I wanted to treat all of my pigeons for Paratphus, as a few of my stock pigeons were showing signs of this last year while breeding. I have read various articles re treatment programs, i.e. treat with Baytril for 14 days followed by vaccination. My questions are:
1. Do you treat after the moult or can you treat now, i.e. with two flights left to go?
2. If I were to use Baytril 10%, what would the dosage be, i.e. how many ML of Baytril to a litre of water? I would be grateful for your advice, as if I am to treat I want to do it properly. As you proberly know it is very difficult to get advice here in the UK.
question by: Darren
answer by: Pascal Lanneau
First off all, I want to say that I try to avoid giving any medicines during the molting period. There are some products who can cause some marks on the feathers, other products almost none, but if not necessary, don't use any medicines at that time. On the other hand I also try to avoid medicines a month before breeding starts, because some products can cause also some problems regarding the fertility etc... So, when it is possible, try to treat when the pigeons are finished molting, and minimum 1 month before the breeding period starts. In your case, when it are only breeding pigeons that you want to treat, the molting period is not so important as for racers. If you see problems, or saw problems that can be linked to paratyphus, you can give them 10 -14 days antibiotics, like enrofloxacine, or trimethoprim + sulfamides,.. Afterwords you can vaccinate with a vaccine that is commercialised or with an auto vaccine, when they could find paratyphus. If you use Baytril 10 % (which is one of the best at this moment especially to treat possible carriers) you need to give 2 cc per liter water. BUT: during winter time they don't drink that much anymore, that is why the dosage should be higher, or you do the medicine in the food. This last thing is not so evident like that, because it is difficult to mix it in a proper way!!! That is why I always advice not to give 2 cc per liter, but 2 cc per 20 pigeons, so if they drink only 0.75 liter water, do 2 cc per 0.75 l water and not per liter.