PFL

I've recently had the pleasure of meeting two very knowledgable gents who've both kept birds in excess of 40 years each, unfortunately both suffer from PFL and as a consequence use dust masks when in their lofts.

I'm trying to understand what causes PFL (apart from the obvious ), would it be because they're inheritantly more susceptible to conditions such as asthma, might smoking have had a contributory effect? I could have quizzed them but it seemed a bit rude somehow. Whilst I don't want to have to wear a mask when around my birds if I don't have to, neither do I want PFL. What are thoughts on how to avoid getting it?

hi steve, my brother who i used to fly in partnership with has had it for the past 25-30 years.........whenever he goes near pigeons he starts coughing so his wife/daughters do a lot of the looking after for him, he has never smoked in his life and never had asthma either....plus i sit in the loft for hours and did before when i had them and im ok, touch wood

That's interesting, I know you gave up for quite a while but it would seem your brother had it before you had your break and I'm assuming you had a similar exposure when in partnership prior to the break - makes me wonder if given enough exposure everyone would get it or your either susceptible to it or your not

yes steve your right, he did have it before we became partners......but one thing different about us, i started when i was 16 years old and kept them approx 8 years before i packed in, he started keeping pigeons when he was 12 years old and never been without them ever since.....

i suppose some people are more susceptable than others maybe

PFL is the build up of pigeon bloom in the lungs and for me this has to be from poor ventilated lofts which does not help remove the bloom out of the air

If you look at some of the old lofts in the early 80's when widowhood was making a start all the lofts were closed in and darkened which did not help pigeon or fancier

A lot of fanciers who have PFL still race pigeons but have open fronted lofts or extra ventilation in there lofts

One fancier is Keith Mott who writes for the British Homing World he raced from rabbitt hutch type lofts but he has had a new loft now with extra ventilation to help remove the bloom

sounds about right that don, ive read those who have it always wear a mask, hat and loft coat which minimises dust being carried on their cloths and hair.

I have always said as long as there is good ventilation then it helps a lot for you and the pigeons

ventilation is one of the alterations i need to do after the racing season............

i use a mask when cleaning out.i think its the protein in the pigeon bloom thats the problem.

Thanks Don, that makes perfect sense - one more argument to support getting good ventilation.

I'm assuming this pigeon bloom acts as a sensitiser and acts in much the same way as cat hair does to my son (Davids brothers symptoms seem very similar) and those most affected would be most at risk when cleaning out so, as Geordiejen does, that would be an advisable time to wear a mask?

Pigeon Fanciers Lung

With more and more fanciers leaving the sport due to health problems relating to the keeping of pigeons, the time has come to give positive advice on practical ways where risks to developing PFL are removed. My own experience, losing 2 stone in weight at the chronic stage in ten days led to giving up my pigeons – but only for a short time. I am still susceptible to the condition, as my return from a fortnights summer holiday revealed, spending over an hour doing a big clean out, suffering later with flu like symptoms that night. My conversation with Keith Mott and subsequent correspondence saw him return to the sport keeping his pigeons in large rabbit hutch style accommodation.

The biggest problem with Pigeon Fanciers Lung (Avian Alveolitis), is knowing how to prevent it. To do that you need to recognise what causes the condition. To put it quite simply it is an allergic reaction to pigeons. Not the birds themselves, but rather the bloom and dust coming from the birds, their waste products, just like household dust and dandruff in humans. It is just like any allergic reaction to cats, dogs or even certain foods. It is impossible to suffer from this problem in open spaces, like Trafalgar Square.

Therefore it is necessary to look at how the pigeons are housed in order to get to the root cause of the problem. Since Belgium style lofts where introduced for racing pigeons on the widowhood system, with little or no ventilation, contraction of this disease has escalated. While such housing is undoubtedly beneficial for the birds it is very harmful to their owners, who upon being diagnosed with Pigeon Fanciers Lung are advised to give up their hobby, resulting in even more members lost to the sport forever.

By closing in the loft you trap the harmful waste pigeon dust, that brings on the condition, a dry cough, difficult breathing and flu like symptoms, which is the start of the allergic reaction to the pigeons. Some 15 years ago this is exactly how I reacted, after 20 years with no such problems. The only change had been the loft, from the traditional open fronted shed, with four wall ventilation, where no harmful dust could stay inside and where everything was blown out naturally, through the air vents, to a closed Widowhood style one. So not surprisingly, 35 years ago, Pigeon Fanciers Lung was unheard of and we had far more lofts and fanciers than we have today, added to which fanciers kept fewer birds. If like me you are diagnosed with Pigeon Fanciers Lung , do as my specialist advised, ”remove the problem, that causes the allergy,” which to me meant the dust ,not the pigeons.

This is how I came to keep pigeons in outside boxes, rabbit hutches really. Nobody is at risk to this disease in the open air. In fact the most fancier friendly loft I have seen is that of John Harwood, BHW writer at his home in Milton of Campsie near Glasgow. Not a loft really more an aviary. His aviary is 10ft x 8ft, with a Norplex roof and a 2ft wide strip of Norplex around the sides, to hide the birds on their perches, from birds of prey. The lower part being ½” wire mesh on all four walls with wire grills keeping the pigeons 6” above the floor. All his young birds are housed in this loft from January until the end of the season, with the widowhood hens and stock hens moved in until pairing in December. This giving it all round use, even in the severest of winters and what is more the birds prefer it, staying in excellent condition. Nature designed the pigeon to live in the open air, yet man in his wisdom thinks he knows best. The wins John has obtained using this method are exceptional proving that pigeons kept this way can and do win races.

If you are still not convinced that pigeons can win top prizes at the highest level to an old fashioned open ventilated loft, how about first North Road Championship Club from Fraserburgh in June for David, Janet and Alison Robinson of Norwich, against 3297 birds. David Robinson, had to give up the sport in 1988 due to Pigeon Fanciers Lung and restarted in 1997 with Louella Busschaerts , his winner being one of those original birds. As he was allergic to pigeon dust a closed in loft was out of the question. The loft had to be fully open in order to take out the harmful dust, and the loft is ventilated on three sides, the front and both sides, only the back is a solid wall. The top half is dowelled at the front with the lower half being louvred to the floor. Louvres are fitted to each end, the total size 22 foot long x 8 foot wide, including a 2 foot wide corridor at the front. 15 Widowhood cocks are raced, complimented by 24 Young birds,and usually includes at least 12 Louella youngsters as the Robinsons do not keep stock birds. David is very conscious about his allergy, only spending about 40 minutes a day in close contact with the pigeons, though he fully acknowledges the help given by Janet and Alison, who are equally responsible for their success. To this loft the Robinsons clocked birds to win section F on three occasions in 1999, concluded by First section, third open N.R.C.C. with an entry of just four.

I am not suggesting for one minute that modern closed in lofts are no good, what I am saying is they dramatically increase the chances of developing the disease. Then again some people will never show any allergic symptoms. The choice for many will become give up the sport or continue to enjoy your pigeons in safety, and open up your loft.
this is something i found what somebody has put on website thought you might find of interest

Ian a good peice of information is this the corresspondence which Keith Mott sent you

Or did you have alphabet soup for your dinner

But on a more serious note sorry to hear that you have PFL but i will say the weight loss is nothing i have lost 2 stone in 3 days to make a weight in my boxing days (and yes i still won) 14 pounds in one day and that was for the ABA Championships

Ians your post was a fascinating read and answered all my questions on the condition - thanks.

SGWBrown wrote:

Thanks Don, that makes perfect sense - one more argument to support getting good ventilation.

I'm assuming this pigeon bloom acts as a sensitiser and acts in much the same way as cat hair does to my son (Davids brothers symptoms seem very similar) and those most affected would be most at risk when cleaning out so, as Geordiejen does, that would be an advisable time to wear a mask?

my wifes alergic to our cat too steve, if the cats been in the living room (usually not allowed in) and the wife goes in and sits down.......within minutes she is sneezing and her eyes start to water and go puffy.