The Dangers of Pigeon Breeding: Bird Fanciers Lung

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Bird Fancier’s Lung is a disease that affects mostly pigeon breeders but also can be linked to chickens, turkeys, parakeets, feather duvets, moldy hay, sawdust, grain, or excessive fungal growth on walls (Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis, n.d.). Diagnosis of the disease can be a difficult task. Patients suffering from the disease will develop influenza-like symptoms, cough, and shortness of breath. Crackles may be heard over the lungs, and respiratory function tests show a restrictive abnormality (Davis, 1983). The most effective treatment is avoiding all contact with the causative agent. If Bird Fancier’s Lung is not detected early, the patient’s chances for improvement are extremely limited and the disease could also become fatal. Pigeon fancying can be dated back hundreds of years. The ancient Greeks used pigeons to carry messages. Pigeon messaging was even used to aid the British during World War II. Men in Great Britain eventually decided to begin racing the birds to prove their capabilities as superior pigeon breeders. These highly intelligent birds are trained to use their homing instincts to return to their lofts from as far away as hundreds of miles. The official British duration record is 1173 miles in 15 days, and the fastest race speed ever recorded is 110.07 miles per hour (Bourke, 1997). Obviously an animal of this caliber will require many hours of training which can lead to some serious health risks to the pigeon breeder. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, pigeon racing was a widely popular sport among working class men in the industrial districts of south Wales, central Scotland, and the north of England (Johnes, 2007). The pigeon loft was used as an escape from the monotony and pressures of life... ... middle of paper ... ...s allergic antigens capable of causing a person to develop Bird Fancier’s Lung. Symptoms of this disease include fever, cough, dyspnea, a non-wheezing crackling sound in the lungs, and fatigue. Bird Fancier’s Lung can be prevented by wearing a respiratory protective mask, proper work attire, not transporting birds in the rear seat of a vehicle, and limiting the total amount of time spent inside the pigeon loft. If all of these procedures are followed, the pigeon breeder should not be forced to give up the hobby. Pigeon breeders are extremely passionate and committed to the sport, and most are willing to take the risk of the health factors to continue to participate in pigeon racing. The history of this sport that originated in a working-class society is still going strong. Today there are about 83,000 registered pigeon fanciers in Great Britain (Bourke, 1997).

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