Diamond dave

Very interesting - Has any one noticed if the wattle/Cere gets bigger when the bird has harder races. DD

Can anyone tell me what purpose the wattle serves on a pigeon? Why are some large and some small and some are extra large? Does it assist or interfere with racing? There seem to be lots of theories around for everything else on a pigeon but nothing associated to the Wattle or the Cere? Does it hold any secrets or does anyone put any significance on it? Thanks D.D.

Anyone know what sort of prices these birds have gone for in the past? D.D.

Kipps - I obtained 5 older young birds last year and lost 2 trying to break them. 1 of the last 3 didn't make the grade but the remaining 2 went into the stock loft. Going to cross them in with my Van Hees and a line from Jimmy White through a hen of his Sir Colin lines. Is it just me or does anyone else "can't wait" to see the results of thier pairings? D.D.

I've just been looking at a map of Europe and using the old "pin and string" I am amazed that anyone flying North of around Birmingham flies further than the Northen most tip of Holland. I was never any good at Geography but always assumed that the Dutch are the masters of the distance. Anyone flying North of London actually flies further than the furthest point of Belgium!! Surely, this makes makes some of our most prominent distance flyers better than the continentals(Brian Denney for example)and what about anyone in Bonnie Scotland. It would seem that anyone in Northern Germany would fly the furthest in near Europe.(Discounting Poland of course). Would anyone know who is the furthest flyers in Holland, Germany and Belgium. D.D.

Does anyone keep the Krauth strain of birds and have done any good with them. Can anyone tell me their origin? Thanks D.D.

Do you or don't you? Is there any benefit to handling the squabs on a daily basis or would you rather leave the nest well alone? Then what age do you start handling them regularly? D.D.

Make the most you guys - you might need a passport to get to Blackpool next year D.D.

Hi Old Yellow, Thanks for your reply. Yes, the birds were all fed in their own box throughout the racing season.(Hopper in winter) but what is strange is that I had some birds that were fed for the distance and they were given much more protein than the one with the lump.....?

I'm sure many of us have experienced these blood lumps and many people say they are caused by too much protein throughout the year. Can anyone explain why only the odd one gets it when the birds have all been fed the same. Also would it have affected the birds performance in that year or will affect its performance the following year. I have been told that these are nothing to worry about and it is said to be "normal" but I can't see how something quite so traumatic can be treated so lighltly. Thanks D.D.

If your timing is right you shouldn't have to pull flights. Some people do that only if the birds arent advanced enough. I don't and wouldn't even consider pulling flights of a young bird. The secret of this system is to breed as early as possible and being as it has been so mild this year the system could work very well. D.D.

Hi wings - I have been experimenting with it for the last couple of years. Have to admit I haven't quite got it right up to now. Timing is all important and last year I was probably around 2 weeks off of getting it right. There are lots of plus points to the system but there are also some negative elements. I have made several key observations that I will be happy to share with you if you want to pm me. I think it is easier than the dark simply because you don't have to physically do anything, all of the work is done by the light, which suits me because I don't get to spend that much time with the birds and what time I do get is not at regular times. D.D.

Hey Walter - Keep yer chin up mate - Nil carborundum bastardo - and all that. As secretary, you are entitled to ask for help. Delegate some of the work and kick their backsides into shape. I'm sure they'll still moan but don't let them get away without doing anything. - Hope you have a great season. D.D.

Any club/fed or organisation is only as good as it's management. I'm sure that many of us have experienced what happens when you get a bad club secretary or chairman - usually chaos or things dont get done properly. It is usually always "the same old few" that take these positions but to be honest, given the option, I would always prefer someone with experience and intelligence who is competent in the role than some-one who does it because no-one else wants to. It is unfair to blame "Pigeon Men" for this as it is the same in any sport or any organisation where commitees are involved. D.D.

Once your birds have had Paratypoid - won't they become carriers???? Is it not best to dispose of such birds. D.D.

Swollen feet? Is this a sign of paratyphoid? D.D.

Thank you all for your replies - they are most helpful. My understanding now is that to keep my birds pure, I should line breed but to bring out the best of that family I should inbreed around my best pigeon....? The one thing I don't understand is what genetic outcome could I expect from a sibling pairing?

So, if I understand correctly, with Inbreeding both babies get 75% of the parent birds Genes - I assume that it would be the same for mother to son pairings but what about brother to sister - who gets who's genes? Can you tell me what genes are retained by line breeding and by who and what happens in a straight cross. Is there a chart anywhere showing the potential of each pairing and who gets who's genes? Grateful for your help..... D.D.

So, what are the benefits of line breeding as opposed to inbreeding? D.D.

Wiley - thanks for the link to Lavender Lofts but to be honest I didn't understand a word of it!!!? Probably just me but it didn't tell me anything........

Can anyone let me know the basic principle of Line Breeding and at what point you might need to put a cross into it......... D.D.

I cut and keep lavender stalks - keep them in a dry shed - Good enough for me nan, good enough for the birds!!!

I have put them in my small aviary with a jeyes fluid dressing underneath them. They are still green though and will probably stay green for a good few weeks yet. I'm not sure if they are poisenous or not but they have been growing into my aviary for the last ten years without affecting the birds. D.D.

Has anyone ever used leylandi clippings as a floor dressing or can you think of any reason why not?? D.D.