David Home

You normally find that gift birds turn out to be good ones.My first winner was actually a gift bird.

Think thats whats wrong with half the fanciers of today. They treat for this and that without knowing why they are doing it. Normally because someone else is doing it. Too many treatments have a detremental effect on the immune system.Leaving the birds more prone to infections. Garlic, cider vinegar, honey, all these things are fine because they are natural. IF THE BIRDS ARE ILL THEN TREAT ACCORDINLY NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT.

Congratulations to all involved. Transporter looks the business. The very best of luck to you all.

Are you defining a sprint as a short race distance? Nowadays even the short races can turn into something of a marathon. Given the weather we've been having this summer.I think if the bird is fit enough and has had the right schooling then it won't be far away, no matter what the breed.

We would still have to buy some vaccine for the young birds each year. I don't think the big pharmaceuticals rely solely on the pigeon vaccine to keep them going. The loss to the likes of these companies would be minimal to say the least.

I agree totally jimmy, Why oh why do we have to vaccinate year after year, when dogs and the like only need doing twice for the rest of their lives.Once when a pup, then a booster after a year. The same thing could be done with the birds I'm sure.

Somewhere in the region of 18ft x 6

Most of the birds these days are well enough bred. I think pairing winner to winner is the best way. Forget about strain. No such thing as a pure bred pigeon anymore.Condition,contentment and control. You wont go far wrong.

Does anyone know of any good loft builders in N.Ireland? Please let me know.

What club is he in? What's his name?

No, I used to race in the West Lothian Fed in Scotland. I'm now living in Northern Ireland.

First won the Fed Average in 1997. Won it again in 1999.

Must ask him the next time I see him. LOL

Pottasium Permanganate in the bath water

You could try a supplement of selenium zinc.

Best done not long after leving the nest. Give good mutivitamin in the water too.

Don't go mad trying to get them in. You will only create more problems for yourself later.

Leave the trap open for when they get back from training with just a little red band or similar food on the inside of the trap meaning first in first fed.When the birds see the first one eating they will soon get the idea. When all your birds are back in give a little more seed. Remember to have the seed in the trap on race days too.

I would keep training right through the young bird program. During club racing three 25ml tosses per week aswell as an hour round the chimneys at night.The more they see of their surroundings the better I think.

Scrape twice a day for 365 days a year. Loft white down then brush exess out. Spray once a month with virkon s.

Good luck to all in the SNFC Eastbourne race. Especially my good friend Gary Mitchell.

Simple. Keep them in a cage the same as the one described for about 4 weeks. Keep the bird that little bit hungry and you will have it as tame as you like.

I flew widowhood and if it was a relatively short race, I have actually taken the cocks a mile up the road after putting the show hens in and liberated them. Gave them about 30 secs with the hen then off to the club. I always used to put a blanket over the basket to keep them calm. When at the clubhouse I would put a drinker on the basket to with just fresh water in it. Just incase there was a slight hold up at the clubhouse when ringing the birds for the race.

I would recommend you read everything you can get your hands on. Agree with speckled hen that your loft book is an invaluable source of information. Provided youv'e written absolutely everything down.

Near enough the same as they way I used to do it CS. I would also' single up' as this builds confidence in the yb's. If you can have someone at the home end to make a note of the arrivals, this can provide valuable information as to which birds are on song so to speak.