I know many won't agree with this but i know of a few dog trainers who keep small lofts of pigeons for training purposes.
They train gun dogs!
The pigeons, many racers etc are looked after and free fly as the trainers want to keep re-using them. They use release traps which humanly release the pigeons upwards to train the dogs not to chase them, they then fly back to there lofts for use again.
Non of the birds are hurt by the dogs as the dogs do not get close enough to catch them.
My parents help at the GYA gamefairs and use there race team for the demonstrations and for the gundog trials do you think they would if any were likely to get harmed?
Don't jump to conclusions on this as it could easily be a genuine trainer.
Sorry just need to put the other side.
Phil
Rolland it could be put to a panel of members that havn't entered birds from the forum without ring numbers just performances including birdage, milage, vel etc over the youngbird season but at the end of the day i'm sure we are just doing it for a bit of fun, arn't we?
Phil
All members i'm sure will try various couriers over the next few months and when they find the one that gives them the best service they will probably stick with them!
As Bob says just let the members decide, why keep knocking others Jamie as your service isn't always as good as you make out is it?
I heard on the grape vine you were picking 2 birds up from me yesterday and i would receive a phone call thurs/fri to arrange, I got a phone call yesterday to say a driver was on his way, 5 minutes latter I would have been out! I had to leave them with a neighbour!
"People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"
I have just spoken to Jenny and she's so happy the birds have gone to there new homes and both Paul and Jenny would like to thank everybody for there support.
There are nest boxes etc still to go if anybody is interested, 5 sets of 3 widowhood boxes complete with fronts for £100, collection only, 3 sets have never been bred in!
Another angle to this is how many succesful fanciers don't retire birds from the race loft to the stock loft until they are 3 or 4 years old?
They may have many wins to there names but are untried at stock, are these likely to contribute to your 98% rubbish?
I understand what you say but everybody every year makes room for younger more vigorous stock. Old stock that may have bred winners and good birds could be of use to others.
Personally if I have paid good money for stock including birds from the likes of Ken Kippax clearence sale etc that havn't produced get binned however much I paid for them but a lot of older stock birds that have produced the goods i've often given away to help others!
Phil
If AM have gone bust i suspect Louella contributed to there demise.
When Amtrak went i pointed out to a couple of couriers who were going to approach them for there business that Louella needed them more than they needed louella business at discounted rates etc.
Phil