Welcome to McLaughlin Lofts. Please check back for updates, champion pigeon additions and articles. Feel free to contact us with any pigeon related questions. Notice 'Our Systems' for all methods, health, racing systems and The Art of Selection. We will also be adding regularly to our 'Secrets' page . We work closely with the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race. Please check out 'Sun City Million Dollar ' and contact us if you need any assistance.
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Secrets
Updated 10/21/2011
Secret 1 Updated 8/11/2011
Virkon S is a disinfectant sold by Dupont. Not only is it the most amazing disinfectant you will ever use in the lofts for sanitation but it is simply magic when used in the pigeons drinking water.
Virkon S should be the first line of defense for any young bird sickness. If the pigeons start to go off whether it is a young bird sickness or possible other affliction add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon to the gallon of water for five days. Usually within two days all symptoms have disappeared. By day five the birds look spectacular. Virkon S must be added to the water after the containers are filled and then stirred. It will form up if added first and then water is added. Like any disinfectant be careful to keep Virkon S out of your eyes and try not to inhale the powder. Better to be safe.
As a general health aid give the pigeons three days of Virkon S every six to eight weeks. Virkon S seems to have a positive effect against all bacteria, virus, fungi and canker. We use it during breeding, molting and racing will no ill effects.
Chicken breeders have been giving Virkon S to chicks for years. The chicks live better, grow better and losses are lessened.
We add Virkon S to the bath water in the same above dose.
Virkon S is an unbelievable disinfectant to be sprayed in the lofts and all general disinfection and sanitation needs. Buy in the powdered form in the 10 pound container. It looks like Virkon S is only sold in 10lb containers but it is well worth it.
After treating with Virkon S please give several days of friendly gut bacteria and vitamins.
Virkon S can be given at the dose of one teaspoon to the gallon if your pigeons are experiencing Circo-virus. The product will not cure infected pigeons but it will stop the spread of the virus. In the case of Circo Virus you can remove sick pigeons and keep the remaining pigeons on Virkon S until the pigeons are no longer becoming sick. This may take a week to ten days. Like I said if the pigeons is already infected with Circo, Virkon S may or may not help. The benefit lies in stopping the virus from spreading.
I get asked all the time "can you use Virkon S during breeding season"? On June 18th I put all my breeders on Virkon S at the dose of 3/4 teaspoon to the gallon. I have babies at all stages of development and every breeder and youngster looks a super as ever. Droppings are firm and normal.
You will notice that if a pigeon has a minor respiratory problem the Virkon S will turn the wattle slightly yellow. At the end of the five day treatment the wattle will be white and dry.
I have been reading how Koi Fish Breeders and keepers used Virkon S in the ponds and tanks to cure and prevent many difference virus and bacteria. They also claim it works at a very low dose and does not effect the biological filter (friendly bacteria). If fish can thrive in the presence of Virkon S, this is a very good sign. To purchase Virkon S go to www.jedds.com Tell them Frank sent you!
Secret 2
Moxidectin wormer If you are still using Ivermectin or any other wormer you are wasting time and your birds probably have round worms and other parasites. We have been using Moxidectin for ten years with incredible results. The easy way to administer is to go to a feed store with horse products and buy a product called 'Quest'. Quest comes in a syringe tube and will make eight gallons of water.
Quest is a gel that must be mixed in a blender poured into the water and given to the pigeons for 24 hours. It lasts in the pigeons system for 30 days. Not only does it eliminate all internal intestinal worms, it eliminates gape worms and all external parasites. We treat the race team with Quest seven days before a big race and have only had super results.
Never give to dogs, it may be deadly.
Secret 3 Are you a widowhood flyer and wish you could fly hens but do not have the room or time?
Here is a system that will change the way you race pigeons. Before the widowhood season begins train the hens out 60 to 70 miles. Once the birds are separated feed the hens 100% high quality barley every day but Thursday evening the day before shipping. On Thursday evening feed all the small seeds like safflour, hemp along with all the European mix they want. After about 30 minutes remove the feed and place barley in the feeder for the day on Friday. Ship the hens every week to each race and upon return let them eat all the rich feeds and small seeds they want. Place them back into their holding section or flight pen a couple hours after they home until the process starts over each week. They are never trained or let out of the loft. They only fly one day a week in the race. Leave one or two hens home for the first two arriving cocks or use some unmated stock hens. More often than not the hens will beat the cocks and will even be better when the distance races come along. The hens only eat barley except for Thursday evening and Saturday after the race. If you are sending the hens to a long distance race, you can feed the hens the rich seeds the day of shipping also.
Keep every possible mineral in front of the hens free choice at all times.
If the hens fly eight or more hours in a race you can skip a week and go two weeks between races.
This system works so well and allows you to race more pigeons without any extra time or effort. You will start to re-think how to train pigeons when you fly this system.
Secret 4 Feeding Tip.... Never over feed your race team again. Just add about one ounce of Rabbit Pellets to the feed each day. Feed enough until the birds leave the rabbit pellets. Any very hungry birds will eat the rabbit pellets. After we feed our youngsters each day there is always a sprinkling of rabbit pellets in the feeder. By late in the day the pellets are gone.
We give all the birds rabbit pellets two time per week year round. This eliminates the use of any fresh greens. Buy rabbit pellets that have the first ingredient alfalfa.
Secret 5
Resting Tip. Rest is one of big misconceptions when it comes to racing pigeons. If you want your pigeons to have a long successful career please give one day of total rest for every two hours on the wing. Four hour flight, two days rest, 12 hour flight 6 days of total rest. You will not only dominate all season long you will win with 5 year old or older pigeons if you follow this rest recommendation throughout their career. By total rest we mean they do not even loft fly.
Secret 6 Buy a hygrometer (Home Depot) with a high low setting. The hygrometer measures humidity. Place the hygrometer in the racing loft and adjust ventilation to maintain humidity below 70%. By monitoring the humidity you will learn to keep it lower than 70% at all times. Pigeons have a big drop in form with humidity over 70%. My widowhood loft can be kept at 68% humidity when it is 100% humidity outside. My hygrometer monitors temperature and high low temperature also.
Secret 7
Keep an injectible antibiotic on hand for any one eye colds,rattles or respiratory issues you may have. We use LA 200 an oxytetracycline. Inject 0.5cc at the base of the back of the neck and in two to three days all the symptoms will be completely gone. Buy a very small bottle of LA 200. It goes a long way.
Secret 8
Aquarium Chlorine Removers
Small amounts of chlorine and chloramine are added to tap water to kill organisms for safe human consumption. Of course, chlorine and chloramine are toxic to your friendly bacteria and may interfere with antibiotics etc.. Use aquarium chlorine removers to do away with them. Aquarium chlorine removers often remove other harmful heavy metals, amonia or otherwise prepare your tap water for pigeon use. Purchase the one drop to the gallon dose and stop wasting money by killing or interfering with anything you give your pigeons in the drinking water. Just fill the bucket or container, drop in chlorine remover stir and add your products immediately.
Secret 9
Most pigeon grit is comprised of ground granite. This ground granite is very sharp, fragmented, pointed and generally abrasive. Is this grit irritating the gizzard and insides of our pigeons? Wild birds eat round smooth pebbles for grit. Maybe we should all rethink grit and find a pebble based grit with no sharp edges. I collect smooth pebbles off a salt water beach. There are places the pebbles collect at the base of large rocks. The size ranges from slightly bigger than a grain of sand to a little bigger than a pea. I bake the pebbles on a tray in the oven at 450 degrees for ten minutes to kill bacteria, let cool and feed to the pigeons. These beach pebbles also contain shell fragments, trace salts and minerals.
Secret 10
Not all yellow in a pigeons throat is canker. Fine lines of yellow could be an ornithosis or some sort of respiratory problem. If your canker treatment does not seem to work maybe you should be treating with doxicycline. Remember eyes, nose, ears, and throat are all inter related.
Secret 11
The most important meal after a workout is the first meal. This applies to athletes and animals. When your pigeons return home from a tough race they need rich feed with plenty of oil seeds in front of them free choice. They will eat what is needed to recover. By feeding rich feed your pigeons will recover very fast. We usually place all the 16% European mix along with safflour, pellets, hemp, flax etc.
Secret 12
When our pigeons return home from a race they drink our special blend of water additives to assist in recovery. In one gallon of water we place one tablespoon of glucose powder, 1/4 teaspoon of chicken vitamin electrolytes, one teaspoon of Probios Horse probiotic and 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt. They will bounce right back on this mix.
Secret 13
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best natural additives that can be given daily to the pigeons. We give one ounce to the gallon nearly every day of the year. We also mix in vitamins and probiotics several times per week. For a natural product to have benefits it must be used regularly over a long period of time. Apple Cider Vinegar makes the gut acidic. Bad bacteria does not thrive well in an acid environment. The good bacteria and normal pigeon gut bacteria love the acid (Apple Cider) environment. We usually buy the gallon container at the super market. If you only have a handful of pigeons the Apple Cider Vinegar sold at the health food stores is better.
All winter and the entire breeding season we give the apple cider vinegar every single day. We do not use the vinegar as much during the race season. I am too worried to that the race team will not be hydrated enough if I put the vinegar in the water. When I do use it during racing it is in the water for just the morning feeding. Used over the long term Apple Cider Vinegar has positive effects on the pigeons.
I never mix the Apple Cider Vinegar with medications.
Secret 14
Please do not feed Popcorn to your pigeons. Popcorn is very hard and does not absorb water easily. If you put popcorn in a glass of water for 24 hours it does not swell or get soft. Popcorn should not be included in any pigeon feed mix. Use a regular large corn in the feed mix and your results will improve in both racing and breeding.
Secret 15
We do not medicate youngsters in the first many months of their lives. If possible just vaccinate and worm with moxidectin. Medicate only if it is absolutely necessary. Our youngbird team will not be medicated for anything until they are in the racing season. Our young pigeons that are not raced either bred for stock or sale may not receive anything but Virkon S and moxidectin for over a year. Pigeons that are allowed to build natural immunity when young have less problems with health for the rest of their lives. Do yourself and your pigeons a favor by keeping them as natural as possible.
For pigeons to stay healthy naturally they cannot lack anything. We give apple cider vinegar just about daily along with numerous mineral cups, grits, probiotic several times per week, vitamins two or three times per week, garlic etc. If the birds are not lacking anything, their immune system works optimally.
Secret 16
You can pretty much feed any grain and or pellet mix and raise super babies providing you have every mineral and grit available to the pigeons. Vitamin deficiencies do not effect the pigeons nearly as much as mineral deficiencies. We keep pink vitamineral, brown mineral blocks, pick pot minerals, oyster shells, grit mix, red stone, magnesium blocks etc in separate cups in front of the breeders at all times. Your babies will be spectacular.
Secret 17
There is only one type of oil that should be used on our feed for the pigeons. That oil is Flax Seed Oil. This oil is high in Omega 3's and the health benefits are endless. Wet the feed with the Flax Oil and then add a good natural flavored whey protein or brewers yeast. Never chocolate because it is poisonous to pigeons. Omega 3 oils act as an anti-inflamatory which allows the pigeons to keep flying when others have quit due to swelling and fatigue. Tuesdays and Thursdays during racing and breeding will be enough for a positive effect.
Secret 18
Need to up the protein during breeding? Add a high protein small kibble dog food to the mix. Ten to twenty percent dog food in the mix will do the trick. My pigeons would rather eat dog food over safflour. Pigeons love the animal protein plus all the vitamins, minerals and calcium is very high in dog food. We like a puppy food because the protein is higher and the food is richer for growing dogs/pigeons.
Secret 19
Before breeding we feed a higher percentage of Rabbit pellets. Being predominantly Alfalfa, the vegatable like pellet is natures way to add a spring diet to the pigeons during winter. I feel the rabbit pellet also helps with fertility and the droppings will be firm and black. We always try to fill in any nutritional blanks with our pigeons. 33% in the mix will be perfect, Rabbit pellets will also help keep their body weight down.
Secret 20
If you have that super old breeder and you usually swap eggs from him or her, try letting the old timer, cock or hen raise a round of babies that you plan to ship out to a big futurity. My theory is old pigeons have been exposed to more virus and bacteria in their lifetime. They will then pass this immunity to the young in the pigeon milk. Worth a try if you need a pigeon with a possibly stronger immune system for a big race.
Secret 21
Need a very inexpensive salt/mineral supplement? Go to a Salt Water Aquarium Store and purchase 5 lbs of Instant Ocean or similar Saltwater fish salt. This salt is loaded with endless trace minerals. Use just a pinch at a time or change regularly because salt will attract moisture. Another option would be to keep all your minerals on a warming plate. Pet stores sell a variety of heating units that can be attached to the bottom of a glass aquarium. You can attach one of these to the bottom of a glass pyrex cookware/dish and add all your mineral cups. Minerals will stay dry.
Secret 22
I have found a super vita-mineral/grit combination. The product contains a combination of grits, vitamins, minerals and supplements. If you wanted to just use one grit/mineral mix this would be the one of choice. It comes in two size buckets 16lb or 22lb. This mix contains, sea grits and shells, small round stones, red grit, tiny mineral pellets, mineralized seeds, pink mineral pellets, B Vitamins, trace elements and assorted beneficial products for the pigeons. This is a must for every serious pigeon fancier. I give daily in small containers and move the leftover from the day before to another pot. Produced in Belgian by Jovati Pigeon Products and can be purchased by the bucket at Vita King Products 1 877 848- 5464
Secret 23
Some of the top Belgians treat every new pigeon they buy with ten days of Baytril and give a vaccination for salmonella on the 10th day. This protocol makes sense before adding a pigeon to a salmonella free colony. My suggestion would be to treat for canker upon arrival followed by worming with Moxidectin. Then proceed with the 10 days of Baytril and the salmonella vaccination. Plenty of probiotics will help keep the gut in check after this process.
Secret 24
Leave the lights on for 24 hours per day for your first two rounds during the breeding season. Your breeders should have feed in front of them at all times. The breeders can feed the babies throughout the night while the day length is short. Your results will improve!
Secret 25
The wonders of Oregano. Five years ago my 90 lb German Shepherd could not stop vomiting and also had and intestinal issue. I brought him to the Vet and expected a big dose of antibiotics. The Vet gave the dog a tube of Oregano Paste. The Vet said it would work better than the antibiotics. The dog nearly instantly started to improve. He was fully recovered in a few hours. I have thought about this for several years wondering how oregano would work on our pigeons. Recently I saw an oregano based water soluble pigeon product on the market. It is called Avian Solution or Avian Powder made by Van Beek Natural Science. Can be bought at www.Jedds.com.
The solution is gel like and you must really mix it well but it does dissolve. I have been using it for two months three to five days a week.
Secret 26
Young birds can spread any health problems in the bath water. Many lofts notice that shortly after giving the young pigeons a bath health problems begin. I would suggest adding one teaspoon of Virkon S to a gallon of bath water for each bath. This should eliminate the spread of disease when the pigeons drink the soiled bath water.
Secret 27
Snake Problems can drive even the most careful fancier crazy. Snake can enter into the loft and eat eggs and youngsters. If the youngster is too big to swallow the snake will just kill the pigeon. My friend Butch Shoop in Texas has had some luck with a product called 'Bird Block' made by Easy Gardener. Sold at Home Depot the netting can be placed around the bottom of the loft and over any opening. The product works like Gil Netting on fish. The snake gets caught in the net trying to get through. If the snake does get through the net to feed it will certainly get caught on the way out. 'Bird Block' comes in a roll.
Secret 28
When selecting breeders you can bring in cocks that are not physically perfect if the pedigree and bloodline is outstanding. You must always pair these less than perfect cocks to perfect in every way breeding hens. Many of the babies will have the physique of the mother along with half the genetics of the sire. Mating physically perfect cocks onto less than perfect hens usually leads to less the perfect babies. The great lofts have great hens. The super hens will compensate for many flaws in the cocks.
Secret 29
Try wood pellets for a loft floor deep litter. One bag will cover about 5' by 7' of floor. They break down over time but are really not dusty. The also make a super compost for the garden. Use the hardwood pellet designed for burning. The pellet used in wood stoves seem to hold up better than the soft wood pellet designed for bedding.
Secret 30
If you are not able to clean your loft constantly and do not live in a very dry climate a deep litter system is the best system for keeping pigeons. The birds are very comfortable on deep litter, the loft stays extremely dry and the pigeons stay in better condition. All beneficial to keeping healthy happy pigeons. I use straight wood pellets on my floors and sometimes mix 25% pine shavings into the wood pellets. This fresh bedding will change the atmosphere of the loft to a very positive state. You will immediately notice clean feet, clean feather and a bounce up in health.
Secret 31
If you ship pigeons through the express mail in the post office or even by airline you should hydrate the babies as you place them in the box. An infant bulb syringe made of rubber in a tear drop shape will make this easy. About a half a bulb of water in each youngster as you place them in the shipping box will fight dehydration during the trip.
Secret 32 Updated 8/22
If you can't beat them join. This past week (July 15th) I bought some rotating mechanical Dove Decoys and wind activated spinning wing Dove Decoys to place around the loft. The decoys go out when the birds are out. I am hoping when the hawks attack the young birds they may go for the easy target and hit a decoy over hitting one of the youngsters. We will see??
Hawk attacked a Dove Decoy the other day. Will this help?? I do not know. Maybe the hawk will realize those pigeons at McLaughlin Lofts are extreme tough to eat and leave the pigeons alone?
Secret 33 Updated 9/23
It is easy to tell if you are caring for your breeders correctly. My top breeders are raising their sixth and seventh round of young feeding, driving, moulting their bodies etc and still act and handle like they did before breeding season. The cocks are highly active and are snapping their wings with that Pop Pop Pop sound bouncing in and out of the flight pens. I attribute this health and condition at the end of breeding season not only to great pigeons but great care. Every mineral supplement is available to the breeding pigeons at all times. We breed right though the high heat and humidity of the summer with no ill effect. High quality pigeons combined with outstanding care should not show stress at the end of the breeding season. It is amazing to see yearling breeders mature and grow flawlessly while the entire time they are raising young.
Secret 34
Secret 1 Updated 8/11/2011
Virkon S is a disinfectant sold by Dupont. Not only is it the most amazing disinfectant you will ever use in the lofts for sanitation but it is simply magic when used in the pigeons drinking water.
Virkon S should be the first line of defense for any young bird sickness. If the pigeons start to go off whether it is a young bird sickness or possible other affliction add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon to the gallon of water for five days. Usually within two days all symptoms have disappeared. By day five the birds look spectacular. Virkon S must be added to the water after the containers are filled and then stirred. It will form up if added first and then water is added. Like any disinfectant be careful to keep Virkon S out of your eyes and try not to inhale the powder. Better to be safe.
As a general health aid give the pigeons three days of Virkon S every six to eight weeks. Virkon S seems to have a positive effect against all bacteria, virus, fungi and canker. We use it during breeding, molting and racing will no ill effects.
Chicken breeders have been giving Virkon S to chicks for years. The chicks live better, grow better and losses are lessened.
We add Virkon S to the bath water in the same above dose.
Virkon S is an unbelievable disinfectant to be sprayed in the lofts and all general disinfection and sanitation needs. Buy in the powdered form in the 10 pound container. It looks like Virkon S is only sold in 10lb containers but it is well worth it.
After treating with Virkon S please give several days of friendly gut bacteria and vitamins.
Virkon S can be given at the dose of one teaspoon to the gallon if your pigeons are experiencing Circo-virus. The product will not cure infected pigeons but it will stop the spread of the virus. In the case of Circo Virus you can remove sick pigeons and keep the remaining pigeons on Virkon S until the pigeons are no longer becoming sick. This may take a week to ten days. Like I said if the pigeons is already infected with Circo, Virkon S may or may not help. The benefit lies in stopping the virus from spreading.
I get asked all the time "can you use Virkon S during breeding season"? On June 18th I put all my breeders on Virkon S at the dose of 3/4 teaspoon to the gallon. I have babies at all stages of development and every breeder and youngster looks a super as ever. Droppings are firm and normal.
You will notice that if a pigeon has a minor respiratory problem the Virkon S will turn the wattle slightly yellow. At the end of the five day treatment the wattle will be white and dry.
I have been reading how Koi Fish Breeders and keepers used Virkon S in the ponds and tanks to cure and prevent many difference virus and bacteria. They also claim it works at a very low dose and does not effect the biological filter (friendly bacteria). If fish can thrive in the presence of Virkon S, this is a very good sign. To purchase Virkon S go to www.jedds.com Tell them Frank sent you!
Secret 2
Moxidectin wormer If you are still using Ivermectin or any other wormer you are wasting time and your birds probably have round worms and other parasites. We have been using Moxidectin for ten years with incredible results. The easy way to administer is to go to a feed store with horse products and buy a product called 'Quest'. Quest comes in a syringe tube and will make eight gallons of water.
Quest is a gel that must be mixed in a blender poured into the water and given to the pigeons for 24 hours. It lasts in the pigeons system for 30 days. Not only does it eliminate all internal intestinal worms, it eliminates gape worms and all external parasites. We treat the race team with Quest seven days before a big race and have only had super results.
Never give to dogs, it may be deadly.
Secret 3 Are you a widowhood flyer and wish you could fly hens but do not have the room or time?
Here is a system that will change the way you race pigeons. Before the widowhood season begins train the hens out 60 to 70 miles. Once the birds are separated feed the hens 100% high quality barley every day but Thursday evening the day before shipping. On Thursday evening feed all the small seeds like safflour, hemp along with all the European mix they want. After about 30 minutes remove the feed and place barley in the feeder for the day on Friday. Ship the hens every week to each race and upon return let them eat all the rich feeds and small seeds they want. Place them back into their holding section or flight pen a couple hours after they home until the process starts over each week. They are never trained or let out of the loft. They only fly one day a week in the race. Leave one or two hens home for the first two arriving cocks or use some unmated stock hens. More often than not the hens will beat the cocks and will even be better when the distance races come along. The hens only eat barley except for Thursday evening and Saturday after the race. If you are sending the hens to a long distance race, you can feed the hens the rich seeds the day of shipping also.
Keep every possible mineral in front of the hens free choice at all times.
If the hens fly eight or more hours in a race you can skip a week and go two weeks between races.
This system works so well and allows you to race more pigeons without any extra time or effort. You will start to re-think how to train pigeons when you fly this system.
Secret 4 Feeding Tip.... Never over feed your race team again. Just add about one ounce of Rabbit Pellets to the feed each day. Feed enough until the birds leave the rabbit pellets. Any very hungry birds will eat the rabbit pellets. After we feed our youngsters each day there is always a sprinkling of rabbit pellets in the feeder. By late in the day the pellets are gone.
We give all the birds rabbit pellets two time per week year round. This eliminates the use of any fresh greens. Buy rabbit pellets that have the first ingredient alfalfa.
Secret 5
Resting Tip. Rest is one of big misconceptions when it comes to racing pigeons. If you want your pigeons to have a long successful career please give one day of total rest for every two hours on the wing. Four hour flight, two days rest, 12 hour flight 6 days of total rest. You will not only dominate all season long you will win with 5 year old or older pigeons if you follow this rest recommendation throughout their career. By total rest we mean they do not even loft fly.
Secret 6 Buy a hygrometer (Home Depot) with a high low setting. The hygrometer measures humidity. Place the hygrometer in the racing loft and adjust ventilation to maintain humidity below 70%. By monitoring the humidity you will learn to keep it lower than 70% at all times. Pigeons have a big drop in form with humidity over 70%. My widowhood loft can be kept at 68% humidity when it is 100% humidity outside. My hygrometer monitors temperature and high low temperature also.
Secret 7
Keep an injectible antibiotic on hand for any one eye colds,rattles or respiratory issues you may have. We use LA 200 an oxytetracycline. Inject 0.5cc at the base of the back of the neck and in two to three days all the symptoms will be completely gone. Buy a very small bottle of LA 200. It goes a long way.
Secret 8
Aquarium Chlorine Removers
Small amounts of chlorine and chloramine are added to tap water to kill organisms for safe human consumption. Of course, chlorine and chloramine are toxic to your friendly bacteria and may interfere with antibiotics etc.. Use aquarium chlorine removers to do away with them. Aquarium chlorine removers often remove other harmful heavy metals, amonia or otherwise prepare your tap water for pigeon use. Purchase the one drop to the gallon dose and stop wasting money by killing or interfering with anything you give your pigeons in the drinking water. Just fill the bucket or container, drop in chlorine remover stir and add your products immediately.
Secret 9
Most pigeon grit is comprised of ground granite. This ground granite is very sharp, fragmented, pointed and generally abrasive. Is this grit irritating the gizzard and insides of our pigeons? Wild birds eat round smooth pebbles for grit. Maybe we should all rethink grit and find a pebble based grit with no sharp edges. I collect smooth pebbles off a salt water beach. There are places the pebbles collect at the base of large rocks. The size ranges from slightly bigger than a grain of sand to a little bigger than a pea. I bake the pebbles on a tray in the oven at 450 degrees for ten minutes to kill bacteria, let cool and feed to the pigeons. These beach pebbles also contain shell fragments, trace salts and minerals.
Secret 10
Not all yellow in a pigeons throat is canker. Fine lines of yellow could be an ornithosis or some sort of respiratory problem. If your canker treatment does not seem to work maybe you should be treating with doxicycline. Remember eyes, nose, ears, and throat are all inter related.
Secret 11
The most important meal after a workout is the first meal. This applies to athletes and animals. When your pigeons return home from a tough race they need rich feed with plenty of oil seeds in front of them free choice. They will eat what is needed to recover. By feeding rich feed your pigeons will recover very fast. We usually place all the 16% European mix along with safflour, pellets, hemp, flax etc.
Secret 12
When our pigeons return home from a race they drink our special blend of water additives to assist in recovery. In one gallon of water we place one tablespoon of glucose powder, 1/4 teaspoon of chicken vitamin electrolytes, one teaspoon of Probios Horse probiotic and 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt. They will bounce right back on this mix.
Secret 13
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best natural additives that can be given daily to the pigeons. We give one ounce to the gallon nearly every day of the year. We also mix in vitamins and probiotics several times per week. For a natural product to have benefits it must be used regularly over a long period of time. Apple Cider Vinegar makes the gut acidic. Bad bacteria does not thrive well in an acid environment. The good bacteria and normal pigeon gut bacteria love the acid (Apple Cider) environment. We usually buy the gallon container at the super market. If you only have a handful of pigeons the Apple Cider Vinegar sold at the health food stores is better.
All winter and the entire breeding season we give the apple cider vinegar every single day. We do not use the vinegar as much during the race season. I am too worried to that the race team will not be hydrated enough if I put the vinegar in the water. When I do use it during racing it is in the water for just the morning feeding. Used over the long term Apple Cider Vinegar has positive effects on the pigeons.
I never mix the Apple Cider Vinegar with medications.
Secret 14
Please do not feed Popcorn to your pigeons. Popcorn is very hard and does not absorb water easily. If you put popcorn in a glass of water for 24 hours it does not swell or get soft. Popcorn should not be included in any pigeon feed mix. Use a regular large corn in the feed mix and your results will improve in both racing and breeding.
Secret 15
We do not medicate youngsters in the first many months of their lives. If possible just vaccinate and worm with moxidectin. Medicate only if it is absolutely necessary. Our youngbird team will not be medicated for anything until they are in the racing season. Our young pigeons that are not raced either bred for stock or sale may not receive anything but Virkon S and moxidectin for over a year. Pigeons that are allowed to build natural immunity when young have less problems with health for the rest of their lives. Do yourself and your pigeons a favor by keeping them as natural as possible.
For pigeons to stay healthy naturally they cannot lack anything. We give apple cider vinegar just about daily along with numerous mineral cups, grits, probiotic several times per week, vitamins two or three times per week, garlic etc. If the birds are not lacking anything, their immune system works optimally.
Secret 16
You can pretty much feed any grain and or pellet mix and raise super babies providing you have every mineral and grit available to the pigeons. Vitamin deficiencies do not effect the pigeons nearly as much as mineral deficiencies. We keep pink vitamineral, brown mineral blocks, pick pot minerals, oyster shells, grit mix, red stone, magnesium blocks etc in separate cups in front of the breeders at all times. Your babies will be spectacular.
Secret 17
There is only one type of oil that should be used on our feed for the pigeons. That oil is Flax Seed Oil. This oil is high in Omega 3's and the health benefits are endless. Wet the feed with the Flax Oil and then add a good natural flavored whey protein or brewers yeast. Never chocolate because it is poisonous to pigeons. Omega 3 oils act as an anti-inflamatory which allows the pigeons to keep flying when others have quit due to swelling and fatigue. Tuesdays and Thursdays during racing and breeding will be enough for a positive effect.
Secret 18
Need to up the protein during breeding? Add a high protein small kibble dog food to the mix. Ten to twenty percent dog food in the mix will do the trick. My pigeons would rather eat dog food over safflour. Pigeons love the animal protein plus all the vitamins, minerals and calcium is very high in dog food. We like a puppy food because the protein is higher and the food is richer for growing dogs/pigeons.
Secret 19
Before breeding we feed a higher percentage of Rabbit pellets. Being predominantly Alfalfa, the vegatable like pellet is natures way to add a spring diet to the pigeons during winter. I feel the rabbit pellet also helps with fertility and the droppings will be firm and black. We always try to fill in any nutritional blanks with our pigeons. 33% in the mix will be perfect, Rabbit pellets will also help keep their body weight down.
Secret 20
If you have that super old breeder and you usually swap eggs from him or her, try letting the old timer, cock or hen raise a round of babies that you plan to ship out to a big futurity. My theory is old pigeons have been exposed to more virus and bacteria in their lifetime. They will then pass this immunity to the young in the pigeon milk. Worth a try if you need a pigeon with a possibly stronger immune system for a big race.
Secret 21
Need a very inexpensive salt/mineral supplement? Go to a Salt Water Aquarium Store and purchase 5 lbs of Instant Ocean or similar Saltwater fish salt. This salt is loaded with endless trace minerals. Use just a pinch at a time or change regularly because salt will attract moisture. Another option would be to keep all your minerals on a warming plate. Pet stores sell a variety of heating units that can be attached to the bottom of a glass aquarium. You can attach one of these to the bottom of a glass pyrex cookware/dish and add all your mineral cups. Minerals will stay dry.
Secret 22
I have found a super vita-mineral/grit combination. The product contains a combination of grits, vitamins, minerals and supplements. If you wanted to just use one grit/mineral mix this would be the one of choice. It comes in two size buckets 16lb or 22lb. This mix contains, sea grits and shells, small round stones, red grit, tiny mineral pellets, mineralized seeds, pink mineral pellets, B Vitamins, trace elements and assorted beneficial products for the pigeons. This is a must for every serious pigeon fancier. I give daily in small containers and move the leftover from the day before to another pot. Produced in Belgian by Jovati Pigeon Products and can be purchased by the bucket at Vita King Products 1 877 848- 5464
Secret 23
Some of the top Belgians treat every new pigeon they buy with ten days of Baytril and give a vaccination for salmonella on the 10th day. This protocol makes sense before adding a pigeon to a salmonella free colony. My suggestion would be to treat for canker upon arrival followed by worming with Moxidectin. Then proceed with the 10 days of Baytril and the salmonella vaccination. Plenty of probiotics will help keep the gut in check after this process.
Secret 24
Leave the lights on for 24 hours per day for your first two rounds during the breeding season. Your breeders should have feed in front of them at all times. The breeders can feed the babies throughout the night while the day length is short. Your results will improve!
Secret 25
The wonders of Oregano. Five years ago my 90 lb German Shepherd could not stop vomiting and also had and intestinal issue. I brought him to the Vet and expected a big dose of antibiotics. The Vet gave the dog a tube of Oregano Paste. The Vet said it would work better than the antibiotics. The dog nearly instantly started to improve. He was fully recovered in a few hours. I have thought about this for several years wondering how oregano would work on our pigeons. Recently I saw an oregano based water soluble pigeon product on the market. It is called Avian Solution or Avian Powder made by Van Beek Natural Science. Can be bought at www.Jedds.com.
The solution is gel like and you must really mix it well but it does dissolve. I have been using it for two months three to five days a week.
Secret 26
Young birds can spread any health problems in the bath water. Many lofts notice that shortly after giving the young pigeons a bath health problems begin. I would suggest adding one teaspoon of Virkon S to a gallon of bath water for each bath. This should eliminate the spread of disease when the pigeons drink the soiled bath water.
Secret 27
Snake Problems can drive even the most careful fancier crazy. Snake can enter into the loft and eat eggs and youngsters. If the youngster is too big to swallow the snake will just kill the pigeon. My friend Butch Shoop in Texas has had some luck with a product called 'Bird Block' made by Easy Gardener. Sold at Home Depot the netting can be placed around the bottom of the loft and over any opening. The product works like Gil Netting on fish. The snake gets caught in the net trying to get through. If the snake does get through the net to feed it will certainly get caught on the way out. 'Bird Block' comes in a roll.
Secret 28
When selecting breeders you can bring in cocks that are not physically perfect if the pedigree and bloodline is outstanding. You must always pair these less than perfect cocks to perfect in every way breeding hens. Many of the babies will have the physique of the mother along with half the genetics of the sire. Mating physically perfect cocks onto less than perfect hens usually leads to less the perfect babies. The great lofts have great hens. The super hens will compensate for many flaws in the cocks.
Secret 29
Try wood pellets for a loft floor deep litter. One bag will cover about 5' by 7' of floor. They break down over time but are really not dusty. The also make a super compost for the garden. Use the hardwood pellet designed for burning. The pellet used in wood stoves seem to hold up better than the soft wood pellet designed for bedding.
Secret 30
If you are not able to clean your loft constantly and do not live in a very dry climate a deep litter system is the best system for keeping pigeons. The birds are very comfortable on deep litter, the loft stays extremely dry and the pigeons stay in better condition. All beneficial to keeping healthy happy pigeons. I use straight wood pellets on my floors and sometimes mix 25% pine shavings into the wood pellets. This fresh bedding will change the atmosphere of the loft to a very positive state. You will immediately notice clean feet, clean feather and a bounce up in health.
Secret 31
If you ship pigeons through the express mail in the post office or even by airline you should hydrate the babies as you place them in the box. An infant bulb syringe made of rubber in a tear drop shape will make this easy. About a half a bulb of water in each youngster as you place them in the shipping box will fight dehydration during the trip.
Secret 32 Updated 8/22
If you can't beat them join. This past week (July 15th) I bought some rotating mechanical Dove Decoys and wind activated spinning wing Dove Decoys to place around the loft. The decoys go out when the birds are out. I am hoping when the hawks attack the young birds they may go for the easy target and hit a decoy over hitting one of the youngsters. We will see??
Hawk attacked a Dove Decoy the other day. Will this help?? I do not know. Maybe the hawk will realize those pigeons at McLaughlin Lofts are extreme tough to eat and leave the pigeons alone?
Secret 33 Updated 9/23
It is easy to tell if you are caring for your breeders correctly. My top breeders are raising their sixth and seventh round of young feeding, driving, moulting their bodies etc and still act and handle like they did before breeding season. The cocks are highly active and are snapping their wings with that Pop Pop Pop sound bouncing in and out of the flight pens. I attribute this health and condition at the end of breeding season not only to great pigeons but great care. Every mineral supplement is available to the breeding pigeons at all times. We breed right though the high heat and humidity of the summer with no ill effect. High quality pigeons combined with outstanding care should not show stress at the end of the breeding season. It is amazing to see yearling breeders mature and grow flawlessly while the entire time they are raising young.
Secret 34
Saw a very interesting article on the Pipa website that explained that youngsters vaccinated for Paramyxo-virus (PMV) at 3 weeks had less problems with Adeno-virus during young bird season. Some vets even claim they have less problems with Circo also.
In the past I would vaccinate my youngsters for PMV about six to eight weeks before young bird season. The year I vaccinated the youngsters at weaning. I wean the babies very young. Boston has had major issues with Adeno-virus this season and McLaughlin Lofts has not had any problems.
If there is a correlation between vaccinating for PMV at 3 weeks of age and a lessor incidence of PMV, it is well worth a try. You must vaccinate anyway.
We start with new syringes and load the entire 100 dose PMV vial into the syringes. It is very easy to just grab a loaded syringe each time you wean a baby.
