a few questions about pigeons. JUST CURIOUS

[boykin2010]

i may go to the sale next weekend just to look at some pigeons. I figured they werent as nasty as people said they were. Thanks for all of yalls help

 

[bradygv68]

No, those myths were created by the exterminator companies so people will buy their services for killing pigeons. Lots of pigeons, lots of people, lots of money for the poison companies.

Which myths are you referring to Mary? I think I might be missing something here in your response.

 

[jak2002003]

Pigeons carry no more diseases/parasites and are no more dangerous than any other animal, including us humans

They like to say they carry all these dangerous things but when it comes down to it, pigeons are rarely ever the actual cause of anything. They are just easy to pin things on. Pigeon Fanciers Lung, well, you can get that from horse stables, poultry farms or anywhere else where there's a lot of animals and a lot of their dust. Few fanciers get it with pigeons in lofts...why on earth people in cities think they will get it from the pigeons nesting on their balcony...I will never understand

Salmonella? Think of all the foods that are recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination. It's everywhere! How often do people in cities actually touch pigeons or their droppings? Only idiots would touch animals and their feces and then go eat something without washing their hands. That's how you'd get salmonella or anything else from pigeons

And the parasites? I've had plenty of pigeon lice on me and I never worry about it because they eat feathers. And mites - well, I have never seen one on a pigeon that wasn't stuck like glue to the feather shaft. Good luck getting them off and onto your skin. I think they are happy where they are! Then there was the whole avian flu scare. Luckily pigeons are immune to at least 2 of the strains and have a great resistance built up to the others. When they do get it, they keep it to themselves. So you definitely don't need to worry about getting that from them!

Now if only the general public knew the truth

Great post.

You are quite right.... pigeons have become scapegoats for pest control companies to make lots of money.. by spreading lies and fear about these lovely birds.

Humans carry more diseases they other humans can catch, than pigeons. How many times do people get colds, flue, viral diseases, etc from other people?

Another myth is about the pigeon poop being acidic and corroding buildings. This is a total lie. Their droppings are of a neutral pH and are not corrosive.

Parasites they live on pigeons do not affect humans.. Pigeon lice feed of feathers.. not human skin.

For all those people who still don't believe these birds pose a very minimal risk to human heath.. just ask yourself how many people you know who have actually caught a diseases off a pigeon.

Then look at how many people have got sick from their pet cat or dog.. or even got ring worm from their pet guinea pig!