Diamond dave

You too mate - and may all your eggs be fertile!!!

I agree mate - I am fed up breaking the ice on the drinkers - but just think back to how bad it was last year, then I think you have to say we have been pretty lucky this year...... D.D.

, My birds have black minerals and pink "vitamineral" in front of them all the time, during breeding and racing. They only ever seem to take what they need/want. I have never seen them gorging on it. Yeboah, do you give any other supplements that may contain these minerals in a different form? D.D.

Black Minerals mate - It is essential to keeping young bird droppings dry. Are the old birds pecking at you as though they want something. I don't know whats in matrix but you need to give them black minerals first and foremost, red minerals and grit too. For me, I wouldn't put anything in the water. They don't need any chemical intake right now mate, just good food, clean water and fresh, daily, natural minerals. Good luck mate. D.D.

Enough Fat for a 600+ miler - There has to be a cut off point with what is usable and what is classified as "overweight". Most of the feed stuffs appear to deliver a similar fat content all be it in a different form. As long as the bird has that reserve would I be a fool to suggest that the feed in a way becomes unimportant........? Surely then the "correct amount" of fat can only be determined by the timing of the build up, what the weather is going to be like and also by the nest condition (widowhood/natural). Also then, the excersize routine in the build up would become key in maintaining those correct fat levels? D.D.

Surely the liver alone is not big enough to hold enough of the good fat to sustain the bird over 600miles. Would this type of feeding suit sprint rather than distance.....? D.D.

Wow - great thread guys - I've learnt more in this one thread than anything including how to navigate this site properly!!! We used to have a guy in our club who used to feed peanuts to his sprinters - very successfully I might add. With regard to the length of time it takes for digestion would he have fed them earlier in the day (Thursday) so that they got the energy kick on the Saturday morning. In which case when feeding for the distance should we as the fancier get the fats into the birds and leave the "punch" to the convoyer with the maize. D.D.

Can anyone tell me how to refer to someones elses post i.e. how do yo get the post in a box.....?

"It's the process of carbohydrate loading exactly the same as protein loading, as you are filling up their bodies with more then they actually require carbs and protein that cannot be used immediately converts to fat, which is the best energy source available" Wiley, thankyou for explaining the conversion of the maize - that makes a lot of sense but is it still a good idea to give them that while they are in the basket from day 1 - I still think they would be "tripping" out in the basket. Surely this would lead to fighting in the crates and expending a lot of energy. D.D

Lee has said that the only feed that they give the birds on route to a distance race is maize and several members have said that they would include maize in the build up. I would have to question whether that would do the birds any good. From what I have been told and read, maize delivers a "punch" to the birds through like a sugar rush. If this is correct then surely if the birds are on route for 3 or 4 days, they will be jumping up and down in the basket by the 2nd day expending all thier energy prior to release. - would anyone else agree or is there some other reason that maize is fed. Mine is only limited experience but I am very interested in the distance and really enjoying this thread - keep your thoughts coming lads. D.D.

Think you might be ok with Salisbury mate but I think all of the others might be in the zone - gotta be worth checking. ROTTI - its not about the sailing itself - its about the media coverage of it. ie. helicopters and small planes and all that. It does make you wonder how the RPRA come to this ageement though - I think it should be the other way round. The intermittent air traffic should operate around our libs. In anycase, what about large batches of birds coming home from a National channel race D.D.

Is anyone affected by the this n0-fly zone because of the olympics sailing events. Our fed has 5 race points in this area - Lulworth, Portsmouth, West Bay, Bedhampton, Poole. I dont know what the race committee is gonna come up with. I think the Welsh and Kent fanciers are gonna suffer being on the East - West routes along the South coast.

Thanks you guys

Aaaaaaahhhhh - Found it !!!!!!

Help!!! Probably just me but when I check out threads that are in the "recently started" column. I can't seem to find where they have been placed. I was enjoying a thread about feeding for the distance but now I can't find it -Doh! I expected it to be in the health and feeding section but its not there - does it take time for the threads to be displayed or can one of the mods put me right on something that I may be missing. Thanks D.D.

Hi Ghenty, I use the PLO as supplied by elimar. I was brought it a a gift about 4 years ago. Im a bit of technophobe and found it quite difficult at first. It does everything efficiently but not necessarily how I would do it. Somethings appear to be a bit long winded to me and somethings I still havent worked out how to use properly but thats just me. It is fairly comprehensive with race day records being very good, Breeding control is very helpful and the pedigree options are excellent. The picture arrangements are also very good when you have mastered how to use them. I must say also that the customer service dept is also first class - I have asked lots of questions and have had good advice by return. It is updated autoatically on a fairly regular basis. On the whole I would recommend the system especially to someone who knows what they are doing with computers. However, being old fashioned as I am, I still tend to rely on my written records. D.D.

Interesting idea mate but can you be sure of what they get fed on route. Surely if maize is fed, it would be in equal parts for all of the birds to eat. What would be very interesting if there is anyone on this site that has convoyed birds to the distance and to ask them what they have fed on route..... D.D.

Hey Victorious, Thanks for the warning mate. Were you referring to the Kipps or the Van Hees. I bought the Kipps in because they are small pigeons that handle so light. The natural feather condition is also very silky. I struggle through the winter with damp conditions through condensation (brick shed) but these birds have never lost thier condition. I hope to prove you wrong but it's like everything, only time will tell.... Good luck with your Van Loons and your Kirkys - hope you have a great season and may all your eggs be fertile. D.D.

Cracking bird Lee - did you have him on Widowhood for those results. I would love to see a pic of your Barcalona pigeons if you have time but don't want to be a nuisance. D.D.

When we say "Long Cast" or "Short Cast" I always thought that was due to the build of the pigeon i.e. the length of its back. I haven't related this to the length of its flights - perhaps they go hand in hand - Someone on here will put us right......... D.D.

What a fantastic programme for just £20.00. The best value for money from any National club let alone International. Distance racing at its best but something in that programme for everyone!!! Wow Lee that is a fantastic ambition - You've got to have a loft full of special pigeons for that but surely you would cast aside that ambition to win just 1 of the internationals rather than just clock from them all........???? My target this year is Barca. - only got the one for it this year and just hoping I can get him right for it. My ambition is just to get him back. My absolute dream is to have a bird out of Barca, I don't mind even if he doesn't make the clock but you know you have something special in your shed when they get home from there. Sincere good luck Lee, I shall be watching your results with an added interest. D.D.

Thinking ahead to racing (not long now)- do any members have a minimum temperature that they would send birds to a race in particular yearlings? D.D.

Heres a very strange thing that has happened and I wonder if any one has seen this before. - I have a cracking late bred (August) cock which I rung in the nest a cock (sad bum). Some time later I saw his sire tread it and was disappointed because I automatically assumed it was now a hen. It since devoloped into a cracking young cock showing all over the loft and fighting the other cocks and very definately a cock bird. Today I watched him pairing to a hen on the shed and all he kept doing was crouching down waiting to be trod. He was even opening his vent feathers just like a hen. This went on for about 20 mins.with nothing at the end of it. - Is it possible to have a GAY cock bird like you can have lezzie hens? D.D.

Hey Peter P. - Can I take you back to your opening post and ask you to explain the purpose of Newcombes brother breding youngsters for him and the point you are making as I genuinely can't see what point you are making and want to understand your very thought provoking thread. Thanks DD.