DARD advice to pigeon owners

The symptoms of PMV 1 in pigeons include diarrhoea, reluctance to move or take exercise, depression, anorexia, quietness and possibly death. Symptoms may occur only in young birds but all ages can be affected.

Nervous signs may precede enteric signs. Common nervous signs are trembling of head and wings, tumbling on landing, partial paralysis of wings and legs, torticollis (twisting of the neck) and inability to peck food. These signs are not, however, unique to this disease. Respiratory signs are not a regular feature of the disease.

Organisers of pigeon shows or races, which take part wholly or partly in Northern Ireland, must ensure that all racing pigeons entered for the show or event, have been vaccinated against PMV 1. Organisers should therefore ensure that each owner of participating pigeons provide a written declaration, signed by the owner, stating that all pigeons so entered have been fully vaccinated against PMV 1. Failure to comply with this requirement under the Disease of Poultry Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 1995 is an offence, liable on summary conviction, with a fine of up to £5,000.

Pigeons may be vaccinated for Paramyxovirus from as young as three weeks of age. It is essential that an approved vaccine is used and that the manufacturer’s instructions are followed precisely to ensure vaccine efficacy. Failure to do so may reduce the immune response in the pigeon.

Owners of poultry houses and pigeons lofts are also reminded of the need to maintain high biosecurity standards to restrict access by wild birds and vermin to both the premises and feed supplies.