How do I prepare the pigeons for vaccination?

The pigeons must be able to be vaccinated, i.e. a previous examination as to whether the pigeons are in the state of health to be vaccinated is always advisable. In addition, it definitely makes sense to add certain substances that are increasingly needed in the context of immunity training after vaccination. This certainly includes all preparations with a high vitamin B content and amino acids, such as the Bt amine forte.

With which vaccines should I vaccinate my old birds and with which the youngsters?

In any case, I recommend vaccinating the old pigeons with PHA in December and boosting up the vaccination against rotavirus with RP Vacc early in the spring. The youngsters should have received their basic immunization in the previous year. If the youngsters have not been vaccinated with RP Vacc, the oldsters must also be vaccinated twice. In my experience, the PHA reliably protects against herpes virus infections, which have increased significantly in recent years. Rota virus also seems to play a role in old birds. According to current experience, RP Vacc also offers reliable protection there. The youngsters should be vaccinated twice with RP Vacc at intervals of 3-4 weeks as soon as possible after weaning. Three weeks later, PHA should also be vaccinated urgently, since more and more outbreaks of herpes virus infections are also occurring in young pigeons. The multiple vaccination against PMV that accompanies this is not a problem.

When is the best time to vaccinate youngsters?

One should begin the vaccination regimen early after weaning. However, the young pigeons should have survived the first phase after weaning and eat well on their own and have settled in at the young animal loft. Then they are usually old enough to comply with the vaccine manufacturer's guidelines regarding the prescribed age.

When is the best time to vaccinate old pigeons?

I recommend vaccinating with PHA in December and vaccinating with RP Vacc early in the spring, depending on the planning on your own loft. For example, we vaccinate RP Vacc on the clutch of the 20.01. paired racing pigeons.

Can I also vaccinate my pigeons when I am on a cure, e.g. against trichomonads?

This is usually not a problem.

Can I also vaccinate the old pigeons when there are youngsters in the nest?

This should be avoided if possible. The specifications of the manufacturers are clear in this regard. But I think everyone has enough time to plan vaccinations accordingly and avoid such overlaps.

How important is the correct storage or transport of vaccines?

This is of course essential. If transported and stored incorrectly, full effectiveness can no longer be assumed.

If my youngsters get young animal disease, can I vaccinate them directly or do the youngsters have to be healthy again first?

Basically, it is not common practice to vaccinate into an ongoing infection. At RP Vacc, however, experience shows that vaccination in the case of an existing infection is apparently not a problem and may even have a positive effect on the course of the infection.

Do I have to vaccinate each round of youngsters separately or can I wait until all rounds are weaned?

For the sake of practicality, in my experience, the majority of breeders vaccinate all pigeons together. Basically, it is of course good to protect every pigeon as soon as possible, because a rota infection is always a new infection of the stock, which can happen at any time, for example, by a passenger and thus before the pigeons come into the basket.

How long does it take after the vaccination for the protection to kick in?

The so-called seroconversion lasts 14 days, i.e. after 14 days there are enough antibodies to protect against infection. Nevertheless, a breakthrough in vaccination protection can still occur after the first vaccination. Therefore, early double vaccination is extremely important. It is also very important not to rely on just one vaccination. This is quite common among many breeders. The primary immunization with the formation of memory cells is only complete after the second vaccination. After a single vaccination, the antibody level drops again after a few weeks and an infection is possible.

Does the Pharmavac PHA vaccine work against “Vlisje Syndrome” or “One Eye Cold Syndrome”?

Yes, the symptoms in these cases clearly speak for a herpes virus infection. The results from practice after vaccination with PHA confirm this.