Novice

It depends on the weather and how well they have been flying at home.

The one I had used 2 troughs which you filled with water. Only 1 full most of the time and both full for the last 3 days. When hatching bamtams eggs my grandfather used to put the egg in his mouth daily just before hatching to moisten the shell.

There is a slight difference between the incubation temp of a pigeon and that of a chicken I am almost certain. Without the appropriate book I am not sure. I will try to locate it tomorrow. Hatchability in an incubator is not as good as a natural hatch. I think it is difficult to get the humidity correct. It would be best to look for a used on on ebay or similar and get one which turns the eggs automatically.

Lot 11 £80 please. Done Thanks

For those of us who will be unlikely to see the new transporters I hope a couple of pictures will be posted on here.

R.I.P.

My experience is that a single needle is only good for 20-25 injections then it seems to lose the sharpness. This is unsatisfactory.

You are absolutely correct. The only way birds of prey will ever be restricted is when song bird numbers diminish to such an extent that several species become endangered. Although we do not have the finances which our enemy have, we do however, have the ultimate power. We control the primary source of food to these killers. If we breed earlier and bring our young bird racing forward to avoid racing in August not only will the song bird population be decimated but the young falcons will have no prime pigeon to hone it's butchery skills on. I am a bird lover and would not like to see any species become extinct but then that would not be my doing in this instance. The sole responsibility for the demise of the song birds would be placed at the doorstep of the R.S.P.B.

What we need is to revert to clocks. They don't give a toss about the UK market as we are only small fish. Look at the volume they will sell in China where the profit margin will be much less.

Below is the agreed race program for Ayrshire Federation for season 2013. Old Birds 20th April - Hawick (Stobbs Camp) 1 27th April - Otterburn 4th May - Sedgefield 11th May - Thirsk 18th May - Wakefield 25th May - Newark 1st June - Leicester 8th June - SNFC Newbury 15th June - Hawick (Stobbs Camp) 2 22nd June - SNFC Maidstone 29th June - Hexham 6th July - SNFC Ypres Young Birds 20th July - Carnwath 27th July - Hawick (Stobbs Camp) 1 3rd Aug - Hawick (Stobbs Camp) 2 10th Aug - Otterburn 17th Aug - Hexham 1 24th Aug - Sedgefield 31st Aug - Hexham 2 7th Sept - Thirsk Hopefully this information will be of use to several members. It would be good if we can all provide detailed race programs to help with forward planning. Thanke Robert Reid

Maybe I paid £25 not sure now but I bought it from Syndicate Lofts at Blackpool.

It's a decent read containing many of his opinions. It also gives an insight into how continentals have been known to manipulate results to make their performances look better than they are. Is it worth £20 it probably is.

We have been having this discussion on out federation web site and the information seems to be confusing. I think there is a very subtle difference between antibacterial and antibiotic. However I have read many pages on the subject today and there is definately an opinion that Ronidazole is an antibiotic. This is really new to me. However the extract below was taken from a cat web site and indicates that Ronidazole is an antibiotic. Perhaps the first guy to speak to a Doctor or vet could report back. Ronidazole is not licensed for use in cats; it is a poultry antibiotic. It also tastes very bad and should be provided in capsules rather than as an oral liquid so as to avoid the taste.

No you only try these dodges for the sting. The matter was investigated by several Irish fanciers.

I believe the convoyer was asked to release a basket of low value pigeons 15 minutes before the main convoy to detract the hawks enroute. Little did the convoyer know that these would be the eventual winners.

Yes he is a con artist and the subject has been well aired elsewhere. In addition to not paying out the winners were released 15 minutes before the main convoy. Most of these were owned by Boyd under assumed names. The Police shoild have been involved months ago.

My experience is that when they are hit soon after being released is that this was not a coincidence that the hawk happened to be passing by at that time. They (sparrowhawks) actually hide in the locality waiting for the birds to be released.

Don't think so but David Howie from Stevenston is a genuine fancier. I might just bid on them as I have under ordered from the Federation.

An interesting theory. It still does not tell us how to avoid losses but it is good to know that others are interested in our problems.

Now I never quoted my loft position. I wonder if the membership of the mighty Lanarkshire Federation will agree?

I constantly hear Lanarkshire fanciers referring to themselves as being in the west.They may fly in the west section but on the last occasion I looked at a map most of them are actually located centrally. I believe that map I uses is current unless there have been some geographical changes recently. Are there any opinions on this observation?

Good luck with it. I see you go there 5 times with old birds.

Mark could you give me a rough idea where Reed is. Google earth did not show it.

Ayrshire Federation has run a successful latebred sale in 2011 and 2012. Without the hard work of the organisers and donations from some top fanciers it would not be the success it has been. Unfortunately many of the members (who never supported the sales) think they can sit back and allow the sale money to subsidise their racing. This is absolutely not on and will destroy the goodwill of the fanciers who donate birds.

several boards with 4 inch nails driven through on the ground around the door is a good deterrant also. Once they have the impression that they can be injury they will steer clear. Even pigeon dirt spread about works as they don't like it on their trendy footwear.