The answers to better health and stronger immune
systems do not come to us prepackaged in tamper proof drug dispensers nor in
ever growing numbers of vaccines. It would seem to me that we need desperately
to do everything within our power to fortify our immune systems (our racing
pigeons' immune systems). The key to good immune health is the removal of
stress, good nutrition, and sufficient uninterrupted sleep. Sounds simple does
it not? Well, what does the WHO (World Health Organization) have to say?
This is really a good article in our study to Natural Immunity program!... Much more to come Best solution is: increase resistance of gers.
Natural immunity Part 5:
Now, we will come back to Mr. Alan Wheeldon, Scientist.
Here is now what he has to tell us:
“We can compare the immunity of our pigeons with what is going on in the hospitals right now: new viruses always more resistant to all antibiotics. Super clean lofts, drinkers scrubbed and clean regularly, dosing with medicines including antibiotics. It’s the perfect scenario for the rise of super bugs. The trouble is once people go down this path; it’s a never ending circle. Clean lofts, birds with immune systems that are not experience to fight bacteria, infection, treat with medicine, medication resistant bugs emerge, worse infection, birds with immature immune systems with no experience, treat with medicine. And it goes on and on..”
Is it not exactly what happens presently in our big shows? Here is what our friend Willi Richert wrote in a report recently: “I have heard that several breeders have come down with serious disease problems as a result of the last National…It appears to be a virus with various secondary infections. The birds are going light and showing various secondary infections… etc..’’ In the 2007, NMC 8 district show, we had a similar break down. Many birds died after the show. Why are those problems happenings? Without being alarming, we have to act to correct those situations.. The experts are giving us many good advices about what has to be done right away.
Then, Mr. Wheeldon continues: “There is however an alternative. We need to let the youngsters immune systems gain experience in fighting pathogens on their own. The young birds immune system needs to get ‘primed’ so they are ready to fight all that come their way WITHOUT help them with the bottle.” In the mind of Mr. Wheedon, “the first thing to do is not to clean the youngd bird loft. You can scrape the perches and nest boxes but not the floor. This is the deep liter system. The deep liter system works best if it is 3 to 4 inches deep. Just keep it raked over once a week and soon will create the dry bed granular material that is made up of the fibrous remains not used by the bacteria. The secret of a good dry bed system is to keep it aerated. It should not be compacted down. It must breathe”
As I already hear many among you that do not quite agree, I will stop now this article from Mr. Wheeldon unless someone want to know more about it.
There are other ways to help the immune system of our pigeons but let me tell you that with my racing homers team, it is what I do with great success. I never have a sick bird in this section even if I have about 35 pairs of them and that I use the community breeding system in this loft where all youngsters are put on the floor at the age of 12-14 days old, even when very cold..
Natural IMMUNITY, Part 6.
The part 6 of those articles is so important that it will be a short one that might be repeated again and again..
There are hundreds of fanciers
misusing antibiotics like Baytril. They attempt to use
this 3rd generation antibiotic as a performance
enhancer. That is, you use the product; it suppresses
the immune system, and then as the birds come off it there
is a slingshot effect as the immune system seems to go
beyond the norm, and bingo, super health. Or is it?
No, actually a sure-fire ticket to disaster! Do not
use these mega antibiotics unless you have done
adequate testing with your avian vet! In most cases
less extreme older antibiotics will more than serve
your pigeons' health needs."
THE FOLLOWING WILL NEVER BE SAID ENOUGH:
"Do not forget not to use antibiotics as a preventive.
They will not work as preventive, but will only allow
the bacteria to become resistant to it, then it won't
work when we really need it"
Such things as Amoxicillin or Baytril are recent drugs and their part in healing pigeons is relatively new BUT,,,,, IF YOU USE THESE FOR YOUR CURES, are we creating drug dependent pigeons that will require these man made chemicals to now be a winner?? The answer to that is yes and the longer we continue to use the practices, the less ability our pigeons will have to fight off their problems NATURALLY or WITHOUT THESE POWERFUL MAN MADE CURES.
Antibiotics – Don't Use Them.
By: Alan Wheeldon
Email:
alan.wheeldon@btinternet.com
The use of antibiotics by pigeon fanciers should be banned. Pigeon fanciers don't know what they are doing when it comes to treating pigeons with antibiotics, and what is worse; they are causing untold damage.
Typically, most fanciers look at the pigeon's symptoms, guess what the disease is, they guess what to treat the disease with, and they guess what dose to use. Pigeon fanciers don't know how, or when, to use antibiotics properly. They give their pigeons antibiotics to treat diseases caused by viruses.
Antibiotics do not kill viruses. The reason given for using antibiotics for viral infection, is to prevent the secondary infection caused by opportunistic bacteria. The truth is that the antibiotics cause the appearance of the opportunistic bacteria in the first place.
All the good pigeon friendly bacteria are killed, leaving way for the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause disease, to move in. Fanciers will, in ignorance, give antibiotics for almost anything; paramyxovirus, adenovirus, herpes, coccidiosis, hexamita, even worms.
Antibiotics are no good against any of these ailments but as soon as there is anything wrong, pigeon fanciers are off to get the 'yellow powder' to put in the water. A bloke down the pub can get hold of some, the corn merchant can get some, a mate down the pigeon club has got some in a cardboard box at home.
How much do they put in the water.........who knows? What exactly is the 'yellow powder'.......who knows? How strong is this magic powder......who knows? How long should they give the yellow powder for....who knows?
Even when the cause of the problem really is bacterial they use the wrong antibiotics for the wrong bacteria. For example, there is really only one antibiotic effective against the worst strains of Salmonella, but does the average fancier know that......?
In fact does the average pigeon fancier know anything about antibiotics. Well let's find out. Here's a test. Go down the pigeon club and ask if anyone knows the correct antibiotic for Chlamydia. Then ask them what the symptoms are for Salmonellosis, and how they can tell it from Chlamydia.
Then ask them what is the difference between, 'Auremycin', 'Ornicure' and 'Terramycin'. Ask them, for how long they should administer Enrofloxacin? I suspect that none will know the answers, and yet I bet that most have used antibiotics at some time......for something.
To be sure of totally, and effectively eradicating bacterial infection, most antibiotics
should be administered for 14-21 days. How many fanciers have the knowledge, or even the patience to keep up that treatment? Some just add the antibiotic powder to the water for just 2-5 days.
This is not long enough. Any recovery they see in their pigeons is happening in spite of the antibiotics. The pigeon is fighting the infection primarily on it's own. Furthermore, what is remarkable, is that to get antibiotics to treat humans, you need a prescription from the doctor.
You can't just buy them for yourself at the chemists. This is to limit their inappropriate and indiscriminate use. Similarly if you want antibiotics to treat your dog or cat you need firstly to have the pet examined by a vet. But access to antibiotics to treat pigeons seems to be under no such control.
Antibiotics can very easily be obtained within pigeon circles, usually from someone who buys them when they go abroad, where controls are less vigorously enforced. Even when fanciers obtain antibiotics legitimately, from a reputable vet, and follow the instructions to the letter, it can still turn out to be a complete waste of time and money.
Evidence? In Holland, at the University of Utrecht, all the antibiotics sold for treating pigeons were evaluated, and the doses recommended by the manufacturer were compared with their effectiveness at killing bacterial infections. They found that only 3 of the recommended dosages out of 60 formulations marketed were correct.
It was concluded that the majority of treatments are unlikely to work. The reason for this is that the so-called pigeon antibiotics were never developed for pigeons. They were first developed for humans, then adapted for farm animals like pigs and chickens, and for common pets like cats and dogs.
Few, if any, trials have been carried out on pigeons. It's no wonder the manufacturers have to guess the dose. The antibiotics are not even administered on an individual basis to the pigeons. Fanciers just throw some powder into the drinkers.
So how much is each pigeon getting? How much will the pigeon absorb? Will it achieve blood levels high enough to kill the bacteria? Will the pigeon's metabolism break down the antibiotic and excrete it before it can work? If you give too much is it toxic?
None of these questions have been answered. The Dutch study concluded that if all the antimicrobials sold for treating pigeons had to be registered under the Dutch medicines act 1985 they would nearly all be rejected because of poor pharmacokinetics and bacteriological efficacy.
To make things worse, fanciers are even giving antibiotics when there are no symptoms, just in case! So what, you might ask, it can't do any harm........can it? It most certainly can! The indiscriminate use of antibiotics is about to cause the biggest disaster that has hit the pigeon world.......ever.
Let me explain to the irresponsible scribes in the fancy press that keep extolling the virtues of antibiotics, and I include all the qualified vets in that category......if we don't stop using antibiotics a new killer superbug will evolve. A bug so resistant that it will chomp up any antibiotic that we throw at it.
All life on two legs will become plagued by untreatable life threatening bacterial infection, and that includes the pigeon fancier as well. Scare mongering? I think not. I'm not the only one who is thinking along these lines. Let me tell you a story.
In America the Federal Drug Agency has banned the use of antibiotics by American poultry farmers. The reason.........new antibiotic resistant bacteria are springing up that cause untreatable gastric illness in chickens........and yes, in humans. But that's only just a one off isn't it.............wrong! In hospitals, doctors and nurses are at the moment fighting an uphill battle.
The cause is MRSA Methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus Aureus. If a patient coming out of an operation gets the bug it can dramatically reduce their chances of survival. Patients are dying, not because of their illness or surgery, but because of septicaemia.
All patients being moved between hospitals have to be screened for this potentially deadly bacteria, and if someone is carrying it, they go straight into isolation, because once this bug gets out into the ward there is very little out there to kill it. It is resistant to nearly all known antibiotics.
It's rapidly becoming untreatable! Furthermore, two million people a year die of Tuberculosis, one new person per second is contracting the disease. But that's not a problem in Britain is it........? Yes I'm afraid so. 70-100 people entering Heathrow airport a year are detected as having TB.
They are X-rayed and given treatment to prevent the spread into the large cities like London, but people still slip through. In America they are taking the threat of a TB epidemic very seriously. In 1997 in New York they spent 1 billion dollars to try to control the spread of the disease.
But TB is easy to clear up.....isn't it? Wrong!.....a person with TB has to take 6-7 antibiotics per day for SIX months to be sure of recovery. Why so many antibiotics, for so long? TB has evolved to become resistant.
It is now known as Multi drug-resistant Tuberculosis......MDRTB, and because of that, many classes of antibiotics have to be taken to make sure that that the sufferers are using at least one antibiotic that's effective. However the list of effective antibiotics that can be used to fight TB is getting shorter.
The reason? Over-prescribing and over-use of antibiotics. In the past doctors were so keen to give out antibiotics they treated them like sweets. If you went to the doctor with a cold you were given......antibiotics. If you went there with a cough you were given.....antibiotics.
Sure they killed some bugs but the bacteria that were resistant were left untouched, and suddenly with all the other bacteria out of the way they didn't have any competition. They multiplied and filled the spaces left by the good bugs.
Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone. Read any of the pigeon journals. There is always some scribe telling everyone to use antibiotics for something. One of them proclaimed that as soon as his pigeons looked a bit off, he'd give them antibiotics. Well if he sticks to that regime soon his pigeons will look more than just a bit off.....their droppings will be liquid, they will be throwing up, losing weight and falling over......dead.
He is creating just the right conditions for Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonellosis......ARS......and he is one, because if such a bug gets out and invades the poultry industry we will have to kill all our pigeons. Surely the Ministry of agriculture fisheries and foods (MAFF) wouldn't make us do that would they?
All I can say to that is BSE........over 100,000 cattle slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease. Porcine swine fever.........tens of thousands of pigs killed to contain the infection. In the sixties Foot and mouth disease.........212,000 cattle, 108,000 sheep and 114,000 pigs slaughtered, need I go on.
The MAFF are unlikely to risk the destruction of the billion pound poultry industry, so that a few people can race pigeons. Remember, it was the MAFF that proclaimed paramyxovirus a notifiable disease in pigeons, and instigated compulsory vaccination to prevent the spread to poultry farms. So they have the power.
So, is the appearance and spread of a superbug just fantasy? Well, let us just look around. In the 1940's penecillin could easily destroy the bacteria that causes meningitis, well today, in the United States, due to over prescribing, three quarters of the meningitis causing bacteria are resistant to it. Now outbreaks of meningitis have never been so high.
In Greece where antibiotics are available over the counter over half of all the bacteria in circulation are resistant to treatment. In the bird world, in Kenya where antibiotics are added to chicken feed, chicken guts now are full of bacteria totally resistant to tetracycline.
Exactly how serious is the situation? Well, in Madagascar a single strain of plague bacillus is now resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline,and the sulphonamides. Yes I'll repeat that.....PLAGUE. We are not talking acne here......this is plague. If that gets out we are in real trouble.
More frighteningly, once the superbugs move in there is no shifting them, you're stuck with them for life. Evidence? In Norway a broiler farm was hit by Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, VRE, due to the use of antibiotics in the feed. They killed all the chickens, stripped down the whole place, scrubbed it out completely with bleach and germicides.
They put in new stock from a clean hatchery and within three weeks all the new chickens had VRE. It only takes the ingestion of one resistant bacteria and before long there are millions of them. There are over one million bacteria in the guts of a pigeon.
There are about two million pigeons in Britain. That's two billion bacteria.......luckily most of them friendly. But if pigeon fanciers keep using antibiotics, they will wipe out all the friendly bacteria, and guess what will move into their place.......the antibiotic resistant ones....the killers.
So if you get an antibiotic resistant strain in your loft, you will probably never be able to race again. You will have to kill all of your birds in the loft assuming they haven't died already, burn down the loft, and move. Even that will only work if you are not a carrier.
Perhaps you don't use antibiotics. Well don't think that because of that you are safe. If someone down your club does use them, and his pigeons carry an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria, and your pigeons go into the same race crate, they will share the same drinker, stand in the same droppings, and eat the same food off of the floor during a holdover.
The process of infestation by an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria can be very rapid as the entire bacterial population in the guts of a pigeon can be completely replaced in as little as 20 minutes.
So what is the solution. Stop using antibiotics, stop reading articles proclaiming the use of antibiotics, tell your mates to stop using them, stop buying antibiotics, and don't let your vet give you any antibiotics, get rid of any pigeons that are persistently sick and let your loft build up it's own natural immunity. Only then, will pigeon racing, and probably mankind, have a safer future.
Naaa!.....I hear you say.......this is all in the future it won't bother us now. Well just open up your pigeon paper and see the new 'service' that is being offered by the vets...........antibiotic-sensitivity testing!........The bacteria found in pigeon droppings have started to become antibiotic-resistant! So watch out pigeons.......the superbugs are on their way!
Natural IMMUNITY, Part 7.
Now, we will go back to our great Canadian specialist Mr. Silvio Mattachione that has some very good advices for us:
The Key To Good Immune Health
"How do we or should we act accordingly in the face of all of these seen and unseen assaults to our health and the health of our communities? Good question. The answers to better health and stronger immune systems do not come to us prepackaged in tamper proof drug dispensers nor in ever growing numbers of vaccines. It would seem to me that we need desperately to do everything within our power to fortify our pigeon immune systems. The key to good immune health is the removal of stress, good nutrition, and sufficient uninterrupted sleep. Sounds simple does it not? Well, what does the WHO (World Health Organization) have to say?’’
This article 7 is short because of its importance!
Natural IMMUNITY, Part 8.
Let us listen more about Mattachione’ advices:
‘‘ "The best vaccine against common infectious diseases is an adequate diet." - The World Health Organization. (PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT IT IS ABOUT COMMON INFECTIOUS THAT THE author IS talking about, not VIRUSES)
Now the above advise from the World Health Organization is just good common sense and it is the very best advise, I have seen in years, from any organization period! What the WHO said is not original, (but it is certainly timely and in today's climate one could even say it is unique) for as early as 1929 Dr. Charles Northern had warned the people of America, and his statements are reprinted in Senate Document No. 264. Dr. Charles Northern was America's first pioneer into the role of minerals in nutrition. An Alabama physician who specialized in stomach diseases and nutritional disorders, his discoveries and achievements are of enormous importance to mankind! Some of his findings and principles are reprinted in Senate Document No. 264 entitled Modern Miracle Men Relating to Proper Food Mineral Balance.
One of the highlights of Document No. 264 that are of critical importance is quoted directly word for word below:’’
"An organism supplied with a diet adequate to preferably in excess of all mineral requirements may so utilize these elements as to produce immunity from infection quite beyond anything we are able to produce artificially. You can't make up the deficiency by using patent medicine."
I selected this part of this article because it is the best example I found to let you know the importance of an ADEQUATE DIET!
If you want to read the complete article from Sylvio, just go at:
http://www.silvio-co.com/pigeons/vaccine.htm
Natural IMMUNITY, Part 9.
Before going further in the NATURAL IMMUNITY, we should have a look on what it is and how the immunity system works. That information is again given to us by Sylvio Mattachione.
“ What is immunity: the quality or state of being immune; especially: a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products (source Webster's Online Dictionary)
What is an immune system: the bodily system that protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by producing the immune response and that includes especially the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (as in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies (from Webster's Online Dictionary)
"Antibodies, like other key elements in the immune response, make up a multi leveled defense system capable of attacking pathogens where they enter the body (i.e. at the level of the skin, eyes, mouth, and the respiratory system) and at the deeper levels of blood, organs, and tissues. Each of these levels of the immune system serve to weaken pathogens, to inhibit their reproduction, and to eventually eliminate their invasive threat. All together, the antibodies, T cells, B cells, phagocytes, monokines (i.e., interleukins and interferons) and other cells and molecules work in a complementary fashion to protect the body. Each play an essential role role in identifying antigens, relaying messages, and activating a complex and efficient immune response. One element of the immune system acts upon another, which in turn acts upon another, and so on.’’
The important fact in those examples is that; ANTIBODIES MAKE UP A MULTILEVELLED DEFENCE IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF ATTACKING PATHOGENS WHEN THEY ENTER THE BODY.
(there are external barriers to infection that include the skin, and mucous membranes, chemical barriers to infection that include chemicals with incidental protective effects as well as antimicrobial proteins, proteins from naturally occurring bacteria. Cellular defenses include scavenger cells, granulocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells.) in the form of cells and antibodies that seek out and destroy all foreign cells or organisms. This happens even before they have the opportunity to affect the body. The immune system is capable of remembering and responding quickly to foreign substances that have been previously encountered. Natural immunity results from the recovery from disease. The immune system therefore identifies self and defends to the death all that is not self. Once resources are so committed to a particular attack/defense they are committed for the duration and are thus no longer available to combat other unique assaults. Therefore one must understand that our immune system is totally unique in that it must "do the most with the very least of its resources"! Why? Because the battle will go on every day of our lives (our pigeons lives) and if all of our birds defensive and offensive capabilities are dedicated based upon stealth assaults (as in vaccinations that deliver harmful chemicals directly into our birds by circumventing the skin and mucous barriers, or abused in any one particular assault) they will not be available later when really needed!
"Antibodies, like other key elements in the immune response, make up a multi leveled defense system capable of attacking pathogens where they enter the body (i.e. at the level of the skin, eyes, mouth, and the respiratory system) and at the deeper levels of blood, organs, and tissues. Each of these levels of the immune system serve to weaken pathogens, to inhibit their reproduction, and to eventually eliminate their invasive threat. All together, the antibodies, T cells, B cells, phagocytes, monokines (i.e., interleukins and interferons) and other cells and molecules work in a complementary fashion to protect the body. Each play an essential role role in identifying antigens, relaying messages, and activating a complex and efficient immune response. One element of the immune system acts upon another, which in turn acts upon another, and so on.’’
The important fact in those examples is that; ANTIBODIES MAKE UP A MULTILEVELLED DEFENCE IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF ATTACKING PATHOGENS WHEN THEY ENTER THE BODY.
Natural IMMUNITY, Part 10
Now, we should look to what are the recommendations to help our pigeon’s system to obtain the best protection possible. Be sure, it is not with antibiotics given in prevention… The first step is the vaccinations about the most common viruses that can attack our beloved birds.
We have already discussed in this group about the better time to vaccinate our birds. As
right now, it is too late to vaccinate the old birds, we will examine in more
depth the vaccination of our young birds. A fancier asked to Dr. Wim Peters:
can a vaccination be advantageous?
Answer:
Of course, we use vaccination because they protect our birds in a lot of
harmful contagious diseases; otherwise, we will not use them. Meanwhile, as we
know, every inoculation has some side effects: The inoculated virus or
bacterium places some level of burden on the system.
However,
the degree of the burden always depends on all other circumstances, not only on
the vaccine. For example, it depends on the age of the pigeons and the age at
which they receive their first vaccination against the particular illness.
It is very
important that we all work on the immunity factor of our pigeons and
vaccination is the first step to consider.
Those products we talked about are very good for pigeons and have been tested in
many occasions, not only by breeders but also by experts and are recommended by
the best veterinarians in the world. To a question asked by a breeder that was
not sure about the product and that asked the following question: WHAT IS ALOE
VERA AND WHAT BENEFIT DOES IT HAVE? Here is the answer Dr. Gordon Chalmers gave
him:
‘Over the years, aloe Vera has been regarded as a master healer, often when used
on the skin surfaces or consumed as a drink. The bulk of the leaf is filled with
gel that contains 96% water and 4% containing 75 known substances. When applied
to wounds, aloe gel is a mild anaesthetic, and relieves itching, swelling and
pain.; it soothes burns that also heal more quickly. What is also very important
is that it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and stimulates
fibroblasts, the cell responsible for wound healing. It has a variety of helpful
effects when used both internally and externally.”
‘’As a natural source of trace and micro elements, Aloe Vera strengthens the
immune system and hastens recovery after illness.’’
Of course, and this is remarkable, Aloe Vera can be use for any inflammation and
ulcer on the feet.
It is why I have much confidence in Aloe Vera and I am going to use it like
other immunostimulants to reinforce the immune system of my pigeons and by the
same way, the antibiotics too often used by many, would not be necessary.
Raymond Julien.,
Article number 11.
Hi all,
To follow up our articles on the Natural Immunity for our pigeons, here is part number 11
We have already talked in this group on the following subjects but it is more complete this time.
Now that we have seen that the first step to give our pigeons a Natural Immunity is with vaccines, let’s have a look on all other excellent sources that can strengthen the immune system of our pigeons.
Dr. Talaber tells us that real apple cider vinegar is very good to strengthen the immune system as it is an excellent source of organic acids and trace and micro elements. He tells us that this is only true of vinegar derived from apples grown in a natural environment, free of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Furthermore, ACV mixed in water prevents the spread of salmonellas; its acidic effect continues to restrict pathogens even in the pigeon intestines. What is less well know, is that apple vinegar can also be life-saving mainly in very hot weathers.
ACV can also be used in heavier doses for medicinal purposes: See the following
thread:
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=15856
The recommended dose of 5% apple cider vinegar is 3 to 6 ml per liter of drinking water, 1 or 2 times a week. For our American friends, it means 1 to 2 tablespoons per gallon
The use of CURLY KALE is also a very good source of elements that can help the immune system.
In Europe, many breeders are
feeding this kale to their birds. Curly Kale is
specially packed with Vitamins B, C, K and others, is
rich in minerals (like iron and zinc) and more
importantly in calcium and it also boosts the immune
system. I am eager to test it this year. My seeds are
already bought! I am sure my pigeons will eat it
easily, will replace the salad I used to give them,
will be more healthful to them and….. I will also eat
it myself….LOL..
''Containing six times more calcium than
> broccoli and high in vitamins A and C, baby leaf curly kale
> is being dubbed the UK's latest "superfood"
> and will hit the shops in the next few days. Packed with
> vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, the
> health benefits of this baby leaf make it one of the most
> nutritious green vegetables around. Cooked baby leaf curly
> kale provides more calcium for each 100g than milk, yogurt,
> cooked broccoli or cooked spinach...etc.. ''.. So
> certainly very good for our health also! http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2007/oct/04/allhailthecurlykale1
Article number 12.
Garlic
1. Garlic is an incredible natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungul &
anti-inflammatory. It is the allicin that is the key ingredient to purify the
bloodstream and build up the immune system,maintains beautiful feathering &
white wattel. (They will not fuss about the taste of the garlic if you use no
more then 1 organic clove of garlic per gallon of fresh water).
please see thread http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=12553 for more
indepth information about the "goodness of garlic."
Wheat Germ oil
Dr. Talaber tells us “that
wheat germ oil is a good source of vitamin E. Along with the trace mineral
selenium; vitamin E also helps to protect the membranes of body cells against
degenerative changes caused by certain damaging form of oxygen called
peroxides.” (Oh boy one of my friends will say again that it is too
technical….LOL..) Any way, may I keep on what Dr. Talaber wrote? “Vitamin E and
selenium are highly important in the development and maintenance of the immune
system. Like vitamin A, D and K, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and it can
be stored in the body, in contrast to the B vitamins and vitamin A, excess
amounts of which are eliminated rapidly.’’ “My attitude (still Dr. Talaber that
tells us) is that not only should the birds receive vitamins E, but also the
entire range of other water-soluble vitamins at the same time—hence my
preference for a multi-vitamin mix in the drinkers one day or AT MOST two days a
week.” This is my own participation..: We should also add that wheat-germ oil is
indispensable during the breeding season. It stimulates the libido, improves the
fertility and helps the hen to come into lay.It is suggested to mix it with the
feed: 25 drops per pound of feed (50 drops per kg), 3 times a week from 14 days
before mating until after the laying. You can then dry it up with brewers yeast,
MVS-30, Global Bountyand/or AEV. A great attention should be given about the
quality of the cod-liver oil if you use it and it should be known that it
becomes rancid very rapidly if not kept in ideal conditions. In the past, it has
caused many problems to pigeons because the fanciers were not aware of this
possibility.A little more information about natural products for our pigeons:
Since our birds are kept in an unnatural environment, these supplements are
necessary to maintain proper health: (This was in my files but I can’t tell you
who wrote it but it is an opinion that worth to be known!)NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS:
FRESH GARLIC, FRESH ONIONS, HONEY, FRESH SQUEEZED LEMON OR LIME, APPLE CIDER
VINEGAR, SUGAR. All can be used in fresh water or teas all year. Also, they can
be placed in water with medications, vitamins or minerals.FRESH LETTUCE,
CABBAGE, SPINACH AND CHOPPED CARROTS should be washed and placed in the
loft.VITAMINS / MINERALS: We prefer water soluble products because they assure
us that all the birds will receive the same benefits and all the birds will take
several drinks during the day. I like to use 2-3 different brands of vitamin and
mineral mixtures, blended together, to ensure the best results.VITAMINS /
ELECTROLYTES: We prefer a water soluble nutritional balanced formula, premix
containing vitamins, electrolytes, organic acidifiers and natural
micro-organisms for pigeons and poultry: BREWER'S YEAST, WHEAT GERM OIL, NATURAL
OLIVE OIL, MINERAL MIXTURES, OYSTER SHELLS, PICKSTONES, HERBAL TEAS. Raymond
Julien,Canada. _____________________________
Probiotics
For more information about probiotics just read:
http://www.digestivesplus.com/probiotics.html
Cilantro
Sent by Robert Bob Romanski for Modena Talk.:
BERKELEY, Calif. (United Press International via COMTEX) -- California researchers have identified a compound in cilantro, a key flavor component of salsa, that kills harmful Salmonella bacteria.
The work of Isao Kubo of the University of California in Berkeley is summarized in Tuesday's edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Kubo identified the helpful compound as dodecenal, isolated from the fresh leaves of cilantro, or coriander.
It is one of the main ingredients found in salsa, along with tomatoes, onions and green chilies. The compound also is found in the seeds of cilantro. Both leaves and seeds contain about the same amount of dodecenal, but the leaves are used more abundantly in salsa.
In laboratory tests, dodecenal was twice as potent as the commonly used medicinal antibiotic gentamicin at killing Salmonella, a frequent and sometimes deadly cause of foodborne illness.
They found that it is the only naturally occurring antibacterial that is more effective than gentamicin against Salmonella.
"We were surprised that dodecenal was such a potent antibiotic," said Kubo. "The study suggests that people should eat more salsa with their food, especially fresh salsa."
Suitable food and proper feeding: http://books.google.ca/books?id=6jmYMBOK0skC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=curly+kale+for+pigeons&source=bl&ots=5F1-KSrOzg&sig=-3P4If6s9ari0fvSUIFNLACg3Gc&hl=fr&ei=5dDdSdyWDqKUMt63qPoJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA29,M1
For raising youngsters and rehabbing pigeons that need formula I use Total
Flora. This one also worked extremelly well for raising baby pigeons. it
contains:
L. Acidophilus, B. bifidum, L. bulgaricus, L. plantarium, L. reuteri, L.
salvarius, E. faecium, S. thermophilus, fructooligosacharrides, calcium
ascorbate, & enzymes.
You can purchase it from:
http://www.infinity2.com/flags.asp
click on United states, then products, then nutritionals
curly kale and cilantro?
Faire recherche sur:
with nice globe artichokes and Gariguette strawberries arriving from Spain, speciality radicchios, including Castelfranco and Tardivo, arriving from Italy and French Carmine red chicory also available.