pigeons and Alka-Seltzer

[Donkey]

Is it true if you feed pigeons Alka-Seltzer it blows up their stomach ?

[Wisebird]

If the answer was 'yes' then I certainly wouldn't let anyone know. Pigeons do seem to incur a lot of hatred - why can't we just let them be!

[honkytonkman]

I agree wholeheartedly Anniekon!!

[Donkey]

Anniekon do you work or live near a large city center where these vermin around .. Quote taken from a pest website "Droppings can deface buildings, spread disease and produce odors. They can also introduce mites and ticks into a building that can bother people. " This is why we cant just let them be .. Was not going to feed a pigeon alka-seltzer someone just said it to me when i was saying how vermin these animals are. just wanted to ask

[FTVS]

Donkey i;m with you - walking under railway bridges in London is revolting, pavement covered in guano and constant threat from above! They are rats with wings.

[norfolk boy]

Donkey you are a top person,these vermin along with rats need clearing from the face of the earth.now where does my grandad soak his false teeth!

[owner2]

unlikely, but where are you going to stop Adolf?

[Wisebird]

Donkey - I was born and bred in London. Now live in very rural Norfolk (25 years and probably still not accepted as local) and still surrounded by pigeons (wood pigeons) Still maintain that the majority of filth and mess is created by ourselves. By the way, I have been diagnosed as having 'Pigeon Fanciers Lung' (which is a life threatening disease that I actually acquired from cockatiels) and am severely allergic to bird droppings. However, I still don't hold any hatred towards pigeons. I understand the need to control pests - just not the hatred.

[norfolk boy]

hey owner whats adolf got to do with the vermin ?

[owner2]

First Donkey's going to kill the pigeons then he'll start his hideous experiments on you and me Norfolkboy.It's best to stop him while we still can.

[Donkey]

Owner I can assure you my experiments will stop on pigeons and rats. well norfolk boy is safe, your just bordering on the line at the moment Anniekon - im listening to what your saying but it only confuses me more.. "Pigeons do seem to incur a lot of hatred - why can't we just let them be! " "By the way, I have been diagnosed as having 'Pigeon Fanciers Lung' (which is a life threatening disease that I actually acquired from cockatiels) and am severely allergic to bird droppings." I would be amazed if I could find someone else who is "allergic to bird droppings" working in London and saying just let the pigeons be !!!!!!! Im not saying shall we have a mass cull ( although could be affective ) Im saying we cant just let them be, they need to be controlled , if only to stop other people catching these diseases

[Wisebird]

Perhaps when I said 'why can't we let them be' I used the wrong wording. I do think they should be controlled as I think filth and waste from humans should be controlled. I suppose it's because people seem to think its OK to take pot shots at them and treat them badly which amounts to cruelty. I just can't bear any form of cruelty and I think your Alka Selza question just set me off! OK, I could not work in London with my disease (not very common apparently - the doctors up here took 2 years to correctly diagnose it and they haven't got another case in this part of Norfolk!)

[owner2]

Surely the environmental health department have a remit to control pests.Better that than resorting to over the counter medicines and dubious vigilante tactics.Ants are pests too. Why don't you hunt them down with an uzi?

[Donkey]

owner2 i wasnt thinking about controlling pigeons with Alka-Seltzer this would take far to long and maybe a bit messy , the same as trying to control ants with an Uzi (I find boiling water helps )... The original question was just something i had been told.. Someone else has told me since then that pigeons cant release gas thats why Alka-seltzer works. Anyone know this to be true can answer here and that will be my original question answered.. thanks

[owner2]

Come on everybody, tell him how he can legitimately be cruel to birds.It's only factual information he craves.It's got absolutely nothing to do with animal cruelty. Honestly!!!

[clair_witch]

I heard that it blows them up too but I didn't believe it. I'd love to know whether it does or not. I doubt it though as I'm sure we'd have seen a lot of birds exploding in the sky. kids wouldn't have been able to resist it. So is it true? ; )