Running Water
1 post
Feb 25, 2009
7:08 PM
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Hey,
I am new to the group. I am very happy to be here. I am not too acquainted with the rules here, so if I say or do something out of line, let me know!
I have an important question for the members here... I have noticed that I am getting a cough and general feeling of slight distress in my respiratory system whenever I start to spend more time with my pigeons. I just came across the term "pigeon fancier lungs" and am wondering if this is what is affecting me. Has anyone on this forum had problems like this, or know of it, and what do you suggest?
My family is a little concerned for me so I told them I would check it out and see if the pigeons would be causing me this distress. I don't want to have to get rid of my pigeons, to get rid of them would be to go crazy! Help!
Thanks
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katyroller
355 posts
Feb 25, 2009
7:17 PM
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Look at the conditions in your loft. Is it bone dry to the point that alot of dust from crap and feather dander, blows around everytime the birds fly around. Look at the ventilation in the loft, is it too airtight? If the answers to any of the above questions is yes, you need to fix the problems because they aren't good for the birds either. How long have you been raising birds? No matter the conditions in your loft it never hurts to wear a respirator or dust mask when around the birds, especially if you suspect you are having issues.
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
2538 posts
Feb 25, 2009
7:19 PM
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Welcome .I haven't encounter any problem like what you mention but I do suggest you get a mask immediately a good one too... Tony has some here ask him .. good luck..
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Ralph
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Bill C
246 posts
Feb 25, 2009
7:33 PM
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I would also suggest to give your birds baths regularly. They produce a fine dust to repel water. Some parrots have oil in their feathers and some have a dust. The African Grey parrot has the dust and I had bought one for my Dad some years ago and the dust really bothered my Mothers lungs. So they had to get rid of Oliver.
Pigeon lung disease is a real problem for some. It really helps to have your loft with wire floors and kit boxes with wire floors. I have wire floors and wire around the top to ventilate and in the right spot in the sun, when I feed the birds I see a dust cloud going with the wind. In normal light you dont hardly see it.
Definately get a respirator at the garden store or a paint store. Even a cloth dust mask will help if it fits firmly on your nose and mouth.
You can also talk to your doctor and he could do a test to see if you have become allergic to the dust. That is the start of pigeon lung disease. Good Luck. BIll C
Last Edited by on Feb 25, 2009 7:35 PM
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SappAttack
34 posts
Feb 25, 2009
7:34 PM
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They dont sell those dust masks for nothing. Evidently somebodys worried about it! Keep it ventilated, why not? Right?
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J.C.
"Texas Style Rollers"
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RodSD
194 posts
Feb 25, 2009
7:55 PM
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Wear a mask. Clean your loft often so poops don't over dry and crumble. Have a good ventilation. Give your pigeons a bath often (I give mine once a week.) Use vacuum after cleaning to vacuum out blooms--white stuff. Spray some disinfectant like diluted chlorox, etc. You may even stay away from your pigeons for a while. Some people get it because they are allergic to them. There is a protein found on those poops and bloom that causes allergic reaction in the lungs so you end up coughing and have other respiratory reactions. One final tip: I usually spray some sort of disinfectant before scraping the loft so things don't fly around. Get well!
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JMUrbon
646 posts
Feb 25, 2009
8:03 PM
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Ventilation ventilation ventilation. That is the most important thing. As for the dry loft. The drier the better for desease reasons however the spraying with disinfectant prior to cleaning is not a bad idea. I know of many fine breeders have to leave the hobby due to breeders lung desease. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a good respirator. Not just the dust masks but an actual respirator. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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SappAttack
37 posts
Feb 25, 2009
8:15 PM
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Hey Rod.. How exactly do you give your birds a bath?
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J.C.
"Texas Style Rollers"
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Windjammer Loft
729 posts
Feb 26, 2009
6:39 AM
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Running Water....pigeon lung is "not" a good thing.
I always wear a breathing mask when I do any cleaning of my loft. Or if I have to do any work in it for a prolonged period. I've been into pigeons for too long not to be concerned with the cough. It's just a precaution that I take. It's better to be safe,then sorry...
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2009 6:40 AM
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brudahpete
446 posts
Feb 26, 2009
6:48 AM
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My kit boxes are the only places where the ventilation is stifled at all. My lofts are very open just for that reason, yes I know that BOP see them & hang around more but I have asthma already & don't want to add to my problem. Letting your birds bath occasionally will help but you really need ventilation & certainly get at least some cheap painters masks.
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http://www.freewebs.com/brudahpete/
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pigeon pete
172 posts
Feb 26, 2009
7:55 AM
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RW,
Dryness = dust, unless you have really good extraction.
Dampness can = disease.
Try to configure your lofts so you are not in an enclosed space with the birds. I am 60 and I started with the same symptoms as you 9 or 10 years ago, after being a pigeon keeper for 15 years previously.. I then built kit boxes with aviaries attached so I never have to go into a shed to handle or feed my kit birds.
The boxes have doors front and back so when cleaning I open them up and the wind will blow through them.
This helped a lot. I still have some kit birds inside, but it's well ventilated and I open both shed doors to let most airbounre dust flow out before I enter.
I know we should watch the birds, but I clean out when the birds are flying or in another shed.
I use a mask (but sometimes forget).
The stock loft is quite airy with a large opening on the front with a cage on it. My indoor kitbox has wire floor to allow droppings to acumulate below, on the shed floor and I only need to clean it out after several months. The wire box floor is 3 ft above the shed foor so the birds are not stirring up any dust from below.
All I do is drop an amount of wood chips though the wires occasionally to control the moisture.
It's wet now, but I need a new roof!.
Once the litter gets so deep it can give off amonia if it is wet, so watch out for that. I like it so I can shovel it out without too much dust but not like mud either,lol
I do not spend hours scrapping out the lofts.
I can easily clean the perches for 20 birds in a few seconds by having long slopes along the walls instead of seperate V perches.
The stock loft has deep litter and is cleaned out anually. Any scraping or turning/raking of litter is done with lots of ventilation and a mask on. These measures have allowed me to carry on with my birds and I would say that I get less (certaily no more) respirtaory distress than I did 10 years ago.
Pete.
Oh and P.S if you have any symptoms you think is conected to your pigeons, do to your Doctor, and explain everything. It could be PL disease, or a dust allergy, or if you are getting flu like symptoms it could be ornithosis. All these conditions need to be dealt with promptly.
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pigeon pete
173 posts
Feb 26, 2009
7:59 AM
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RW, P.P.S
The doctor in all probability WILL advise you to give up your birds, because that is the easiest and most obvious solution. He may presribe anti-biotics for ornithosis, other drugs including steriods for PL, but if you can slip these words into your conversation (ornithosis and PL disease) it may promt him/her to do the right checks, but most doctors hate self diagnosis,lol
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Sourland
125 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:14 PM
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R.W., all good advice given above. I started having the same problem whenever I worked in my loft. I was already sensitized to many animal danders from years of working in a research environment. The mask that works well for me is the full face mask with the filter cannisters on each side. Particulate or medical type face masks did not get the job done. Get on this right away. It can be really serious.
Good luck, Geo.
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2009 1:15 PM
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Hifly11
49 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:15 PM
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Iam 62 and I can't be around pigeons, I went to a show and that nite I was sick with flu like systems. I had my rollers in a air tite 8 x 12 coup and every time I went in to feed or clean I would get sick with flu like systoms. So I got red of all my birds. But I missed them so bad I got some back.
Now I keep them in a small 4 foot square coup with a small fly pen attached. I feed them in the fly pen and wash my hands after I handle them.
This year Iam using indivual breeding pens 18"x18"x 4 ft. That way I don't have to go inside. Iam building a new kit box and plan to keep less birds. Maybe only twenty total
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rottweiler
135 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:28 PM
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every year at the blackpool racer show they do blood tests for pigeon lung .if anybody wants one .
wear a mask /get a loft coat to put on when in the loft .open the lofts up as much as you can .
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harrison
244 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:34 PM
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I would just like to say that I have taken notice of what you guys have said. I am 30 years old and dont want to be getting pigeon lung in my later years. This is somthing that I have never thought about. (CHEERS) yours in roll Harrison uk.
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toronto15
46 posts
Feb 26, 2009
2:12 PM
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Running Water, Make sure you get a good respirator mask with plenty of replaceable filters. The ones on the market now-a-days are light and compact as opposed to the old gas masks.Make sure a knowledgeable person shows you how to properly fit it to your face.It,s best to be clean shaven for a snug fit.
When not using it make sure to put it in a plastic re-sealable (zip lock) freezer bag.Always put on before entering the loft,and remove once outside again.
Wear a 3/4 length loft coat and hat, and shake them off once outside the loft,including your hair.
I have had asthma for many years and have to use a steroid inhaler twice a day,birds or no birds.Of course your loft must be well ventillated without being drafty. It does not matter how clean your loft is ,if you are prone to this type of illness you must wear personal protection equipment. The good news is that it works and allthough you,ll look like a Commando,you,ll be able to enjoy your birds.
During peak allergy seasons I find that an antihistamine helps a lot.I would urge you to get checked out by your Doc as anyone can develop asthma anytime.Hope this helps and Good Luck.Glen.
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Running Water
2 posts
Feb 26, 2009
7:19 PM
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Wow! This forum is fantastic, I really appreciate all these responses, and definitely my wife and family appreciate all this info. I feel confident I will be able to make the changes suggested by you all, and am pretty sure from all this feedback that I am having a reaction to the pigeon dust and bloom. I had never realized this was such a problem before even though I have had pigeons on and off since I was 7 years old, I am 56 now, but only in the last several years have I had the space to have birds consistently and I have them for my own enjoyment, I have never competed, but love to work with them, watch them fly, watch them roll, and for me they also have a spiritual significance.
I had never realized that the problem is so potentially severe that people have had to give up their birds. I am happy that the younger pigeon breeders/ fanciers also have this info to prevent this type of disease. I also know from this to keep my young daughter out of the lofts since she loves the pigeons she wants to be in them but her lungs are just growing, so I am really, really thankful that I learned all this now!
Does anyone have a good online (or other) source for masks?
Thanks Again!
For the Love of Birds!
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RodSD
198 posts
Feb 26, 2009
9:08 PM
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SappAttack,
I give my pigeons bath like any others do. I basically purchased a cat litter pan (the biggest one) and I put water on it (2 or 3 inches deep). I then let my pigeons dive in and splash. Pigeons are obsessed with bathing and you can see the bloom (white stuff) on those water.
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harrison
249 posts
Feb 27, 2009
12:20 PM
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TONY THE GAFFER OF THIS SITE DOES MASKS. just click on buy producs at the top of the main page. Yours in roll harrison uk.
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mario
GOLD MEMBER
348 posts
Feb 28, 2009
5:02 AM
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HI ....everybody is right here ,i had the same sickness and the doctor said that it was very bad ,so i keep them in flying pens with protection for the wind ,and i feel a lot better ,i put a mask and gloves everytime i handle them ,specially when you pur the band on ......take care
Mario
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RUDY..ZUPPPPP
GOLD MEMBER
2542 posts
Feb 28, 2009
6:00 AM
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Wear a mask...................
if u dont have one wear a bandana around ur nose and mouth like a bandido.........lol
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RUDY PAYEN
PANCHO VILLA LOFT
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SappAttack
61 posts
Feb 28, 2009
9:19 AM
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RodSD... Where do you put the pan of water? All of my Birds are in Kit boxes with wire floors, and the others are in individual breeding cages..
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J.C.
"Texas Style Rollers"
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
2558 posts
Feb 28, 2009
10:40 AM
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SappAttack I have a couple of pairs breeding in small cages under my garage but what I do I grab them put them in my kit pen and let them take a bath get some exercise then let them get some sun and put them back in very careful not to lose one.though they know how to get back in the old kitbox but I don't want the BOP to get them..I always go the extra mile for them its fun what I do ,not work so its no big deal..
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Ralph
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RodSD
200 posts
Feb 28, 2009
11:41 PM
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SappAttack,
With the kit boxes I would put the pan inside. With individual breeding cages, you can try Ralph's idea. My breeders can get out from their nest boxes and can go to a floor so that is where I put the pan.
I tried putting the pan outside the loft one time and a hawk almost made a kill. Bad idea!
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belle
318 posts
Mar 01, 2009
7:33 AM
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I have asthma and if the loft starts to get dusty my asthma starts, so I try to keep it clean. I built my loft with good ventilation because of that and it gets hot here. But if I keep my loft clean and birds clean and keep my mask when i'm cleaning I feel fine.
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Justin
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Hifly11
50 posts
Mar 02, 2009
1:06 PM
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Good job belle, sounds like you have a good approch to staying healthy and still keeping the pigeon hobby you enjoy.I have to clean my coup tomorrow and Iam wearing a good painters resperator (mask).
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Silent
24 posts
Mar 02, 2009
3:11 PM
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yeah it is a scray thing
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