Diamond dave

Someone once told me to use a few crystals of potassium permanganate in the birds bath to kill of lice etc. has anyone else heard of this? D.D.

Good link Bruno - thanks for that what we need now is some clever person to produce a "one a day" tic bean capsule - or has that already been done?

NANCYVIEW, I hope you dont mind, I have taken your suggestion one step further and set out a poll just to see how much interest there would be. I perhaps should have asked you first if you minded but got a bit carried away - please feel free to expand on it in any way. D.D.

fOLLOWING THE THEME ALONG THE LINES OF A PIGEONBASICS ONE LOFT RACE AND A SUGGESTION BY NANCYVIEWLOFTS FOR DUPLICATION INTO AN EXISTING ONE LOFT RACE (SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR MEMBERS) i HAVE SET OUT A POLL TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE EXTENT OF ANY INTEREST, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.

Nancyview, What a good idea. As a matter of interest, I wonder how many people on this forum sent to a one loft race this year and whether or not they would send to one next year? D.D.

Bruno and Jimmy Can you explain to me the benefit of allicin - is the allicin the reason garlic is so widely used? D.D.

Pigeon Man & John T Dont know a fig about this particular clock but in answer to your question 4 - wouldnt this be a pin to puncture the dial. I wasnt aware that they had printing(stamping) clocks that long ago as I thought the STB/Benzing printing clocks replaced the old dial puncturing Toulet type. I'm only just out of nappy's though so what do I know? I really think some of the old clocks are master pieces -easily in the class of a Rolex or something. - Good to see that someone is restoring them- Good for you John T. D.D.

The problem is, while the pigeons are my "pets" the duck is the family pet and was here before the pigeons......... Thank you for your serious replies and for making me laugh - I think I will treat the duck for all and sundry from now on and I wont worry about the Newcastle threat (exotic or otherwise) unless it rears its ugly head - Though come to think of it I do know a couple of ugly Geordies. Thanks again D.D.

Is EXOTIC newcastles disease the same as the Newcastles disease that we know and is that a disease of the water fowl or of the pigeons.? D.D.

I have a pet duck that walks freely around the garden and also poo's freely around the garden. Whilst I treat the pigeons fairly regularly for cocci etc I wondered if there was anything the birds could catch from the duck. Can ducks get cocci too? Eventually I am hoping to cross the duck into my pigeons cos they'll do better at swimming the channel than they do flying it !!!!!! D.D.

Thanx All

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME INFO ON THIS STRAIN OF PIGEON. - THERE ARE SO MANY "HERMANS" OUT THERE NOW, KAREL HERMAN, HERMAN BEVERDAM, ETC. I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHERE THE ORIGINAL HERMAN PIGEONS COME FROM? D.D.

I have a Jan Aarden hen if any one is interested. I bought her from Ian Axe (ref K7) at the Old Comrades show in 01. I bought her for stock but to be honest she hasnt bred me anything up to now -probably because I havent got the right sort of cock bird to put with her. She is too good a pigeon to cull and I'd be quite happy to split the carriage with someone if they will breed me a pair of youngsters out of their mating. She is a gay pied out of Ian Axes Fantastic Gold/NewingtonMarina lines. D.D.

In such a tough season for young birds I'd like to ask the members what they do with the birds that work back after 2 or 3 weeks? - Do they tend to get lost as yearlings? Do they go on to be good reliable old birds or do they just become plodders?

cANT READ WING STAMP

Can anyone on the south coast aroud Poole give us an update - Harrowden Fed there today and havent heard a "dicky bird" D.D.

Anyone on the South Coast give us an update on the weather down there - Harrowden FEd are at Poole?

South Northants/Milton Keynes Clearing now - some blue sky showing through - wind seems to be quickening high up but still only gentle at ground level still N. Westerly

OOOOOOPPPPPS !!!! Thats doubled the advice!!!!!

Hi Kev, I believe that the birds will become wise to the sparrow hawks - I have about 4 -5 attacks a day on little birds in and around my garden. - At least one a day while my birds are out. I think sparrowhawks get thier prey with suprise attacks, they wont catch a pigeon in the air. I have made my garden bird friendly cos I believe that if you encourage the wild birds, they are all extra "eyes" for your pigeons. Your neighbours bird table could be a distraction ffor the hawk. The old birds should wise up to the hawks - its young uns you need to worry about. One thing is very important - always leave the the younb bird trap open - dont shut them out, they need to always have the shed as a sanctuary when the sparrowhawks strike. This is just my experience Kev - it suits my garden and shed and I have never had a bird taken in the 10 years I have been here. Also dont overfeed your youngsters, cos they will need to be agile and alert at all times. - Wish you good luck mate. D.D.

Hi Kev, I believe that the birds will become wise to the sparrow hawks - I have about 4 -5 attacks a day on little birds in and around my garden. - At least one a day while my birds are out. I think sparrowhawks get thier prey with suprise attacks, they wont catch a pigeon in the air. I have made my garden bird friendly cos I believe that if you encourage the wild birds, they are all extra "eyes" for your pigeons. Your neighbours bird table could be a distraction ffor the hawk. The old birds should wise up to the hawks - its young uns you need to worry about. One thing is very important - always leave the the younb bird trap open - dont shut them out, they need to always have the shed as a sanctuary when the sparrowhawks strike. This is just my experience Kev - it suits my garden and shed and I have never had a bird taken in the 10 years I have been here. Also dont overfeed your youngsters, cos they will need to be agile and alert at all times. - Wish you good luck mate. D.D.

South Northants/Milton Keynes. Completely overcast - no sign of any sun - light drizzle - slight NNW.

Hi Tony How many went in your section? -- Only about 200 birds in the S.E section. - I never received any paper work for this race so couldnt send even if I wanted.......

Milton Keynes Lovely early on - Showery clouds (could be heavy) over me at the moment with a brisk WSW wind. Good luck to all D.D.

Hi Sportagraphs, Nice post mate. I would also like to add another angle in that a lot of young birds get lost off the loft or from short chucks and I know for a fact (have suffered for the last 4 years) that this is due to them getting carried away with other birds that are training when they are still learning the lay of the land. D.D.