Diamond dave

Hi all - is anyone going to the late Ken Hines sale at Didcot on Saturday. I like the look of a couple of birds in the Sunday sale but not sure if I can afford them. I'd be interested to talk to anyone who attends the sale on Saturday. Best D.D.

I have read with great interest the sticky on YBS and also this current thread. Lots of great comments, advice and debate mostly regarding the treatment. However, I have an observation that is more appropriate to prevention rather than cure. To start with, I must should say that I aspire to the illness being caused through stress. Everything I look at or read regarding pigeon racing refers to routine routine and routine. Feed at the same minute of every day etc. etc. Well I have to question such advice because in my opinion when it comes to the first race the birds are completely thrown by everything that is happening to them and are totally stressed by the experience. I am not an ace flyer or make any claims to being an authority on the matter but my work does not allow me to give my birds any regular routine (maybe why I am not an ace) but I can admit to never having had YBS. - Perhaps I am just lucky but I actually think that it could be that my birds go to the first race being quite used to the disruption. - Food for thought, if nothing else......... D.D.

- Is anyone on the South coast, can let me know what it is like in or around Littlehampton.....?

MILTON KEYNES (in the middle) - Bright sunshine, nippy and already a stiff N.E. breeze of around 10 - 12mph. Will be tough today.

I havent been on for a couple of weeks but I must say how nice it is to see the old names like Speckled, Bruno, Jimmy, Silverwings and Hyacinth back. The site is already so very much more interesting and informative for your contributions. Welcome back to you all but why as guests........? D.D.

Anyone ever tried this or see any reason why not......? D.D.

Does anyone have one of those anti cat traps or tell me where I might get one. I actually need 2 of them for a couple of pairs of natural birds so I dont have to eave the loft open. Many thanks D.D.

Does anyone know if the NFC have published their race programme yet......? D.D.

I've got this line of pigeons and I am currently building my loft around them. They are fantastic birds and I have very high hopes for them this year - going to Barcelona for the first time!!!!! Mine are of the Cutliffe lines. The Van Hee lines would appear to have come from F. Hinchcliffe of Glossop. They include birds such as Silk Pau cock and Silk my Girl and the Motta hen and Mottas daughter as well as Fallowhill-Superstar who was a son of Mottas daughter. Does anyone know anything about Mr Hinchcliffe from Glossop....? I would also love to know more about this gentleman that you met at Blackpool - is he a basics member? D.D.

.........Just an observation Geo - just adding another view to the post. D.D.

Wouldn't it have some bearing on where you are in the country too. For you guys in Bonnyland to fly 500miles plus, your birds would face the channel soon after they are liberatd. Facing the channel at the end of the 500 mile would surely make a difference to a yearling. D.D.

Yes, thats my point. I thought the AGM was the only time that you get the opportunity to represent yourself. D.D.

Does anyone think that it is fair or even LEGAL to be represented at the fed AGM by "one club - one vote". Surely this can't be right as it is taking away any right we have as individuals to vote at the AGM. D.D.

Can somebody explain "dilute" - looks like a blue bar in the nest - whats "dilute" about it........? D.D.

Hey Sapper - Fantastic examples - everyone different - but does it mean anything - some are fully covered, some have long down some have short - some seem to hold on to it longer than others and some even keep it after they are fully feathered. Could you perhaps tell a distance pigeon from a sprinter - there must be some significance to it. D.D.

Never mind bird flu - perhaps they could do the same for Paramyxo virus. We vacinate for it every year but you don't classify that as being GM - but I can't see the difference.

Has anyone made any observations on the colour and length of the yellow down that the babies hatch with. Is it possible to establish the colour of a pigeon or perhaps whether its a cock or hen.......? D.D.

Doesnt the wind direction or strength make any difference to whether or not overfly becomes an advantage......? D.D.

The guy making the application is about 5 miles outside the current radius and he would fly about 25 miles further than the shortest flyer - he's not an ace and he has been flying in the same fed up to know and most of our club have beaten him in fed positions - I don't see how they can justify such a statement.........

Can anyone answer this question.- Several members in our club are refusing to vote in a new member saying "we would have to give him too much overfly". I can't see how that makes any sense when they fly in the nationals and have to give hundreds of miles overfly to the Northern most members and some 30 -40 miles to the northern most end of the section. Is there justification in such a reason at club level or is this a lame excuse.....? D.D.

Thanks for that Kirky - I was starting to get a little anxious - now, with youngsters in the nest I am very anxious. D.D.

Does anyone have any idea when we will receive our ring order from the MNFC - has anyone got them yet.....? D.D.

All this spoon business - surely it depends on the size of your spoons - I cant imagine that they are all the same size - I got different size teaspoons, different size desert spoons and what the hell is a table spoon - for the uneducated among us what is the difference between a desert spoon a soup spoon a table spoon and a serving spoon.....? I wasn't fortunate enough to do the "silver service" bit. D.D.

Lets be honest - the grandsire must be an exceptional pigeon for someone to pay 12000 plus euros. - For me, this pigeon doesn't need to prove itself - it is alrady worth more at stock. Put it to stock this year, and take as many YBs out of it as you can. Then decide what you want to do with it at the start of next year. - After all you stand more chance of losing it as a yearling anyway. D.D.

Thanks fellas - some really useful advice there. Given all that I have decided to let them rear the eggs themselves rather than risk losing them. - A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE - MAY ALL YOUR EGGS BE FERTILE. D.D.