Rooster J. Cogburn

That's something to aspire to surely? If folk are jealous of you,critical and slanderous then you've made it haha

I don't think that's a statement that can be justified by you, I or anyone John. There's no such thing as a best dooman in Scotland,Britain,Europe,the world,the universe etc. Far too many factors to consider in my opinion. That said-the Mac's are top doomen, without question the best inland fliers ever in Lanarkshire and their birds would make an impact in most lofts

Room for improvement Good post Derek

Henry Borthwick of Winchburgh has a cock that's won something like 9 or 10 1st clubs and 5 or 6 1st feds. Would have to say that's a good yin flying against some very handy fliers? Think you'd be hard pushed to find fanciers in Scotland with more inland fed toppers over the last couple of years than DougieBald of Balerno and Jim & Anne Donaldsonof Peterhead?

First egg laid last night. Turns out they aren't a pair of homosexual cocks after all haha.

Some of mines still have two to go as well. I took them off darkness later than I normally do this season so my thinking is this is the reason. They should finish I think, have heard people with darkness youngsters chucking the last one in March even. On another note I handled a toppin yearling at a friend's loft in September, one of his best old birds this year and she still had a nest flight having been on darkness and not completing the wing moult. I also know of a yearling that made the top 10 Open SNFC at 500mile that was the same. Obviously we'd aw prefer it to be completed, but does it really matter ? Think the only time it would need to be looked at is later on in the old bird season in case the doo throws the end flight along with its 2nd or 3rd.

Think Martin is right re aw the wonder tonics etc. To add my point of view to it I think it can be better avoided and controlled if we pay more attention to the bird's loft before worrying about supplements. Although I would say some of them are quite good. I say this after hearing a top fancier talking about how the majority of fanciers usually put the biggest team they have, their youngsters, in the smallest of all their lofts or sections. Do you fall into this category? Done a bit of looking into who I consider the be top YB fliers-the ones with the best results and best returns from every race. Many of them have spacious lofts with perches and boxes far outnumbering the number of pigeons, as well as large aviaries attached where the birds can be out all day. Think this is a big thing as their won't be as great a chance of trapping as many viruses/bacteria in the loft. I don't think this is the complete answer but I've tried to give the youngsters more space for the last couple years after being totally fed up with YBS and it definitely goes a long way to preventing serious problems and illness on an epidemic scale.

Welcome back bigda

I don't lol. I think I could tell how a bad one comes, no a good yin lol

Think a lot of judges go on condition and health at the time as opposed to pigeon's potential. That's why I don't enter any,not fair on the rest haha. joking aside, I was at a show recently,birds being sick everywhere. All pigeons eating it. No for me.

Had a wee read through and it's going the way most of these things do, with so many different contributors with different winning methods it becomes very confusing for novices or anyone wishing to learn something. That's why I'd say Eastcoaster's advice is sound. Find one or two people you can speak with regularly. Visit them, look at their lofts and their relationship with the pigeons, ask them things, phone them weekly or daily to the point of annoyance and start to think and act like them in your loft. Once you are up and running with more experience you can add your own intricacies and ideas. One thing that stood out to me was the twice a week on the training van, midweek race and weekend race. Is that four times a week your birds are in with other peoples? This could be one of the factors that contribute to them constantly coming the wrong way. Top sprint fanciers who send with training vans are a minority from what I can see. Your pigeons unless schooled the best you can before going in these vans will learn nothing but bad habits. They can be out of the loft for hours at a time in the process causing unnecessary stress(particularly for natural pigeons), this combined with mixing with birds from so many different lofts regularly is inviting illness into your loft. This is just an opinion and by no means fact

Aye Bosworth will be up there Derek. He had won 173 SNFC cross channel diplomas up to 2012,will be in excess of 200 now I'd think + all the other races they had at one time-Usher Vaux etc. One or two others with these sort of numbers aswell. Think Jock Ellis won his first prize over the water in 1962 and there's only one year since where he hasn't timed fi France. It will be a fair few anyway lol. There will be a few wee ugly ones up for grabs at the Ellis sale,so bring your cheque book lol

Fair point Roland, John Ellis had an exceptional natural talent with pigeons. Rather unorthodox methods that could have visitors and other top fliers scratching their heeds lol. Top bloodlines just the same, that have have featured in at least three SNFC Gold Cup winners since the year 2000,as well as an SNRPC Gold medal winner. Birds from Jock have gone on to breed numerous prizewinners for numerous fanciers. I couldn't say this is 100% correct,but I doubt there is any Scottish fancier,alive or dead, timed on as many occasions from France as John Ellis. I can think of 8 birds he has raced off the top of my head that won over 40prizes from France between them. A real master fancier,Scotland is lucky to have had.

Get them in the shows and get yourself a few bob for Xmas

They excercise at home as well. I said to you 10,it may be closer to 12,I've never measured it lol Tried aw hing,this is just the latest fad. I know fanciers a lot better than me who give less and others who give more. Probably just another unimportant thing for doo men to kid themselves on with lol

I've seen and heard enough to draw the conclusion it makes little to no difference come the race season. I've spoken to top fliers who's bowl is never shut in the closed season. I've spoken to top fliers who let them out ad lib, when the opportunity arises. I've spoken to top fliers who keep them in until January,February,March or even April. It's down to preference and as always it will be the good fanciers with good birds that win the most prizes regardless.

a lot ae true things are said in jest haha You going to the Bonnybridge night on Friday Davie? show itself is the 16th and 17th,but you should get yourself down on the 15th(Friday) Geordie.

One of the best doo nights of the year

Starting to look forward to it now . Staying at the Kenbarry this time.

Are you booked up? Where you staying this time?

Very sad news. A great man and tremendous fancier. Thoughts go out to Patricia,Joan and family.

Me as a wean

topper Ryan

great stuff Walter and Jim

You are right Geordie. I don't think Mary should be persecuted for what I consider to be an honest mistake. Everyone in all forms of work make mistakes when they are new to a job,even when they've been at it for years. She is very dedicated and has done a great job over all. I for one would like to see her in position to keep doing so in the coming seasons.