Blue Chequer Pied

The best widowhood cock I ever had would go and lie down in the corner of the basket as soon as he went in.

No probs Frank best of luck with the sale. Paul.

I am no 'East coast Willie'

Hi Frank, Lot 12 should read Paul Thomson Forres and not Fraserburgh as stated. Good luck with the sale, Regards, Paul.

Well done, great start for someone.

Well done Willie

I see what you are saying but there is also the risk of the non-vaccinated stock catching the disease.

Best of luck luck Willie, I hope you get in the shake-up pal. Good to see you flying the flag for Scotland

Unfortunately it is the rules

Hope you get a bit of respite now John but it wont be long until another one moves into the territory unfortunately. I think they way things are at this time of the year (and they are only going to get worse) it wont be long until we are all thinking about putting the start of the racing back and having a shorter season or racing later in the year. Paul.

I do believe the good ones taste better only joking pal. They are a menace. I am just not letting mine out. I have youngsters I took back from Belgium and they have been out twice just to get them used to going in and out. I will be weaning my first round in a week so they wont be out for a while either. Speak to you soon, Paul.

Hi John, I had a sparrowhawk kill a bird in the sputnick in 1992 when I raced in Aberdeen. The loft was in the middle of Aberdeen near Pittodrie. I had one to come from a race that day and nipped away from the alotment to return to find it eating my last arrival. The hawk went mad when it seen me and battered around the sputnick for a while before I relieved it of its stress with a set of keys. The result was that the other birds in the loft were a bag of nerves for a week. They were hanging off the walls for days at the slightest thing i.e a shadow passing the loft would set them off, a seagull wuld fly past and they would be on red alert. I kept them in for three days to calm them down. Paul.

Dougie I am on gaurd all the time. If my birds are out, I am out. They are never left alone when they are out.

Keep your chin up. This is the worst few weeks of the year for them. It will get better once the female goes to nest. Paul.

Sorry to hear that John. I have been plagued by them up here in Forres. They are a bloody nightmare. Keep your chin up mate. All the best, Paul.

Well done young man, stick in, work hard and enjoy your doos . All the best, Paul.

I am sure you will get one Willie. All the best, Paul.

You must be proud big yin p.s is that the Rangers Tartan he is wearing?

Just been hit today by the most persistant sparrowhawk I have ever come across. It took a yearling cock out of the sky as they were coming in to land, took it into my neighbours garden. I chased it off and it hit it again taking it into another garden. Again chased it off and managed to get the cock into the loft. The rest of the brds flew for ages and one was missing but it joined them about 20 mins later. The 5 cocks that were out flew for ages the the b*stard of a thing hit them in the sky and took another yearling cock in the next street. Despite being mobbed by 4 crows it never flinched and was chased by a guy in the next street. Took me about an hour to get the other 4 in. Out of my team of 8 yearling cocks I now have 2 that are badly damaged. I have seen a lot of sparrowhawks in my time but this one seems to have adaptedits hunting style. There is absolutely no fear of humans. I think that these birds are so common that their normal food supply is not sustaining them and they are adapting to suit. I took 12 youngbirds back from Belgium last week and there is no way I can let them out, they would be like lambs to the slaughter

I use it all the time, just a pot full on the floor after scraping out. Keeps everything nice and dry. Tesco value is the best I have found other than catsan which is way too expensive. Stear clear of fullers earth as it will clag on your feet and the pieces tend to be too small for my liking.

Fantastic Robbie, hopefully you will raise a barrow load of cash for her.

Thanks Alan.

I have called in some favours and can add the following names to the list. Davie Barkel Sunderland 1 pair Brian Hinchcliffe Harrogate 1 pair Lee Goodliffe Essex 1 pair Stevie Taylor Aberdeen 1 pair Raymond Birnie Elgin 1 pair Sandy McGillvery Elgin 1 pair Rick Richards Elgin 1 pair John Thompson Spey Bay 1 pair Regards, Paul.

Hi Robbie as discussed I will donate a pair. Buyer can have the pick of what they want. Paul.

Glad to be able to help Ian. All the best, Paul.