pigeon359

I would agree with you in the ideal circumstances mate but no can do in this hens case. She is paired to Frank, my indian fantail cock lol. Wasn’t planning to breed from her so left them to get on with it. Wasn’t planning to race Frank either……….. even while driving her to nest:) I know what you mean though mate and just a bit of banter:) Be ready for a read mate as it will give you a much clearer picture re my thoughts or actions as cant explain it in a few words lol. The Latebred I choose to pool for Saturday has more motivation than any of the others in the loft. I haven’t mentioned it though and its an important factor as it probably won him the 1st race. The motivation I am talking about is Territory disputes. The story goes…………. The nestbox that the latebred is using used to belong to the cock in the nestbox next to it. The older cock didn’t care about that box until the day I moved the latebred and his hen into it. All hell would break loose on a daily basis in the box and I was forever separating them. They were driving me demented lol. I tried locking one pair in at a time and vice versa but the minute they were coming in from exercise or whatever then all hell would break loose again. The latebred would end up chased out of the box and the old cock would stand guard in the box the whole night and the latebred would spend the night on an empty perch. Night after night when it had turned dark I would lift the old cock out and put him back in his own box and put the latebred into his. Sometimes I would close the 2 widowhood fronts together and the old cock would be hanging from it trying to get in to get to the occupants. Sometimes I would leave just the gate on it up and the old cock would be straight in causing havoc. This behaviour went on for weeks every single day and even when the latebreds hen had laid the old cock chased the latebred out and stood guard on the open side of the box while the latebreds hen was sitting her eggs! The old cock never went inside to the nesting half of the box even when it was the latebreds turn to sit. If the latebreds hen was on the opposite side to the nest then she would be shoved off by the old cock and he would stand guard while the latebred was on the nest. Other times when there was a fight the latebred would rush inside the nest space and both of them would be in there for a while and the old cock still stood guarding the other half of the box. The old cock was relentless in his attacks and I would watch him come off his own eggs and rush out his box straight into next door. The attacks lasted till the latebreds youngster was about 10 days old which was 5 weeks or so later. I thought the old cock would never give up! I don’t know if the latebred finally found the balls to oust him completely or if the old cock just got fed up of me lifting him out of the box all the time. It was madness, I used to watch through the gap on the loft sliding door as soon as I shut up for the day/night and the old cock was at it again as soon as I shut the door. He thought he was being fly but I was being flyer haha. On the odd occasion now I have saw the old cock try to get into the box but both the latebred and his hen roost there together now so they chase him off together without much effort:) It had been bliss for a week leading up to the first race but I know that at the back of the latebreds mind he was thinking how safe his box was whilst he was gone for the night? The motivation to race back lies in the latebreds mind and you can only surmise what its thoughts were. It wasn’t a motivation I created for him but one that came about of its own accord. Not only was he racing back to his hen, a youngster, and his second clutch off eggs but also the anxiety of is his box still how he left it? ( I like to take a youngster off a latebred before it races as not only would he be racing back to the place he was born but also to the place where he can procreate and pass on his genes successfully. It may not be a big deal in itself but the fish/animal/bird kingdom is strong on instincts like that) He has got to be thinking has his hen been ousted? Has there been a fight in the box and the hen and youngster injured or eggs broken? Will the old cock have taken over his box while he has been away and will he have the ability to oust him again? There are many thoughts he could have and each and every one could be that little extra push in his getting back to claim whats his and as soon as is possible! This is my theory anyway mate and cant be far from the truth? A widower couldn’t have this kind of motivation because of its circumstances and they will have other motivations that perhaps mine wont, but it must be a strong one to give him the will to get home in the fastest possible time and to do it in a time to win:) Hopefully he will have the same thoughts in his head this week as I doubt very much if this experience will have been forgotten yet and he knows that territory can be lost in an absence of occupier. The latebred isnt a scary or nervous kind of bird but he is pretty laid back and would rather do without the hassle. He is now FULLY in charge of his box and he is not about to give that up now for anything and stands his ground! He is capable of winning a race from this racepoint and has proved that so I would be mad not to make him my full pooler I only started back racing last year after quite a few years abscence in the game so as yet the birds have to prove themselves before I go throwing good money away on pools. If I drop the latebred this week then its back to the drawing board lol. Only had two 17 mile tosses this week and going to be a harder race so it’s a case of fingers crossed all goes well tomorrow. Good racing for all I hope and best of luck.

Ta mate you too. Only had one toss so far this week so hopefully get another couple in before friday? My wee stray is out the game for this week as her cock is driving her to nest again now. Shame as I thought she would do me ok this week My latebred cock is looking good though so I know where my pools will be going lol. Be a bit harder like you say so just need to wait and see. Fingers crossed eh. Good luck on saturday.

I see you got a 6th Fed Gary so good result. My trainer would have been there at about that mark too but the way it goes eh. Am happy I got 1st Fed and that will doo for me

I know mate, or I would be flying widowhood myself A good natural pigeon with the correct motivation will hold its own against any widowhood cocks but for the shorter distances I would have to say widowhood would have the edge.You will see a lot of doomen changing from natural to widowhood but how many do you see reverting back to natural after trying widowhood? Not many I expect and there has to be a reason? Im sure all the widowhood guys would have plenty to say about that lol. As for latebreds, good ones are few and far between. I have had the odd ones myself in the past and like you say, some of them can surprise you.Law of averages though would say a good experienced widowhood cock would have the edge over any unraced latebred but like everything else in doos there are always exceptions to the rule and our first birds back prove that I am happier flying natural and would have to say my birds are happier too so for the time being it will do for me. There are good and bad pigeons in both natural and widowhood but good pigeons with good motivation will win regardless if they are flown on natural or widowhood.

Thanks for the nice comments lads and fingers crossed it has topped the Fed???? Our club, including myself, were against the race going ahead until next week because of lack of training due to the bad weather we have been getting lately. I don’t think anyone could have prepared their birds enough really, especially the latebreds, and mine were only trained up to the 17 mile mark. I had a few shorter tosses earlier in march just for educational purposes from 7 and 12 mile before the weather turned and then tried to squeeze in what little training I could between the cold winds. Most of the clubmates didn’t manage to get as many tosses in as I did and some didn’t get any tosses in at all or it may have been a different outcome for me.???? My last toss that I could have squeezed in before the first race would have been a week prior to it but Friday being such a nice day and the race being so short, I put in a 17 miler just for education and a stretch of the wings and it seems to have paid off All in all I would like to have been able to prepare more, but like so many, had to make do with what I could. Flying natural also halved the amount of training done for each bird because of the nesting situation but well pleased with the outcome and looking forward to next week

In fairness though, how long does it take to liberate 1000+ pigeons? We are not talking about a convoy of wagons liberating here, and our birds are flying 10 miles further than some lofts so I wouldnt think being the early ones out would make much of a difference time wise The winning pigeon was an August bred 2012 latebred cock, racing on the natural system, to a large youngster and sitting 8 days on dummy eggs. Its already at a disadvantage against experienced widowhood doos so fair play to it My second bird which was right at his back, was a 2 year old hen that I got in as a stray last year and racing on the natural system still sitting on 20 day old dummy eggs. Unfortunately she had to be put through as a trainer last night as there was a problem getting her new ets ring registered in time A good race and good returns. Well done Peter and Midlothian Fed

6 MEMBERS SENT 105 BIRDS 1. R.SMART ..............1447.552 2. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1439.050 3. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1429.054 4. S.GLILCHRIST..........1418.741 5. S.GILCHRIST...........1416.209 6. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1405.792 7. S.GILCHRIST...........1364.539 8. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1360.144 9. G.SUMMERS.............1354.295 10. S.GILCHRIST..........1328.503

Have reported bird, thanks.

At about 2pm today I was taking some trainers a toss and noticed on route a dead pigeon at the side of the road.It was obvious that this was a fresh road-kill so I stopped my car on the way back and sure enough it was a race bird. Details are Blue Chequer SU 12 7144 and it was located on the main road at Dewar Park, Gorebridge.

Yes you are right REDCHEQHEN. Curacao is an island situated Northeast of Venezuela and is part of Ned. Antilles. There was a website for this club but for the life of me I cant find it now. Pompey jas is no longer a collector of pigeon rings and hasnt been for 4 or 5 years. I bought part of his collection, about 4,000 rings which cost me £1500. The curacao ring wasnt amongst them but I do have my own which were obtained long before Jas got his and I know these rings very well. I am probably the longest collector of racing rings here in the uk and have been collecting now for 25 year.

Just back from finders home address but they dont actualy have pigeon in their possession. Apparantly it flies off at night and comes back to get fed during the day. It has been hanging around the past 10 to 14 days and coming back daily. It has went as far as walking in their back door. No sign of it on their bungalow rooftop but they reckon it will be back during the day. Have left my phone number with them so they will call me tomorrow when it arrives back.

pigeon belongs to stuart Gilchrist. Just spoke to him on the phone to let him know but he is not on PB and there was no contact details for you earlier. He can be reached on 0131 552 0697.

Pigeon is from Denmark mate; De danske Brevdueforeninger Lindegårdsvej 27-29, Linde 8981 Spentrup Tlf. 4828 4244 Fax. 4828 4644 E-mail: ddb@brevduen.dk

I am totaly disgusted at the reply from you DELBOY re the Peregrine falcon problem. I have read a number of your posts and you seem to have a lot to say for yourself over most subjects and the majority of it is inconsiderate, un-thought out rubbish! Are you even a pigeon fancier at all to come away with that sort of advice? Why dont you put yourself in the lions cage at the zoo and see how you like being eaten alive!! With the kind of heartless advice you have just given I would guess that you are a falconer also? If not then you should give yourself a shake mate as you obviously dont have a heart! You would be prepared to give the falcons all your old timers that are no use to you now would you? What a way to treat one of your own birds! It must have served you well for it to have reached old age and after that you are prepared to watch it get eaten alive? Even young that have slipped the ring in the nest.........what have they done to deserve a fate like that? Nothing!!!! All creatures have a right to live, I dont dispute that, regardless of the diet they have and whether pigeons happen to be part of that diet or not. Thats one thing......but you would deliberately give it birds of your own that just happen to be of NO USE to you now? Are you trying to be some big shot in the pigeon world who is ruthless and cares about nothing except winners? Thats how you are making yourself out mate........you may be a pigeon keeper but to me you are just another heartless person who keeps pigeons and cares nothing else for a birds well being.YOU ARE NOT A PIGEON FANCIER!!! I joined pigeon basics to read constructive comments not a lot of cr*p that you think everyone else wants to read. Do you think that all of the non fanciers who report birds through PB dont look through other threads to see if they are advertising a found bird in the proper place or to give them a little insight into the world of pigeon racing? You wonder how our sport gets a bad name and why some non fanciers think the way they do about our sport? I will tell you why mate, it is because of idiots like you thats why!!! And if you had any brains that giving old timers to the falcons would save your good birds then you are sadly mistaken! All you are doing is encouraging them to come back for an easy meal!! You may not like what I have to say but I am easy mate. Whether you like me or not for it I dont really care. You are not the kind of person I would want to know anyway..............and you call youself a pigeon fancier?? Get a life mate!!!!

Not sure if you mean you have the GOURDON club secs number too but if not then its B.Craig 01561 361611. Hope this helps?

I'm in the same club as Jim Black. His home number is 0131 538 4019

BALLOCHMYLE FED.....sold 4300 rings this year.

NICE ONE MATE. ALL BIRDS CAME IN AT EDINBURGH.

4 birds put into strag basket tonight at club. 3 from fife and an individual member.They are as follows............ Lt.CH. ..........GB 12 S 51667 LT.CH.W/F........GB 12 S 53140 RED CH...........SU 12 F 540 BLUE.............SU 12 5167 If any of these birds are yours then they are on their way back to you via stray centre.Its all good and well getting birds back through the stray centre and they do a terrific job............but no information is given back as to where the birds went into someones loft? They could have been handed in anywhere. Personally, I would like to know where my birds went in to someone, and the reason I am letting these owners know about their birds now.Perhaps other club members could do likewise and let us know what strays are going into the club stray baskets? It only takes a minute or two to write down a few numbers and lets owners know that they have a lost bird on route and more importantly, where the bird actualy went in to someone. Just a thought.........

Forth & clyde number is printed in the SHU handout ring list of 2012 as the number I stated earlier. Is this a mis print?

SU 12 DF 2426.......DUNDEE FED...........DUNDEE & DISTRICT club sec. J. McCafferty 01382 294154 SU 12 AV 3383.......ALMOND VALLEY FED.....FORTH & CLYDE club sec. T. Henderson 01786 650757

Think you need to check the number again mate. You have the year down as 1960 making this bird 52 year old! The 0399 number is the Przysucha club in Poland and the 60 you have is the year?????

Keep the chin up Peter. As you know, most of the other Scottish Feds took a hammering on saturday and at least we all have full teams to go next week. You can't please everyone and like you say the birds welfare must come first. Cant count the times I have basketed my birds for a toss in the blazing sun and got a mile down the road and it's bucketed down! Typical British weather is so unpredictable and better SAFE than sorry

Bird belongs to Willie Stewart 07766206512.