Novice

Harry----as far as I am aware (and I spoke to the guy about 2 months ago) Charlie Mc Kerrow still has some of the family. I believe his birds originated from Jim Paterson who was our Federation Secretary and SHU President some years ago. JP was also some pigeon fancier. This was the same origin of Stuart Divit's bird. No doubt we will have lost some of the young whippersnappers with this information.

I stand corrected. I only remember it was a super performance. The pigeon was a Blue cock of Stoddart breeding. I know it was still alive this year in the loft of a fancier in Dalry. I believe the Mc Aloney pigeon---called Janefield Andy was also a Stoddart. I believe bred by Andy Durning. Bobby Kennedy won Rennes in a strong South Easterly wind.

Harry----I have never been one for statistics but I think the pigeon in Stewarton belonged to Stuart Divvet. It was second open to Joe Murphy into a westerly wind. John Barr was also second open to Eddie Newcombe I am not sure of the wind direction. The performance of Stuart Mullin's pigeon was world class. In the extreme west where I live fanciers appreciate the difficulty of the task and rather than rise to the challenge they concentrate on club and federation racing. Some have even gone North Road weakening an already weak Federation. While that mentality prevails we are unlikely to improve our National status and the credibility of our pigeons.

I would certainly phone the RPRA and also ask the guy whose stray was sold to you to do likewise complaining. The RPRA should take whatever action required. That's why we pay fees.

Grey with rain and low cloud complete cover in Ayrshire. It's almost dark.

There is no doubt birds were sacrificed in the quest to line pockets. Unfortunately this is part and parcel of the commercialism which has ruined this hobby (sport) callit what you will. I was astounded that a certain scribe surfaced from the woodwork in the BHW. a week ago and another this week to sing the praises of Galaxy Lofts. There is no doubt that the proprieter owned class pigeons but did the sale really require these people generating further interest on behalf of a friend. Yes I wandered off topic I suppose but this is all part of the same parasitic illness.

I agree completely this is not about pigeons. It's about money.

Hi Vic, there is no point in paying for something you don't understand. I agree with Bart's comments that Tom Pennicoat at SAC Auchincruive is the best in the buisness. Not only will he do the P.M. but he will take the time to explain the results and propose a course of action.

I believe Mike Donnachie from Kingseat in Fife flies these. I know up till a couple of years ago he still exchanged birds with Ralph Rutter.

This seems like the type of thread which would discourage new fanciers from even joining the site. All the charitable work which has been done by members helping others is nullified by this type of thread.

I spoke to Tom Pennicoat on this subject last year and he confirmed that the disease has changed and birds do not necessarily show the head twisting symptom.

This is my understanding. For example the general manager had to join before taking office.

I think there are various blends of up to 4 or 5 oils available commercially. They carry full instructions. Tried them this year and had my worst season ever but this may be more related to other circumstances than to using the oils.

Most frustrating I agree. Pigeons which have just had a bath can be very vulnerable.

I agree with this post in its entireity

I believe parrafin was used years ago mainly on poultry housed and painted on the perches thereby killing the mite in the hut. I think modern products will be safer and more effective.

Skipton appears to be 50 miles from the West coast and 80 miles from the east coast. Surely this places it closer to middle than either coast. That is unless they have relocated the town recently.

lovely morning in Ayrshire temperature seemed to be a bit lower overnight.

This is true and part of the theory about congestion. I think that it is far to late to look round you on a Saturday and realise there are several potential clashing feds in the area of liberation. A greater degree of coordination is required. For example when race programs are decided at AGMs they should be put on a spread sheet by an elected person. Copies of this schedule should then be sent back to federations highlighting potential problems. The federations can then decide if they wish to alter the program or take the risk of the original proposal. Such a document would also allow federations to highlight potential transporter sharing arrangements. Possibly a bit complex for those in power. However as has already been said there is more than one cause of horrendous losses.

Obviously there are several reasons for young bird losses. It's a complex problem. Last weekend Lanarkshire had a perfect race on Saturday while the remainder had a disaster on Sunday while racing from the same area and in some cases the same race point. I believe the hawks would be just as active on Saturday as they were on Sunday. This allows us to conclude that they are only partly responsible for poor racing. I would suggest that we have all arranged racing from the east now and the area is simply overcrowded with convoys of inexperienced birds all trying to navigate. As the west route seems to be disaster prone then the answer would not be to use a westerly route but to stagger liberations. Let's face it there is no reason why we must race on a Saturday I would be interested to know how Kingdom Fed was for returns if they raced on Friday as I believe was the plan.

To be favourite in a large field like this is an honour but I would certainly back WEE MAC to be right up there. If he is not then as he told me he will have no garden furniture left because he will kick the legs off it. Such is his motivation.

Hi kerryharris-If birds of prey only took only weaklings then they would have been a godsend. Unfortunately as pigeons fly greater distances then they tire. That is when the pigeon (a potential big winner) completely vulnerable. The fancier who gives the gives the birds to a falconer (even if they are dead when he does so) strikes me as being a sad individual. The birds he cared for and which may be inferior because of his inadequacies should be treated with more respect than that. Yes Birds of Prey have a place in nature but unfortunately the population has grown out of proportion. I agree you should keep posting but I doubt if many on this site will agree with your logic.

I now have 35 from 45 sent. The birds are flying well at home again and are now totally settled after being so jumpy when they arrived. Even the later pigeons circled the loft for 10-20 minutes. Lanarkshire did something 100% correct on Saturday while we all did it all wrong on Sunday. In addition to the weather and hawks the area is too congested with inexperienced convoys each week. Lanarkshire had different weather and no other feds in the sky. Additionally they had strength of numbers and I think these 3 factors contributed to their success.

Ayrshire fed liberated at Otterburn at 11:00. At clock checking 5 hours later half the convoy were missing. Very few after that so I would suggest 30% still missing. I have 32 from 45 sent. All fanciers in my club reported that the birds were so nervous when they arrived. I waited 13 minutes after my first arrival before a bird hit the loft. It was about 5th home.

I think that the race controller for our area actually misread the Saturday forecast and decided not to race.The forecast for this weekend was better than for the previous weekend when he did basket on Friday.