~AU SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY TASKFORCE~
A committee of the American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc.
Commissioned January 2004


Veterinary Position Statement Regarding the
Health Aspects of Pigeon Keeping

Approved as a resolution of the American Racing Pigeon Union on
July 18, 2004


“The keeping and recreational use of pigeons, under currently accepted standards of pigeon husbandry and hygiene, is a safe activity, and poses no particular hazards to public health or safety or to the personal health or hygiene of pigeon caretakers beyond the risk posed by the keeping of any other animal. There are no zoonotic diseases specific to pigeons. For a healthy, immune-competent person, pigeon keeping in accord with current avicultural standards is a very safe activity.

Pigeons are extremely easy to keep, with very simple nutritional and husbandry requirements. They can comfortably tolerate a wide variety of environmental conditions, and adapt very readily and comfortably to a wide variety of avicultural situations and uses. Although relatively rare, the few diseases pigeons do get are easily treated with readily available medications or prevented with vaccines. Within the field of Veterinary Medicine, there is a specialty of Avian Medicine to support pigeon fanciers in keeping their birds healthy and comfortable.”



In consideration of data from the United States Communicable Disease Center and of research conducted pertaining to registered, pedigreed Homing Pigeons, we affirm that to our knowledge, the above Statement is true.

American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc.
P.O. Box 18465
Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0465
405-848-5801
www.pigeon.org