hepste

Thanks Strapper. I assume you mean paramyxo. I usually inject after they've just left parents. Actually last year was quite interesting, because I had y/bs' in 2 entirely different lofts. My main team was in a tiled loft kept scrupilously clean. My no hopers were in a converted shed that was hardly ever cleaned, the birds were given left over food, and the water changed once a week. Guess which birds flew best! To top it off, in the last two longer races, the no hopers took a 2nd and a 1st!! The only explanation I can deduce, is that the shed pigeons had a stronger immune system due to the environment in which they were kept.

I've had the same problem 2 years running, in that the birds go back at times of stress eg longer/increased number of training tosses or time in race baskets. It has taken about 6 weeks for them to get back to being 100%. The mistake I made was to think they would get over it in about 2 weeks. I trained and raced them accordingly, (even though I knew they weren't quite right)and paid the price with heavy losses. I won't make the same mistake again. I shall breed earlier y/bs, on the basis that they will go down at some stage during training, but allowing them more recovery time. I will make certain they are OK before I commence working them again, and by the time racing comes around they will have built up a strong enough immune system. That's the theory anyway!!!

I think a lot has to do with our selection of birds to breed from. If we selected birds to breed from that showed consistency throughout a season, over those pigeons that performed better but in only a small number of races, we would surely have more reliable young. The fact is that most fanciers want to win, and in so doing, are willing to accept heavy losses. You can't have your cake and eat it!

A more interesting statistic would be that showing the percentage of loss from each loft.

Without looking at the rule book, I think the ring numbers of all remaining birds need to be recorded. Makes sense.

I know this might sound fairly obvious, but have the couple reported this to the police. It sounds as if the van is quite distinctive, easily spotted/recognised, and I bet my last pound, the van and drivers are known to the old bill.

If we carry on treating for everything in the short term, we store up problems in the long term. Government health advise is to reduce the use of antibiotics - in animals and humans! Let the immune system do its' own thing, and we'll end up with fewer problems and healthier pigeons. It might be at the cost of winning in the short term, but winning isn't the only thing that matters.

Hi Paul. Welcome back to pigeon racing. I have also come back recently after a long break, and I can speak from experience ref. lofts, cos I've got two - one built, and one supplied. The big difference nowadays from 20 years ago as far as lofts is concerned is the popularity of tiled roofs. Tiled lofts supplied are seemingly very good, mine was purchased from Blake's Lofts in the Midlands, who provided a good product, and erection service, for an all in price. I also built my own tiled loft, but was unable to do much cheaper than Blake's, and had all the time and hassle to boot. With 5 kids, I think it unlikely you'll have much spare time either.

Apart from all the advantages/disadvantages stated above, there is also a MATHEMATICAL advantage for the longer flyer. Let's say 2 pigeons fly from the same racepoint, one flies 100 mls, the other 120 mls. They both take 2 mins to clear the racepoint, and 1 minute to land, but both travel the course at a speed of 40 mph. The velocity for the shorter flyer is 1150, the velocity for the longer flyer is 1154. So you see, both pigeons have performed EXACTLY the same, but the LONGER flyer wins!!

They enjoy a good shower now and then, but I don't let them out for an evening fly in the rain, cos' I don't like them perching up for the night, damp and cold.

Les, How do you get on with an LCD microscope as opposed to a traditional microscope? Never used one so just interested to know.

Diversifying slightly, but still on the theme of older pigeons - About 18mths ago, I purchased from Louella, at a sale, a 12 year old Jan Aarden cock, for I think £35, bred by Louella. I let this pigeon out, and it did a fair bit of flying around, spent the night out, then popped back in through the stall trap the following day as though it had been doing it all his life. He still does a couple of laps around the loft on a nice day. Now for a pigeon that had never stretched it's wings outside an enclosure, and never focussed it's eyes further than a few metres I have to say, I am mightily impressed. He still fills every egg. Respect!

Don't know where you're racing from buddy, but here in the w.mids., it's been torrential rain and no blue sky since early doors. Good luck!

If I clock a bird, I want to know its' true position on the prize list. If I get beaten by 18 birds belonging to Joe Bloggs, so be it - must try harder. I can never understand why people want to claim a prize for say fourth bird home, when in fact it could be 22nd or whatever. My club has a four bird clock limit, with which I disaqgree, but accept as a majority decision.

Having convoyed for a season, I can say that we gave a good quality mix. On extended holdovers, if we didn't have enough with us (limited storage space) we would have to get what we could at lib. location, be it France or UK. As far as the amount given, it's down to the discretion of the convoyer. As a pigeon fancier, I was able to make a judgement, based on when the birds were last fed, what time of day it was, when would lib. likely to be, how hungry the birds seemed, and the number of birds in the individual basket. Of course, a lot of convoyers are not fanciers, and I suspect don't always do the right thing.

Agree wholehartedly with above. One thing is for sure. If you don't do everything by the book, and you leave an escape route, a cheat aint going to stop cheating, but he'll be a whole lot wiser, and more difficult to catch the next time!

I know nothing about this case whatsoever, but find it an interesting thread. I agree that evidence obtained illegally is inadmissable in court. However, it surely does not stop an organisation requesting an explanation (verbal or written) in respect of such evidence from the alleged offender. Eg., "On 27th June 2008 you were found in the possession of a gold watch property of AN other - what is your explanation?" The reply is legitimate evidence isn't it?

Rather than start a new thread, may I request some advice please. I have several pairs presently who have just hatched young. I would like to send them across the channel this week, but have heard it's not good to send birds feeding soft food. Yhe youngsters will be about three days old at basketing. Can someone advise please?

Amazing things pigeons. This week, I took 2nd club from 288mls. It was this pigeon's second channel race this year. The bird was bred in 2006, and since then, has been broken not once, but three times, to addresses at least 10 miles apart. For some reason, I've never had much problem breaking birds. If they are happy and secure in their new home, they'll stay. Moreso, I find the steadier, more intelligent pigeons seem to know what it is all about, and settle more readily.

Vic, you are quite right to raise such concerns. Having worked in audit control for over 30 years, I am aware that presently, races can be open to cheats. There are big National races with a huge amount at stake, subject to the usual "verification" procedures, overseen by officials, within that fanciers's very small knit, small member club. It would be quite easy for rules to be not properly observed. I am not saying they are. Apart from any other rule, when was it last checked that the seal applied to the basket at the club, is confirmed, by an independent observer, to be the same seal on the basket prior to liberation. This is a very basic audit procedure, to my knowledge, that is never undertaken. I convoyed for a period, and quite honestly I wonder why anybody bothers sealing the baskets, what a waste of time - they are never checked. By the way, with ETS, I understand that once clocked, the system does actually record the lat. and long. (That does not stop someone transporting the ring by other means of course). More routine checks do need to be done, and members ought not get the hump if a club officer turns up to do a random check. Come on chaps let's have your views. We still enjoy free speech in the UK you know.

For what it's worth, my own view is that ybs need confidence to get them going. I have no doubt that most can cope with a 10 miler to start with. However, shorter tosses at the beginning of their education tells them "Hey, I don't mind getting in the basket, I'll soon be home with ease"

Where do you source the birchwod chips please?

I hven't got time for all that stuff. I like to keep things simple. I chuck a couple of sliced up cloves in the drinker once a week. Never had a problem with them drinking the water. It's just a cse of them getting used to the taste.

I'm not saying that a certain amount of lime is not beneficial, the truth is I don't know. What I am saying is that it should not be used as a treatment for YBS, which is what this thread is about.

Karl, the most obvious simple answer is worms. Have you thought about getting the droppings checked?