ESSEX & KENT AMALGAMATION
E. J. SAINS
A report on the progress being made in the Essex & Suffolk Border Federation
Once again for the 2014 season there have been no exceptions with federations both large and small up and down the country, reporting losses, particularly now the young bird season is in full swing. There is no doubt that a lot could be learnt from each other’s experience. So here are some facts concerning the progress of the Essex & Suffolk Border Federation.
Any age racing
It is widely known as it was originally reported in the press that six any age races were to be organised by the Essex & Suffolk Border Federation, to proceed from Saturday June the 21st onward for six successive Saturdays. The idea of these any age races was that the federation members could start their young birds off at any point over the six weekends before the young bird season started. This would help by ensuring that a minimal amount of young birds with health problems would be on the transporter at any given time, plus the old birds would help clear the liberation sites thus stopping the problem of young birds flying aimlessly around liberation site and adding to each subsequent liberation. Unfortunately only a few took up this offer. As I was one that did, let’s start by detailing my birds’ progress so the benefits can be seen. Firstly I would like to say that my colony of racing pigeons is free from disease and hence no young bird sickness. This was achieved by unravelling the problems and acting on the results of my findings. While we are on this subject of disease in our pigeon, let’s take the time to explaining the main cause of young bird sickness.
Cause of infection
Over the past 20 years or more we have as pigeon fanciers systematically cross infected our birds with an infection of Paratyphoid (Salmonella). Paratyphoid could be described as a small disease that can infect our birds without any visual signs except when the birds in question come under stress. Because the Salmonella infection is present it allows other cross infections to take hold. These are often treated with antibiotics by the fancier leading to a temporary fix that has hidden side effects such as a strengthening of the pathogen that you are trying to subdue. The trick is to remove the Salmonella infection and stop cross infecting the birds. In this way you will ring fence each of your birds then they will build up an immunity to deal with their own needs. This is not wishful thinking, it has been done. Anyway, the whole process is quiet complicated and cannot be explained in a few paragraphs.
Any age results
On the 21st of June 16 first and second round birds were entered in the first any age race, which was flown from Newark, flying south into Essex as my loft is the furthest south in the federation, and that put my distance at 121 miles 1246 yards. Returns on the day were 14 birds and all homed singly - two were lost. Second race the 14 were sent back and all returned on the day - two were placed in the first six flying against the old birds. The third race the 14 were sent back, 13 homed on the day, one had a night out. This pigeon was one of seven I had drop together this week, taking the first 7 in the club (fed result not yet known). What I am trying to point out here is no young bird sickness, then there will be no losses of any significance in federations around the country.
It’s no use blaming the convoyer, the race advisor or the weather when disease is behind the problem. If you are infected with young bird sickness keep them at home for at least three weeks, drive them into a basket each meal time, don’t feed those with food in their crop. Once you have them looking and acting right, boost them with suitable supplements. Then perhaps you will be ready to return them to racing. Remember if you send birds that are not ready to return to racing you will not only lose them but you will hold up healthy inexperienced birds from leaving the race point. Best of all start the process of removing disease from your loft.
The Essex & Suffolk Border Federation
The Essex & Suffolk Border, which is a north road federation, can be an asset to training and racing your birds. Next season 2015 we will be looking for one or two new clubs that will be able to have birds picked up at numerous pick up points stretching from Maldon right up to Norwich.
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