Upsndoons

I was thinking along the same lines. If we want to survive is there a way we can get the betting public involved in pigeon racing. I am not a horse racing or dog man myself but one thing is for sure, if a bookie can make a buck from any punters betting on the weather, the snow on xmas day and that stuff surely we can think of some way of getting Joe Public to bet on pigeon racing. One loft races might be a good start ? Let Joe Public bet on a number of birds in a race with one fee and increase his chances of a win, Of course I could simple be deluded. Fire away

So this weekends update, And it's good news, Saturday was a cracking day so was up early and let the hens out first. They flew for an hour all except young hawk bait hen that the sparrow hawk kissed last weekend. She sat on landing board most of time and looked around wondering what was going to happen next. Anyway I kept watch all the time and no Percys or Madam Death were seen. Got the ladies in after an hour and let's the young cocks out. They were away and up and up into large blue yonder with no frights from BOP. Interestingly while they were out I watched three crows chase and harass a sparrow hawk across the field below. Hawk sat in tree for a while but crows dogged it till it flew towards next door farm. Watched it try its luck with the farm Doos but flew of empty handed to the west. Young guns flew for an hour unharassed and came in at the call so it was a good day. Will keep you posted as to how it goes. Have a few startlers to hand should sparrow hawk come back, but just made it a rule now that when birds are out, I am on the decking keeping watch with ammo to deter the hunger winged killers. Roll on race day. Lol Cheers

Bloody hell Andy, I bet your brilliant at them 'Spot the Difference' games and 'Wheres Wally'

Latest challenge. Last weekend let hens out while keeping watch for Percy and his Mrs but all good for 40 mins. Got the ladies in except two who would not trap. Went into loft and let the 7 cocks out for an hour. As I came out of the loft there on the grass in front of the loft was a blue hen just about to be dispatched by a male sparrow hawk. My coming out of loft startles both birds and hawk lets go of hen. Hen is up and away like greased lightning ,hotly pursued by f hawk. I watched then go south down the valley and out of site. 3 hours let I go to close up loft for the night and the hen flies in, with slight feather damage to left wing but otherwise ok. So now I have sparrow Hawks and perigines to watch for every time iI let any birds out. Great fun eh.

Had my second attack in two weekend, two weeks ago. Pair of Percys hit the cocks while I had just popped in the loft to close their trap after letting them out. They were going round really well then when I came out not a doo in sight. Next think was two cocks hitting loft landing board like they were rocket powered closely followed by one Percy. Got them in and it when south to a field about 500 meters away. Me and my other half then watched for nearly an hour as one Percy dived continue lay at something on ground or in the trees nearby. Second hawk was working another group of trees. Eventually, one Percy flew off but second stayed till it was dark. Hard to believe this next bit but it's absolutely true. Me and other half sat in family room which has big patio doors that evening. After an hour after dusk I heard tapping on glass door. At first I thought it was rain, when I looked there was my dark yearly cock knocking on the window. expletive remove you could have knocked me down. Other half just couldn't believe it either. I went out and with the external PIR flood lights this guys comes in and brings in two other who were sat on loft roof. He is now known as The Nightwatchman. Final score was a blue cock lost to Percy and me down to 7 cocks to race this year. Ah well just another challenge.

Guess I won't be contributing to their business fund ever again then. Just confirms what I already thought ' The world has gone mad'.

Had my second attack in two weekend, two weeks ago. Pair of Percys hit the cocks while I had just popped in the loft to close their trap after letting them out. They were going round really well then when I came out not a doo in sight. Next think was two cocks hitting loft landing board like they were rocket powered closely followed by one Percy. Got them in and it when south to a field about 500 meters away. Me and my other half then watched for nearly an hour as one Percy dived continue lay at something on ground or in the trees nearby. Second hawk was working another group of trees. Eventually, one Percy flew off but second stayed till it was dark. Hard to believe this next bit but it's absolutely true. Me and other half sat in family room which has big patio doors that evening. After an hour after dusk I heard tapping on glass door. At first I thought it was rain, when I looked there was my dark yearly cock knocking on the window. expletive remove you could have knocked me down. Other half just couldn't believe it either. I went out and with the external PIR flood lights this guys comes in and brings in two other who were sat on loft roof. He is now known as The Nightwatchman. Final score was a blue cock lost to Percy and me down to 7 cocks to race this year. Ah well just another challenge.

QUICK, Somebody send the One Show a note tomorrow inviting them to do a piece on racing pigeons and the effect the perigine has on our sport. What chance a positive response .

Must be a video shiiiite hawk............

Hi Barry, First off sorry to hear such bad news happening to such a nice bloke. Comes as no surprise to me however that you have the courage and willpower to carry on. Seems anybody racing Doos in Scotland have a few more natural challengers than most to look out for. Keep going mate and I hope this is the last of the bad times before some much better and sucessful years ahead. Dave

Is it just my imagination or wasn't there a rule of thumb that say something like: Multiple your loft length by width and then divide it by 3 to get a acceptable idea of the number of bird to keep in the space. So 12 x 6 = 72 / 3 = 24 birds or 12 pairs of birds I think you assume the loft space is at least 6' high so you can stand up. Anybody think this is right or wrong ? I apply it and whilst we all like to have more birds I think it is a good guide re natural ventilation etc. Cheers

So sat watching young cocks whizzing around the loft about 13.30 when Percy and his Mrs turn up for a bit of KFC pigeon style. My other have grabs the mop and is out the back door like a demented Ninja closely followed be myself and faithful hound. We get onto the decking to left of loft just in time to see seven Doos heading south and two Percy's making final dive after them from North at maybe 40'. One doo on grass thinks best place to head is under six inch gap below loft. What to do ? Well obvious really......... Grab ya woolly hat of ya head and throw it up at Lead Percy as he crosses the garden. F me he sheers off and goes straight up forgetting birds and thinking woolly eagle own is on his A@@e. His mate does same as Doos keep heading south. Percy then realises what a goof ball he looks and decides the farm pigeon in next village might be better bet. 'She who must be obeyed' is cussing like a navy boiler stoker and inviting Percy back for round two. Honest if any of the neighbours had seen us taking on the ravenous winged raptor they would have wet their wee briefs with laughter, but it worked. Yep, I know Percy and his girl will be back but Mrs say she will be ready for them next time. Half time score was 7 Doos back in loft in half hour, black cock came out from under loft after another 5 mins, and pretended he was just picking grit off the mole hill near loft, final two appeared about hour later saying they just fancied a young hen in Cumbria so went for quick chat. Like title says Me Doos 10, Percys 0 Long may it last

mmmmmmmmmm ve could have some fun on der vay big boy ;-)

Santa got me the ets system so I must have been a good boy 😄

Where you going to put the baskets when training the Doos ?😳

Don't get ya hopes up, it's only a matter of time and the low pressure systems moving east and we will be in the cold.

Saw the moon rise your kids were talking about and took some pictures as it was quite a sight. Will see if I can put a couple on here for you. Also got up at 02.55 to see the super red moon but was disappointed to see the same as the photos posted. Was its like a quarter or less moon. What was noticeable though was how the moon light reduce over about half an hour to the total exclipes. Then staggered of to bed to get up at 05.50 to clean the birds out before work. I still prefer waiting for Doos than moon watching.

Whoops, included the 'l' by mistake.............lol......

A Fluck of Fanciers ! 😉

Whoops, should read, NE1648 NE1658 Etc. They might be luck and not be Percy snacks. Cheers

Three youngsters gone missing near Carnwath yesterday on short training toss. 15SU1648 15SU1658 15SU16XX Not certain about third number as need to work thru young birds to see who's missing. Give me a shout if any sign. Cheers

Told my Labrador the joke but he didn't say if he liked it. Made me laugh though.

They were to busy hanging on with their eyes closed cos we were flying backward................lol closed.........before you say anything.

LOL...........correction, just notice the gust rotated my weather station through 90 degrees so make that wind direction west to south westerly...............doh.

So wind is was average 25MPH, gusting 32MPH, N.westerley on the hill here near Carnwath,Lanarkshire at 11.30hrs, now average 22MPH, Gusting 27MPH, NNW.