The Stop, Look and Listen Health Program
The American Way

Over the last 39 years I have been helping pigeon fliers keep their birds healthy. I have had a unique opportunity to observe both the birds, and their owners. Some of my observations are as follows:

1. Most fliers think that their medications and vitamins must come from Belgium or they can not be competitive.
2. If a program is simple it can not possibly work.
3. More medication or vitamins is always better.
4. Sickbirds can not win, no matter how good the pedigree is.

Observations like these are what prompted me to develop a simple, low-cost and easy to follow health program. Each medication is designed to work in a specific area of the birds body, for instance on race day return we use neomycin & bacilracin mixed together. The reason is simple, they work better and more effectively together than they do by themselves. They only work in the gut and basically only on E.coli.

If we look at the birds respiratory system he may look and feel healthy, but even a mild respiratory infection will doom their performance.

Here’s what happens: When a respiratory infection takes hold several things take place, besides the trachea being coated with mucus the air sacs become cloudy and thickened with mucus also, thus making it difficult for air to pass through them and therefore making it hard for the birds to breathe. The most important change that takes place is that the Ph of the blood changes and this change will not allow the hemoglobin of the blood to absorb the maximum amount of oxygen.

I told you this was simple. No oxygen, can’t breathe, can’t fly, can’t win!

I could go on and on, but I wont. Give this system a try if you want healthy birds. If you don’t understand something on the program or have other questions about your birds, just give me a call at (410)546-6137.

The following letter was submitted by Mr. Jim Casey of Louisiana. Mr. Casey has been using the program for the last 10+ years. His results are typical of what most fliers experience when using the program. Read over the materials and see what the health program can do for you. Please, feel free to give us a call if you need any help. You may be glad you did.

 
The Stop, Look and Listen Health Program
The American Way

Put very simple, it is a preventative medication/supplement program used for a very short time each year, with the specific Intent of keeping healthy pigeons healthy, despite their direct contact with unhealthy pigeons via the shipping crates and common race facility waterers.

The goal of the program is to establish “bug-free” loft/crates and “bug-free” pigeons for the duration of the race season, which allows them to compete at their best.

PRELIMINARY
One important step you can take before ever beginning this Is to make sure your birds have clean respiratory systems. Use Bactocide or a Tylan & Aureomycin mix for 7-10 days. It’s usually under stress conditions that the hidden, sub-clinical respiratory problems begin to surface.

Another important point is that you need to use non-chlorinated water. There are at least three ways to get chlorine-fee water:

1. let the water stand overnight
2. purchase a low cost additive from any pet store
3. buy non-chlorinated water
   

CONCEPT
The less contact birds have with their own droppings, the better. In our original loft, we installed all wire (perches, boxes, floor, landing board.) However, other program users have made great results without going to this extent. They were VERY conscientious in maintaining a clean, hygenic loft with quality airflow and preventing sudden temperature changes.

IN THE BEGINNING
The first step in getting the birds and loft “bug-free” is to remove all birds and debris from the loft. Next, spray every crack, crevice, and hiding place inside & outside the loft and the surrounding ground area with PERMETHRIN 10%. Then spray every inside surface with OXINE. Be sure to disinfect with OXINE all waterers and feeders at this time too.

While this is taking place and the loft is drying out (minimum of 30 minutes, pick a nice day.) Worm each bird with FENBENDAZOLE and dip each bird in PERMETHRIN 10%. Worm again in 10 days. Repeat the worming process every 30 days during the season.

When the loft Is dry, return the birds to it.

Suggest you complete this procedure at least 16 days before your race.
Sixteen days before your first race, put the birds on three days of SULFADIMETHOXINE, Then 3 days of VITA-PRO-B and another 3 days of SULFADIMETHOXINE.

All products are available from:

First State Veterinarian Supply
P.O. Box 864 
Salisbury, MD 21803
www.firststatevetsupply.com

Starting on the Sunday before the first race (Saturday races), start the weekly program.

Weekly Routine

While most of the items used (or substitutes) could be found at various dealers, all of the medications/supplements come from First State. Peter Brown is most helpful and willing to provide fast, personal service and sage advice. While there are all kinds of medications and supplements, each of those recommended provide just the right combination. Avoid the trap of adding “a little of this and a little of that.”

  
The Stop, Look and Listen Health Program
The American Way

BREEDER BIRDS:
Put ½ ounce of Replamin Liquid and 1 teaspoon of Terramycin Egg Formula in a gallon of water and give to the birds Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday give Probiotic at the rate of ‘/4 teaspoon per gallon of water, on a daily basis take 4 capsules of ESTER C and dissolve in a gallon of water and give to the birds. Use warm water as it helps them dissolve better. Check fertility and let me know how this is working out. You should also put ¼ teaspoon of vitamin A-D-E powder in the birds water once per week.

OLD BIRD RACE TEAM:
Substitute Bactocide in the place of the Spectinomycin powder in the program that you used in your young bird program. Also as a weekly routine when ever you are giving vitamins in the water add the A-Lyte Amino Acid and the Replamin Liquid to the water as well. Mix 6 vitamin C capsules in a gallon of water and give in the same water when you give the vitamin compounds. I would ilke to see you start this program on the old birds as soon as possible. The object will be to get the birds to breath better by using the Bactocide as the Antibiotic. The vitamins, Replamin and the A-Lyte are being used to try and boost the oxygen carrying capacity of the Hemoglobin of the blood. If the respiratory system is in good health then we should be able to get maximum saturation of the blood with Oxygen.

OTHER VARIABLES:
If you have been putting off going to this program because of fear of making such big changes, delay no longer! Do what you already successfully do and simply add the Health Program to your routine.