james_mc_laughlin

Derry City, Ireland.

So sorry to hear of Rachel's passing, deepest sympathy to all her family & friends. She has gone to be with the angels to watch over us all. God Bless Rachel. Pat & Family

From what I have heard here in N.Ireland, our race programme will get racing as far as Sennen Cove in the south-west of England but crossing to France is out of bounds. The spread in Turkey at the moment dosn't look too good for the coming season.

Sorry folks I must have missed the item as it has been removed from the e-bay website, anyone care to explain.

I start at 10 miles and gradually work up to 40. I think the y.b.s tell you when its time to move them further by the way they clear the area on release. This I usually find happens around the 4th toss from the same area.

Used Gemthepax for the first time last season and was amazed with the results, especially when breeding. Have been using it faithfully ever since. I am also in agreement with pigeon_man, I think I will give the G10 pellets a try this year.

I believe that some fanciers can get carried away with racing young birds and lose sight of what they are really doing, racing babies. I personally use young bird races as an education for the years ahead and if I happen to win a Y.B. race I treat it as a bonus.

I know when I have to go away on work business and my wife takes over, the birds have a ball. They dread to see me coming back and entering the loft.I think us men expect too much and push our birds to the limit. I always wonder why they call it mother nature instead of father nature, woman seem to have the knack.

Absolutely great pictures, must be a great experience to witness such a liberation. Great work Speight.

I agree with Hycinth I can always find a place for any bird I bred somewhere in my planning I don't believe in killing pigeons no matter how they turn out. I bred a young cock in 2003, and during racing as a y.b. he would never return on the day of the race, always coming home on the tuesday or wednesday after liberation. Last year he had every inland race before going to the channel as I was determined to either break his heart and lose him rather than kill him. Unfortunately he had other ideas and was never out of the clock. This year he had only 2 races, his first was from Talbenny in Wales (247mls) and he finished 2nd Club, 5th fed and then I sent him to Penzance, our furthest race point before the nationals from france. I clocked him after 10 hours on the wing to take 1st club, 2nd fed only 5 birds in the fed result. Just goes to show if given time we will be rewarded by the faith we have in our birds.

Was very impressed by the Bucktons irish ruby when saw it in the blackpool show also. Had problems getting the old birds used to the red maize. noticed the quality in the mix dropping so I went back to using versalaga.

I also get the homing world and racing pigeon every week. Prefer the racing pigeon, better reading and a lot less ads.

I use peanuts all year round, especially in the breeding season as I think the y.b.s thrive on them when been fed by the parents. I also agree with Speckled, they are a great way to get the birds settled. When the birds get the taste for them they will climb over the top of you if they think they are going to get some. I have one hen in particular who will fly straight to my hand on return from a race instead of entering the loft because she knows i use them to trap and dos'nt waste any time in getting her share. Who says you need electronic timing :D

All the above makes interesting reading. I have been keeping pigeons for 30+ years and have never wore a mask. I think some fanciers (including myself) have a die hard attitude and dont really consider the dangers of inhaling all the different airbourne bacteria especially when scraping out and working about the lofts, definately food for thought. Thanks Pat.

Agree with everyone above, the birds are a credit to their owners. Good luck to all of you who entered.

I agree with billymac, theres too much money involved in the sport today and it puts a lot of people off and also creates bad sportmanship between the members. We are the smallest club in our area and have no prize money involved at all in our races. We just compete for the joy of the hobby and really enjoy doing so. Some of the larger clubs in the town all have money involved and the arguments and backbiting that goes on is not sporting at all. As the old saying goes "Money is the root of all evils".

I agree with you Speight I am great believer in Hormoform, use it all year round. They say if it affects the colour of the droppings, you are giving them too much, but when the birds are feeding young you can't give them enough as they are constantly looking for it in their pots.

Any preference on the brand of baby milk used. I know they all come in different strengths.