Novice

You have just stated the bare bones of a solution. Look how many transporters lie idle during the National season. Unfortunately we need co ordination at National level. We could resolve the issue within Scotland but I also believe that the SHU President is also President or Chairman of the confederation. That , as far as I am concerned, is an excellent opportunity to take the matter forward.

Sadly the only way for our sport to survive is to alter the schedule of our race programmes and breeding cycles. We need to be completely finished with racing by mid June or early July. This can be achieved easily by racing twice weekly. There are also unseen savings by doing this like by way of transporter insurance and others. During the months of July and August the training of laterbred pigeons can be undertaken to help alleviate our problem. I am sure that by managing the food chain we can reverse the trend which we see at the moment.

You bought new birds as, deep down , you are hoping that the present situation will change and we can revert to the racing of yesterday. That's just not going to happen unless someone intervenes. There are still fanciers who produce great performances week in and week out but the sacrifice more pigeons doing so than ever before. From todays race I have 51 from 56 so not the worse race in the world but they are well strung out.

Ok thanks I'll still look the map. The number of available racepoints should be reduced to force us to have several organisations at the same race point with the convoyed being given the opportunity to confer.

Thanks Andy I need to look a map now.

Just for interest where they liberated Andy?

Proficient in the art of fisticuffs is he not?

Mick this is probably caused by a swelling inside the crop which means the pigeon cannot digest food. Provided it is remaining hydrated it should be able to digest a very small seed like rapeseed. After a few days on that it should start eating properly. This would be in addition to some of the remedies mentioned. I know you don't feed grit. Grit and black minerals might be a useful addition at this point in time.

Previously if a pigeon was ill we binned it. Now we tend to patch it up unless it is terminal. The studs patch them up to sell in winter once they have fully moulted. Youngsters which look poorly in a racing loft never see daylight. Poorly youngsters bred in a stud are allowed to complete a full moult then sold when they look good with their new jacket on. However, the weakness will always be there.

14 from 18 with Glasgow. I watched an early batch of Ayrshire pigeons go through with a Percy following behind. Therein lies the problem.

Cheers Stuart.

Ok thanks, hopefully resolved I'll have it tossed close to home.

Ok thanks. It's a blue with a nice pink marker ring.

I have had the above youngster for aboutv1 week. It has been reported via the SHU but I have no reply yet. Appropriate contact details would be helpful if anyone can oblige.

You travel long distances in the car with the birds. That is a really high risk time. You and several birds in an enclosed space. You should also consider wearing a mask in the car and maximising the air flow through air con. Don't open the window as that causes turbulence. 3 drops of olbas oil in the mask helps your breathing short term. Use a different vehicle for social outings if possible.

In addition to anything said above keep the loft as open and airy as possible.

Did I read somewhere that the K index would be high on Sunday? Just another variable.

I don't know about tomorrow night but according to tomorrows forecast for my area it will be dark till about lunch time. I think the fairest way is to decide your HOD for the longest day and reduce by 3 minutes daily. That's what the Irish do (as mentioned earlier).

I think you would struggle with that now in mid July

Why do you say that? We are well past the longest day now and the hours of darkness should increase and the hours of daylight should decrease accordingly.

That would be my understanding.

Ok thanks.

Does anyone know what the hours of darkness are for this race?

I'm pretty much the same I am afraid. Need to breed some latebreds I doubt. When you find out where it went wrong just ensure the same mistake doesn't happen next season. It hasn't been easy this season.