Disinfection
 Autumn is the designated time to disinfect the loft. There are several good disinfectants on the market. The trouble with many disinfectants is that they can have in themselves carcinogenic properties to a greater or lesser extent. Usually the pigeons do not have much to do with this, but the owner even more. What I noticed over the years ,is that the side effects of these agents regarding carcinogenicity are often stashed, downplayed in lowercase or otherwise.
More than ten years ago, we have studied the possibilities that exist with respect to proper disinfection and safety of the drug use. We then came out with Virkon® S. For now this seems to be a secure and we use it not only for our own lofts but also for the disinfection of premises in the clinic.
Virkon® S is suitable for disinfecting surfaces, materials, water and air disinfection. If one has to deal with an outbreak of disease in one of the lofts and one wants to reduce the risk of the infection itself when he has to walk to a different department, than the drug can also be successfully used to do in a decontamination tray for footwear .
 An important thing to know, is that one needs to clean the surfaces before cleaning it with Virkon® S. Thereafter, it is necessary to leave a 1% solution of the agent for a long time in order to obtain an optimum effect. Too often I notice, that one uses Virkon® S as a glorified cleaner. This, however, should be avoided. So first clean the case and then apply the disinfectant in the right way.
If we can rely on the data from the producer no other disinfectant has a safety profile and broad and potent activity as Virkon® S. The agent has a strong killing activity of many common pathogens in birds. Both viruses, fungi and bacteria. It would be active against more than 500 different pathogens. A good activity exists against Salmonella typhimurium and Newcastle disease (PMV) and against Avian Flu. The product is not classified as hazardous, it does not cause hypersensitivity both in powder form and in use dilutions, in line with EU criteria (1999/45 / EC).
To all appearances, there is an official authorization for water use in chickens. Off the label is already used by several fanciers in a dose of 0.5-1 grams per liter of drinking water for the prevention of intestinal problems.
Not only proper reaction time is important also the right dilution is important. We keep itself at a dilution of 1 in 100. This equates to 10 grams per liter. For some diseases is a dilution of 1 to 200 is sufficient as in the case of influenza infection. But for most viruses a dilution of 1 in 100 is still really wanted. This includes the Paramyxovirus, the Circovirus and the Adenocolisyndroom.
Also, for most bacteria and fungi as well as for the Chlamydiae is a dilution of 100 desired.
Again the liquid is allowed to act on the surface long enough to ensure effective operation.
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