Mary Allen
Young pigeon disease is always a major concern for many pigeon fanciers. But there are ways to prevent intestinal disease: sour milk products such as kefir, yogurt or buttermilk strengthen the animals’ intestinal flora.
The specter of young pigeon disease – better known as swollen bowel syndrome – is already spreading again in many pigeon populations in Europe. Many pigeon fanciers report that they have already suffered huge losses from young pigeons. The symptoms are almost always the same: the pigeons sit around dully, throwing up their food because the intestines are completely swollen. Within a very short time, the entire organism collapses and the pigeon dies.
Many factors can contribute to this and unfortunately far too little is known about them. But one thing is certain: the intestines become more or less dense due to swelling of the mucous membrane, so that end products can no longer be excreted.
For breeders, young pigeon disease usually comes out of the blue. Preventive cures with any medication against supposed pathogens are not recommended. Every administration of medication puts a strain on the organism and promotes the onset of the disease. The aim must be to strengthen the immune system and, last but not least, to have an absolutely healthy intestinal flora.
We, humans, know all too well how important regular bowel movements are to our well-being. It is no different with the pigeons. And actually, we humans can transfer many of our own experiences one-to-one to the pigeons. Especially when it comes to gut health.
A Tried and Tested Means with Little Effort
Acidified milk products, for example, have an extremely good effect on intestinal flora. These include quark, kefir, yogurt, buttermilk, or sour milk. Their ingredients are quite different. Buttermilk is particularly recommended for pigeons, as its fat content is usually very low. In addition to kefir, buttermilk is also a sour milk product that is particularly popular with breeders. It is cheap and can be found in every supermarket.
While yogurt is usually given with the feed, buttermilk is given with the drinking water. A tried and tested mixing ratio is two parts water and one part buttermilk. This should be mixed well and given to the pigeons as the sole potion. When the temperatures are very hot, it makes sense for the pigeons to absorb the offered amount as quickly as possible. A tip: Once a week, take away the water from the pigeons about two hours before feeding and then give the water-buttermilk mixture to the grain feeding. The pigeons absorb this liquid without any problems. In general, one has the impression that they would taste it particularly well. This also applies to Biestmilch or kefir. Of course, the drinking trough is cleaned immediately afterward.
The lactic acid bacteria contained in buttermilk create a rather acidic environment in the intestine. This ensures that the intestinal flora and intestinal mucosa are stable and therefore better protected against pathogens. Especially with regard to young pigeon disease, buttermilk can definitely support and stabilize the intestines. With little effort, you have a tried and tested remedy at hand that can be a building block for preventing or reducing young pigeon disease. And as it currently looks, pigeon fanciers have to grasp at every straw in this regard.