Pigeon vaccination schedule
Vaccines and timing for young birds and adults, deworming and canker, quarantine, and the loft year.
An indicative schedule. Confirmed locally available: vaccines from the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute in Abbasiya (trade name Cervac) for paramyxovirus, pox and salmonella, sold at the institute's outlets. Imported products vary depending on imports. Follow the package insert and the veterinarian's instructions. Do not vaccinate sick birds, birds in the middle of molt, or in race week.
| Vaccine | Young birds | Adults | Timing (Egypt) | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paramyxovirus (PMV-1 'Rousha') inactivated | After weaning (~4-6 weeks), subcutaneously at the back of the bird's neck (lower neck); booster dose according to the package insert | Once a year before pairing or 4-6 weeks before the season | Adults: September-October (before pairing and the winter season); young birds: right after weaning all year round | Cervac/Serum Institute (0.5 ml subcutaneously at the upper neck); imported: Colombovac PMV, Nobilis Paramyxo P201, Pharmavac |
| Pox (live attenuated) | 6-8 weeks (some Egyptian sources say 6-12) by wing-web puncture or by brush on follicles of plucked feathers; check for a take after 7-10 days | 4 weeks before pairing and laying, and annually before the mosquito season | April-May before the mosquito summer, or before pairing; at least 4 weeks away from races | Cervac pigeon pox vaccine (local strain) |
| Salmonella (inactivated) | Two doses 3-4 weeks apart after weaning | Annual booster dose before pairing | October-November before pairing; available in Egypt (Serum Institute: 100 doses) - field practice: 0.5 ml subcutaneously at the neck every 6 months | Cervac inactivated salmonella vaccine |
| Combined vaccines (imported) | Europe: RP Vacc = paramyxo + rota (4 weeks + booster after 3); a triple vaccine of paramyxo + herpes + adeno from 4 weeks | According to the vaccine available from the veterinarian. |
Deworming and canker
Rely on fecal examination and a crop swab before any course - indiscriminate treatment creates resistance (canker resistance to nitroimidazoles is documented).
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2-3 weeks before pairing | Fecal exam + deworming, canker course for the pairs, lice and mite control, paramyxo/salmonella vaccination |
| During breeding | Crop swab for squabs at ~day 10 if there is a canker history; do not deworm the female near the eggs except under veterinary direction |
| After weaning | Vaccinate the young birds (paramyxo, then pox), coccidia testing |
| 4-6 weeks before the season | Comprehensive check (feces, crop, respiratory) and treat only what is needed; last vaccination 4 weeks before the season |
| During the season | Weekly/biweekly crop swabs on samples, respiratory control per the veterinarian, no medications that affect performance before the basket |
| After the season/molt | Deworming and thorough cleaning of the loft, improved nutrition for the molt |
Quarantine
Any new bird or one returning from a market/show: isolate for 21-30 days in a separate place with separate equipment, daily observation, fecal exam and crop swab, paramyxovirus vaccination if not vaccinated, external parasite treatment. A stray bird (one that landed at your place from another loft) should be isolated too.
The loft year (Egypt)
Based on news from the Egyptian Federation of Homing Pigeon Racing: the 2024/2025 season's arrangements began with a window of 1-15 November; February races (Assiut 9/2/2025 ~400 km from Cairo, the Republic Race 21/2/2025, and races on 3/2/2026 and 23/2/2026 for Upper Egypt, 500 km); and the Salloum race of 650 km on 20/5/2023. Summer (June-August) is off-season because of the heat.
| Months | Work |
|---|---|
| August-September | End of molt, check-ups, vaccination of adults (paramyxo/salmonella) |
| October-November | Pairing and producing the season's young birds; registration/delivery of rings and the start of the season arrangements at the federation (November window) |
| December-January | Training, gradual shipping and short-distance races (depending on the branch) |
| February-March | Peak of official races: Upper Egypt stations (Assiut ~400 km, 500 km), the Republic Race |
| April-May | Long-distance races to the west (Salloum ~650 km for Lower Egypt) and the end of the season (Benghazi proposed as the last release) |
| June-July | Rest, molt, pox vaccination before the mosquito season |
See also: pigeon diseases by symptom.