Diamond dave

Invincible, Lets wait and see what the Defra explanation is. It does make you wonder, however, if these sheds are self contained, where the disease does come from. Could it have been caused through stress as invicible suggests or something else to do with keeping large numbers of birds together. After all we know first hand what this can do to the health of pigeons. If it does come in on the feed, I bet Defra will still blame the humble seagulls on the shed roofs because it would highlight a flaw in their preparations. D.D.

Slug Monkey, Could the explanation be that most people consider that the leading birds will be prohibitively priced. Perhaps if they conducted the auction the other way round i.e. selling the birds in the order of 1 - 66 instead of 66 -1 (hope that makes sense) I know when i have looked at similar auctions I would not even consider the first 20 birds, expecting them to be out of my price range. Just a thought. D.D.

We have to stay optimistic about this and I think it could be a good excersise for them to go through. If they can contain this outbreak successfully they might view the overall threat in a different light. I do have one problem with inland racing due to the fact that I live in the Milton Keynes area and I couldnt stand just flying the 120mile to the coast each week so I think i will be looking for a North Road club to join. D.D.

I think you guys might be jumpin the gun a little bit. I saw the same report on the news. But I also heard today from a poultry worker that those sheds are all self enclosed and it is more or less impossible for anything to get in or out. The officials were all surprised by this outbreak because there has been no significant migration of birds from Eastern Eorope as yet. I'm betting that this infection has come in on the feed or something similar. I also heard on the radio today that Bernard (bootiful) Matthews also has business interests in Hungary where the other most recent outbreak has occurred ??????????? D.D.

WELL SAID PETER BRYANT - WE ARE LUCKY TO BE SO WELL REPRESENTED - LETS ALL TRY TO BE A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC OVER THE COMING FEW WEEKS. D.D.

I have had to cut a ring off for the same reason - made a right mess with a junior hacksaw The best thing to use is a DREMEL

Lets be realistic, the more birds - the bigger the prize money - the more interest. The only horse race I ever bet on is the grand national - why? cos its the biggest race of the season. Likewise if you want to attract non-fanciers, it has to be for something special. I am sure there is still room for up to ten "one loft races" up and down the country but I think each one needs to offer slightly different terms to suit different people. For instance the RPRA offer one bird for a hundred quid, I got 9 non fanciers from down the pub to chip in a tenner each and they had great fun following the bird but then it went awol before the last race, so it was a washout cos they never had a shout in the final. This year weve entered the Europa cos we get the option of three birds so at least we should be in with a shout in the final.(Hopefully). These non fanciers love every minute of it, I give them a copy of the pedigree etc. and they go to work thinking (and telling everyone) that they have ownwership of a racing pigeon, just like its a racehorse. Theres nine people (and their workmates) that know a bit more and have a genuine interest in our sport rather than just taking the p*ss out of the cloth cap.

We also have a breeder/buyer competition but it runs throughout the young bird season, winning points for each race. It's a bit more work but it provides a great opportunity for some healthy banter. The club takes 40% which is usually about £250. Albear, you didnt say what sort of money you are losing? It's all well and good all these suggestions but you have to have people in the club willing to put a bit of work in. Also, if a club is to be successful, it has to be run more or less as a business - the books have to balance, I was just wondering if your birdage prices are realistic and how much prize money you paid out, you may have to consider increasing one and decreasing the other.

Great advice Darren - I also pull them out of the box in the same way - its amazing how aggressive you may have to be to get them out. I thought I was the only one who had to do that! Lance, you should also bear in mind that no matter what you do, some pairs will just not go together! Good luck with your breeding mate. Diamond.

Wiley, I agree with you mate that everyone has there own opinion but I cant help from thinking that you may be disposing of some good pigeons. You said that a pigeon is in its prime as a two year old but some pigeons dont reach maturity until they are three year olds. I am inclined to agree with "me" on this subject - but thats why we're all different. Good luck for 2007 mate. Diamond.

Hi Ace, No harm in asking mate. There are a lot of helpful people on this site and just maybe some one has an excess of hens which they may cull. I aint necessarily looking for looking for a Regatta, just for an older spare hen as it is a young cock and I want them to pair without any aggro. It's nice to think that we may be able to help each other out dont you think....... Diamond Dave.

Hi all, I'm looking for a Staff Van Reet hen to make up my stock pairs for 2007. I'd like to be able to loan the bird as the transport will already be £60.00 (here and back). I'd prefer an older proven breeder but beggars cant be choosers. I am going to pair the bird to a young Mealy cock from the lines of Dean Palletts Red Daniel and I would happily return the favour with a pair of 3rd round babies from the pairing. Thanks in anticipation of a reply. Diamond Dave.

The moderators are probably only moderators because they have proven to be fine, upholding, pillars of this site. Let them do the job that they have been asked to do!! They are not going to please everyone all the time and yes they will make mistakes. If you have a point to make that the mods dont think is appropriate - then use the pm attachment rather than hanging out your dirty washing for the world and his dog to see!!!!!!!!! The only request that I would make of the mods is that they are more severe. D.D.

Oh Happy days, Frost on the insides of the windows. We must have been better off than you, cos we had lemonade bottles filled with hot water as a hot water bottle. Hand me downs - when my older brother wore the elbows out of his shirts my mum would cut them down as short sleeved shirts (all mine were short sleeved). Never had a pair of long trousers til I was fourteen in case I wore out the knees. Remember once me mum made me a pair of swimming trunks out of an old bed spread, - got in the swimming pool - and all the dye came out of them! Remember your socks being darned!!!!!? - You lot are showing your age..............

Does anyone know anything about pigeon bloom. Is it a waste product of the pigeon. How is it formed? Do the birds enjoy losing it? You've all seen it on top of the bath but it acts like an oil rather than a dust - have you noticed the way it doesnt coagulate like a dust wood. Has there been any tests done on this wierd substance?????? A merry xmas and successful 2007 to all PB members.

Ed, Thankyou for that and the details of Jacks site. thats exactly what I need more as a reference than anything else. I need to read things over seversal times to be able to take it in and with that I can take it all in. You wont believe it, but I cant wait to go through my birds now and see if any come up to scratch!! Thanks again. D.D.

Paulo, I am nowhere near as experienced as others that are commenting but I have lost enough youngsters off the top of the loft due to inexperience to feel the need to reply to yor post. One of the reasons was through feeding too much protein and excersing the birds at the wrong time of day. I still like to feed them Maples and tic beans as I think these are great for a youngsters growth but I wouldnt dream of letting them out before midday. One thing I will say is that if you want to win a race up to 250miles you wont win with a high protein diet but if you want the youngsters back, this is best diet to feed. D.D.

I entered a bird year bfore last. As a syndicate from the lads down the pub and they absolutely LOVED it. Like Sycphos says it gives a lot of pleasure and information to a lot of non fanciers. - I gave them all a copy of the birds pedigree along with copies of the rules etc. and it was as though they owned a race horse!!! I didnt enter last year cos of the AI threat but shall enter 2 this time round. Sadly my bird went awol before the last race but was in the first twenty for one of the hotspot races. If Jeremy or anyone from his team is looking in, I would like to ask a question about the moulting of the birds. Cos by the time of the last race they must be "falling apart"??????? I ask this question knowing that other one loft races put there birds on darkness, whereas the R.P.R.A. race doesnt. The question to Jeremy or anyone else who would be kind enough to reply, is what would be the best time to breed a youngster to be sure of it being in the best feather for the final race? D.D.

Ed. Many thanks mate. I hope this doesn't become a challenge, but then I would still like to hear other interpretations. Most people say that the eyesign theory is a "tool" and as everyone knows you need the best tools to do a proper job, so I am sure there must be some benefit, even to the most sceptical. I still dont get the mountains and Valleys bit - is this part of the "grainy" effect of the iris that I should be looking for? Is this 5th breeding circle visible to the naked eye? Youve also intrigued me even more now by talking about horizontal and vertical lines - are these only visible with an eye glass? Many thanks in advance D.D.

Hi Ed The picture that PJ posted is very helpful (thanks PJ) to a beginner like myself to identify the parts of the eye that you look at but it doesnt really tell me what to look for. By all accounts, it would seem that most peoples interpretation of the eye is different, but there must be some distinction in what sets the basic principles of eyesign and I would welcome the comments of anyone else looking in to aid my genuine interest. Based on PJs picture I have loads of questions:- 1. Circle No.5 Breeding Circle i) How wide should this be to be a good breeder ii). If its not the same colour as circle No2 does this mean its no good to breed from? iii). What else could I look for to tell me a good breeder from a bad one. 2. Circle No3. Circle of correlation. i) why are there 2 circles? ii). What knowledge of the bird can be obtained from this part of the eye. iii) what is the meaning of correlation? 3. Circle No1. Circle of Recognition. i) Is the recognition element to do with the birds memory? ii) Many of my birds pupils are not exactly round, is this a bad sign? 4. General questions. i) how do I tell a good racer from a good breeder? ii) how do I tell a sprinter from a long distance bird? I would thank anyone to take the trouble to answer my questions but should advise that I only want to know what to look for without an eyeglass for my own interest. D.D. Incidently sorry to steal the thread.

Birdman, Thanks for your reply. Yes there is a thread already started but it is eyesign men talking to eyesign men and for a beginner it is all so confusing any BASIC info you can let us have will be greatly appreciated. Ed, Thanks mate, thats great to get me started but I cant read it!!!!!!!!! some of the clarity must have been lost in the posting. Fifer. What are they looking at when there looking at the eye after all dont you need an eyeglass to read the birds eye ?

I along with loads of others on this site dont know the first thing about eyesign but I have to say I am open minded. There are too many great fanciers telling us outstanding things on this subject. How about you eyesign men giving us a couple of basic lessons so that we may while a way a few winter days looking at the eyes of our own birds. How about telling us what is constitutes a bad eye bad eye. What is the outer circle /inner circle/correlation/adaption. Please dont just refer us to Jack Barkels posts, - they are too complicated! Can you keep it basic and in laymans terms - I'm sure a lot of people on this site would be interested????????? D.D.

I,ve just changed my box perches to V perches and cant believe how much time i have saved cleaning out. I just wondered how long it takes anyone else to clean out - I'm just over 2 hours with a cup of rosy in between.

Has anyone heard of some sort of potash substance to treat wounds - someone once gave me some after one of my birds was hawked. - It was badley gashed but I sewed it up myself with fishing line and put this stuff on it but I cant remember what it was?- Worked a treat and there was no infection afterwards. D.D.

Yes, I started to use it, but then realised that the birds sometimes drink the bathwater and I didnt know what it would do to their insides? I thought it might kill off any healthy gut bacteria - does anyone know? D.D.