retired

Welcome to chickenbasics.com Think this is becoming an obsession by some

The POOR guy must be having the night of his life

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Sent pm and email reply to e-bay Tommy

Very nice mate I was going to have a pond built in the back garden but not sensible with the kids so bidding on a 4ft tank on ebay at the moment. Suspect your Koi are nearly bigger than that tank though

Offered for sale Pigeon Loft, with tiled Roof The Loft is currently in two 16ft x 8ft sections with a 6ft aviary in between - This was due to planning regulations, however the loft can be put up back as a 32ft with great ease. Below is a picture of the loft in its current format And a picture of the loft back as its original 32ft format The loft is fully sectional except with the aviary. Frame work is i think 3x2 inch timber (certainly no less) It has 4 sections and a corridor throughout. There is 2 x ETS traps included (Brand new joiner built this year) There will be boxes included with the loft. I also had all the electrics replaced in the loft this last year - Im not sure if this can be saved however its there including 60ft of armour cable. With regards to dismantling and taking down - I am quite prepared to have this all done ready for collection (and tagged fro easy putting back up) and indeed to have the loft loaded onto a trailer etc ready to go. It is also possible that should the loft sell and go within a reasonable distance then we can come over and assist in putting the main of it back together. Any questions please send me a PM. Loft is open to offers via PM - No timewasters please!

I would not hesitate to do it. I have never been in a partnership other than family wise but i think and hope 2011 is the year to change that. I think you both just need to agree a set routine that suits both parties and actually talk to each other. I have always said that i would not want to race if it was not in my own garden however work has screwed that up so if the birds need to race elsewhere then so be it i can still be as active as i possibly could be here but with a partner who is at home more. Give it a go, what have you to loose, if need be have a kit of birds flying out from your own place so you still get the pleasure of watching them around your house.

What kind of importance do members place on a corridor in a loft?

Thank you Eamon and well done Billy on securing the birds

There seems to be a problem with hotmail at the minute Mick (not sure if your on HM mind!) I get emails every day straight into my in box saying from such and such a person (inc members on here, but also from people not on here) Not sure if its similar you are getting

My aviary doesnt have a roof on at the minute however going to perspex the roof when i get around to it as the galvanised wire i bought for it has rusted like hell so needs replacing (two birds, one stone etc etc)

I seem to recollect some time ago that a member posted up that they produced there own Hormoform substitute product. Cannot remember who the member was or what they used ingredient wise or quantity. Does anyone have any idea? Thanks

With your easibed, best bet would be to find someone with an allotment or compost heap and let them have it

Going out in a few minutes to finally get all the grass cut (this is taking me into a third day of doing it all now) I then have to put the base down for 2 8x6 sheds and then erect them then clean the birds out. Also have to dismantle another 8x6 shed which is finishing on ebay this evening so its ready for buyer to collect.

Sincerest condolences to your family and yourself Paul . RIP

Well done Vincent

Welcome to the site mate, Sure any info you require is easily obtained on here

Any club is free to post there results on the forum at the link as directed by Sapper756 until such a time as Richard has his site up and running. Once the result has been posted it will be easy acessible to both members and web browsers via the search engines. Once Richard does have it on the go it will be accessible from the Pigeon basics website - Its a time thing for Richard as he wants to get the new mini sites right and perfect despite his other projects taking up time (including the maintenance of this site, which he is still a very active part of.

Well done Think i read earlier in Frank Warren's article that he expects great things from the lad.

There is a member on here that did have the breed (Chichichi) as i asked for his thoughts on them before i brought them in. Maybe Ant will be able to give a bit more info on them This is the website i looked at some results, pictures from http://www.deschacht-denduyver-english.tk/ I have a half share in a daughter of Grey Gem of Curtis, Wall, Lunt and Green and the breeding of Grey Gem is this family.

Just a lazy day pottering out in the lofts, going to separate the sexes this afternoon when it stops tipping down.

Before I introduce the subject of this article i.e. a fancier from Holland who is perhaps the greatest marathon flyer in Europe at present if not in the world I would like to make a few points arising from comments read and heard recently. Comments such as 'The sport should be restricted to short and middle distance racing because beyond that is the realm of the plodders or merely homers' or, ' At least in the sprint races the pigeons are adhering to what defines them i.e. 'racers' rather than meanderers'. Now I'm an upholder of the concept which many humans suffered and died for over the centuries i.e. 'freedom of speech' but, if that freedom is tainted with untruth then I will use that freedom to combat lies whether deliberately or innocently expressed. Thus it is my contention whether a race is 150 miles, 350 miles, or 750 miles in distance that those birds flying to get home are racing each other. Of course depending upon the distance and weather realities the racing pace for each distance will not be uniform for reason dictates that in normal circumstances the speed of a winner at 150 miles will be faster than the speed of the 350 mile winner, as the latter will be faster than the 750 mile winner. But each is flying at a certain speed which is the essence of racing therefore it is false to state or imply that the candidates in the long distance and marathon races are not 'Racers'. A pigeon arriving from Barcelona at a distance of say 800 miles has to cover that distance as it flies at so many yards or metres per minute, in other words that is its speed for the duration of its fly. If its velocity is bigger than that of the bird a few miles away then it is racing better than the other and therefore occupies a higher position in the result. Thus in normal circumstances the pigeon that wins a race at the short distance in a couple of hours is a racer but so is the Barcelona arrival the next morning although an aspect of nature i.e. nightfall has stopped the longer distance pigeon on its journey. A stoppage which adds to the problems of the bird arising from spending the night against whatever weather elements prevailing including the possibility of night and/or morning predators and the sheer physical effort required to get aloft again the next day, in many cases without food or water. Of course the term 'slow' has been used against the marathon flyers but that is a reality arising from the distance to be covered and the phenomenon of time. Give me a choice and Ill take the longer distance winner at all times as would those who castigate the so called plodders for as well as their speed over the decades of miles they require stamina as well as intelligence to traverse against the odds. In other words they are bred for this type of racing and we shall have a look at a person who is a master at it, a unique manager of the marathon thoroughbreds known as Wouter Jorna. Wouter Jorna is from Hippolytushoef in the Netherlands, a place miles beyond Amsterdam in the north of the country. It lies on a crown of land which forms the west bank of the Ijsselmeer and the east bank of the Waddenzee. It is a relatively desolate place and the prevailing winds buffet all that travels through it and after hundreds of miles of flight it takes the most courageous of pigeons to traverse it. And what is Wouter's measurements from Barcelona- wait for it- a staggering 1308 kms that is 817 miles. What a breed! Apparently the core of Jornas stock are the bloodlines of Nico Volkens, Jan Theelen and the old Aarden blood of Bas Batenburg. Our subject sent 14 pigeons last year (2004) to the Barcelona International and registered considering the distance perhaps the best ever racing performance in the history of the sport. From the number sent Jorna timed in 9 (7 hens and 2 cock birds) from a convoy of 25,000 birds. Those nine in the official result occupied the following positions: 42nd, 128th, 526th, 754th, 807th, 1,538 th, 3,770 th, 4,759 th, and 5,247 th. And for those who castigate as I have referred too above this class of pigeon the following times of each pigeons arrival confirm that they were racing 1132, 1213, 1255, 1307, 1310,1338, 1459, 1541, and 1605 hrs. Jornas arrivals were in the top 25 percent.Yes, some flying! As well as the bird registering 42nd in the International it was 17th International Hens from 6,903 of that sex participating. Another interesting fact which confirms the quality of these thoroughbreds and their condition as well as the expert managerial ability of Wouter Jorna is that the race was the second trip to the Spanish race point for the bird which scored 807th. This pigeon a hen born in 1998 was 260th Open in 2003 flying against more than 20,000 other birds. No inspite of the disparagers these are blue blooded thoroughbreds were luck does not play a part as they race to their home lofts confirming that they are the aristocrats of the pigeon world. The achievements of Wouter Jornas pigeons over 800 miles in 2004 are simply mind boggling and in this brief insight chosen deliberately I hope that its confirms the thesis which prefaced this article. Those who express such silly statements as those in our first paragraph should reflect upon the wonder of the marathon racer and the managerial ability of its manager. In this case both are unique.

To have managerial ability and the courage and confidence to reach for the stars is what is admired by those who know Anthony McDonnell of Coleraine, in the County of Derry. For this pigeoner bred and raced the great 'Bann King' who won the Blue Riband of Irish old bird racing from Les Sables in France in 1963 at a distance of 631 miles. This was the longest winner of the Irish National since the competition began and it was won into the far north west of Ireland. To have done so at such a young age is the more remarkable. But this win alone does not make our subject the master of long distance and marathon racing into Ireland for who could forget the outstanding 'Bann Pride' who conquered 1,013 miles twice from Palamos in Spain, while experiencing during the last stretch of the journey the temperamental Irish Sea in the aftermath of the island of Britain and the English Channel. The overcoming of such hurdles is what spells out greatness. Apparently our subject joined the Coleraine Premier Club in 1948 as a schoolboy while not racing until 1951. Then his stock came from local fanciers to be followed by other bloodlines during the 1950s including birds from Billy Erwin, Alex O'Rourke and George Barr to name but a few. The objective in mind was always long distance and by the 1960s success at the distance had been experienced to the extent that by 1963 after scoring the first four positions from Penzance (350 miles) in the club while recording 13 out of 14 enteries, the lofts sent 'Bann King' to Les Sables and won the National. This great thoroughbred athlete had 5 inland races and one channel before being jumped 400 miles. Bann King 'Bann King', like his nestmate brother, was the produce of late breds and the brother was also a great racer. In fact he recorded wins from Sutton (County Dublin) to St. Malo in France where he scored 34th Open at 490 miles. Another fine racer was a blue hen who was 56th Open from Nantes in France. The latter was also good at stock. Of course 'Bann Queen' warrants a mention for she was 78th Open National as well as mothering 90th Open Nantes. And all this plus more over an extremely difficult course. Finally, let us look at the marathon athlete i.e. 'Bann Pride'. This great pigeon flew Penzance (350 miles) three times in the prizes. He also flew three times from France namely Dinard, St Malo and Nantes. Then from Palamos in Spain (25 days) in 1968 he scored 162nd out of a British and Irish entry of 451 pigeons. Upon his arrival he was badly injured and all his secondaries were missing from one wing. Apparently it was an early attack from a predator for the spilt blood was very hard on his feathers upon his arrival. However he was prepared to face the same task in 1969 where he scored 119th position from 565 of an entry. Surely a great thoroughbred racing pigeon at the marathon distance. Bann Pride To conclude, there is no doubt that Anthony McDonnell is in the opinion of many a master in the art and science of marathon pigeon racing for aside from the Palamos successes the winning of the National at 631 miles was of marathon status. But without the right material even the greatest of master pigeoners would find it a difficult task to succeed. Therefore our subject at the time had at his disposal Irish racing pigeon gold. For both requirements are a necessary ingredient if one is to reach the heights that this Bannsider experienced. And since those record breaking and record making days in the 60s of the recently departed century the McDonnell lofts have had other successes including winning the N.I.P.A.Open recently from Clonmel while beating almost 29,000 of a convoy into the north of the land of the shamrock (just as I finish this article).

This article is about an Irish pigeoner whose name forever rests in the domain of Europes greatest distance flyers. For Robert Smyth of Carnduff by Larne in the County of Antrim on the north- east coast of the Emerald Isle has won his spurs, so to speak.Yes,the complete flyer in long distance and marathon tasks over perhaps the toughest course in the world of pigeon racing.And that with a small team.Larne has always been one of the hotbeds of the sport in Ireland and Robert by all accounts was the epitome of patience and tolerance.Qualities required if one has the ambition of climbing the heights of our sport.Moulding based upon the Bishop-Logans,Putman and Keynon bloodlines one of the greatest families of the sport. In fact Robert's family of pigeons won from all distances and although primarily a hen racer he has had many successes with the male of the species.Perhaps his favourite bird was the immortal 'Continental Queen'. A great thoroughbred who flew from France six times in her fabulous career.Twice St.Malo and four times Les Sables.Yes, four times 600 miles across two water courses i.e. the English Channel and the Irish Sea.Scoring 15th, 17th and 70th Open Irish National ,etc,. A champion who also won the pools and nomination in a 143 miles inland race from the town of Arklow.In days gone by pigeoners from throughout the globe travelled to Larne to see this gem of a racing pigeon.There was also the famous 'National Queen' with 40th, 11th and 10th Open Irish National Redon. Five hundred mile races when the last 200 miles must have been a type of hell for the courageous bird.There were many more greats but now let us look at what every champion loft requires- a champion sire. For the Smyth colony this was the great 'National Producer'- a black velvet cock bird with a super violet eye.For many this was the 'Dream Pigeon' whose offspring won time after time.Of course he was not alone for there was also the famous 'Mealy Hen' and the 'Blue Hen'.The latter also produced the goods.Confirming the basic necessity of owning good breeders if one aspires to success.As stated Robert Smyth's colony was composed of a small team based upon three of the best families in the sports history.Fed mainly with beans they occassionly were lifted into 600 mile contests after just one 50/60 mile race.As for the loft environment it was the epitome of cleanliness.Another important fact is that Robert's birds flew from 2/3 hours around their home when exercising. Surely confirmation of supreme fitness.In this brief tribute to a pigeoner whose example could be followed by novice and old hand alike I am aware that perhaps the sport in Ireland may never see his like again.A master of the sport who like an artist moulded the athletes who were in his care into a never to be forgotten greatness.Well done, Robert, and may you have many more sporting years.

The subject under focus in this insight is a European called Piet de Weerd. A name known for over 60 years throughout the world's racing pigeon fraternity as a human encyclopaedia of pigeon knowledge and wisdom. While doing a recent article on Jules Janssen for this series de Weerd kept cropping up in my thoughts for in a way both men had similarities in that they both possessed the talent of selecting and pairing racing pigeons to produce champions at breeding and racing. A talent that not many possess and the product of Janssen and de Weerds work have helped to bring into being and ultimately enhanced the modern thoroughbred racing pigeon. Piet de weerd was born in a small village near the pigeon mecca of Middleharnis on the island of Overflakkee, Holland 90 years ago and in his secondary school years there made contact with the great distance fancier Ko Nipius. For approximately 5 years (1925-1930) there he learned from Ko Nipius much about the sport realizing that the most important aspect of pigeon management was 'selection'. De Weerd learned that it was a necessity which would not come overnight and that one had to practice, practice and practice. It was through this realization and his experience relating to it that de Weerd in time was given the title of 'Pigeonologist', for he has travelled the world selecting couples for the best fanciers and in his time has rubbed shoulders with Stassart, Bricoux, Duray and Jan Aarden. In fact as I have written in an article on the Aarden dynasty while doing research for it de Weerd was referred to by others as the architect of the Aarden strain. Apparently having gifted Aarden with the number 1 dam of the Aardens- the famous 'Oomens-duivin' - de Weerd upon visiting Steenbergen would bring other pigeons for crossing with Aardens own stock. Thus the reason for referring to the concept of 'architect' when relating to de Weerd and the concept of 'builder' when relating to Aarden. The subject of this piece however has also written 5 books on the sport and scores of articles throughout the world's fancy press as well as being paid to travel over past decades holding seminars and selecting sessions. In his time he is also the founder of the world renowned Interpalomas Lofts where some of the best representatives of the modern racing pigeon have first saw the light of day and been paired by an expert selector. For that is what Piet de Weerd is extremely proud to call himself 'a selector'. And his expertise in this field can be vouched for by the Kipp Bros of Germany and also Raymund Hermes of that country watered by the Rhine; as well as other numerous outstanding fanciers of the modern era. In addition Piet de Weerd along with his son Henk have created a strain that has won from Barcelona into Holland. One of their best pigeons was Samurai who won: National Barcelona 1994 against 7,767 pigeons including 2nd International against 26,807 pigeons; 49th National Barcelona 1993 against 10,574 pigeons and 79th International Barcelona against 33,146 pigeons; 119th National Barcelona 1992 against 7,243 pigeons, 251st National St.Vincent 1992 against 26,296 pigeons. The son, Henk, as well as being the founder of the famous Belgica de Weerd products for pigeons also flies in partnership with Lei Kurvers and the latter combination is one of the best in Europe today. One of their best birds is 'Perpignan King' a past 1st Ace Pigeon of Europe in the International races as well as being the best cock at the Internationals for a period of 5 years. The partnership also won the International race from Perpignan in 2004 with Malaysia King. Piet de Weerd has given his life to the thoroughbreds of the sky in that his talent enhanced the sport by ensuring that an astute brain prepared the ground for the fruition of stock that would reach and conquer the distances. In his day he has influenced hundreds of fanciers world-wide and no doubt his love of the racing pigeon has influenced his son Henk in the latters work to see that only the healthy will see the inside of a pannier, for only the healthy can survive and win. What better legacy.