Novice

How can it be proven that a bird is chemical free? Like it or not minerals, salts and even a pinch of potassium permanganate in the drinker or bath are chemicals. All vitamins no matter their source are chemicals. Firms like VL produce mixtures which are all chemically enhanced. Immunity plus concept so popular in VL mixes is a chemical pellet.

Happy birthday Andy. Have a lovely day.

OK IF YOU NEED MORE DATA PLEASE SEND ME ONE. Sent by PM

One loft races certainly have problems with illness. This year the NCC in Ireland admitted to having a viral problem with several fatalities and, I believe , they involved a vet. When they started training returns were poor. However all credit to them for being transparent. The latest disaster (the Midlands National one loft race) with no birds in race time and this was into the second day certainly indicated that they had a problem especially when national returns were acceptable with only a 15 minute gap in liberation times. Several years ago Kenny Bald started a single loft at Edinburgh. He had big problems due to Circo Virus ( which attacks the immune system ) . I believe this turned the venture into a disaster and he closed down in the first year.

There was a time lapse of 15 minutes between liberations.

One discussion I had recently with a well informed source suggested it started when a very Tranquil loft introduced a certain family of pigeons from Belgium. The owner then wrote about it in his weekly column blaming it on a lack of calcium in the food chain. He recommended adding a handful of lime to the drinker and set up a fund to look into the problem. The cash was donated to Tom Pennicoat at Auchincruive who later published his findings in the fancy press.

It looks like Andy Barbours pigeon to me with an Ayrshire ring number.

Andy there is absolutely no similarity between potassium permanganate and Virkon. Virkon is a sophisticated chemical. Your post is misleading with good intent.

The birds are reported to have cleared well.

I don't blame the birds. I just need to learn from my mistakes,

Not a feather. it was a big disappointment but maybe there will be some highs next year.

It's on the home page I think 20:00 till 22:00

Ok point taken. Gone are the days when we had race programmes which asked the birds to fly in a straight line home. My 4 are jumping from 140 miles. They have had a few races and loads of training but it's a big jump for them.

Do you think the jump is an important factor?

RIP Sandy.

I don't scrape I just jack up the roof occasionally.

There are another couple there now but they are all lying on the roof with the wings up soaking up the rain. They had a good lot of work this week so they were fitter than previous weeks. When you are using 3 bags of feeding every week it's time to throw caution to the wind. Insurance policies are good but too much cover is a killer.

At the moment I have 21 from 47 with Glasgow. Whether any more arrive I won't know as they are all out for a bath. Possibly I shouldn't have sent so many as all the signs of a difficult race were present in the Saturday forecast.

That's good news for pigeons heading North

My text says 07:30 but at least we know they are released!

32 birds and 2 donations. I'm not doubting quality but I seem to detect a bit of petted lip syndrome.

I had 2 injured and 1 missing last week tossing at Livingston into Ayrshire. A friend also had a bad toss with some missing tossing at Whitburn into Renfrewshire.

Where did you toss them. I note you are from Coatbridge area. Yesterday I tossed youngsters from Eurocentral. I don't hear very well and I left the youngsters sit for a few minutes to adjust. My wife came out the car saying she could hear a screeching noise and she was certain it wasn't seagulls. We searched the sky and saw no signs of hawk activity. I released the birds and they cleared like rockets. The screeching continued and I looked round at the Amazon building to see a falconer standing with a falcon of some kind on a perch. He nodded at me and I gave a 2 finger salute . He continued to feed his hawk and I assume he has a contract to keep the area clear of ferals so it's probably worth noting that he is operating in that area.

I just thought that I would mention it as an aside. My friend is well informed so I assume the story is factual.

I heard from a falconer friend who also happens to be a pigeon fancier that a peregrine has been found dead under suspicious circumstances at a quarry in Kilbarchan.