BIGPETE

Interesting read Tony. On the subject of garlic, how are you administering it? I have seen some people have a full on garlic bulb growing in the drinker and just topping it up with water?

Haha it is painful stuff. Have you used your wildcard already?

So I know they say a bird can fill/lay up to many years old (heard some people say up to 14-15 years old even!!) But are there any signs to tell when a bird is past it and beyond it's best? I mean is there any signs you can pick up on before going to the lengths of see if it lays/fills?

A little update for some more additions to the loft. Sorry been a while but crying baby and nagging missus don't help the cause Being a budget (no frills) loft they have scrimped on the timber on the floor and the felt on the roof. So I have put heavier felt up top and on the floor where they had thinner wood I have lashed down a load of 3/4" ply. Also a little tweak on the front edge behind the door, just raised that lip up an inch or 2 more so that the bedding won't fall out the doors so much... Have put up 24 perches in 2 of the sections. Nothing fancy just standard box perches, I know a lot of people prefer the lift off/easy clean boxes but being new to the game I can see the value of being able to see any problems with the droppings ASAP. (Picked up this little nugget when visiting Tony C's loft). Only planned on having 9 nest boxes, but these sets came up cheap from a guy packing up. Plan to only use the top 9 as the bottom 3 are a bit low for my liking also section a bit small to be housing 12. Again nothing fancy just batons run down between each set to give a little more privacy box to box and hopefully less fighting. Still doing some work on the stock loft (which was the main loft before) will post up pic's of that later. Next lot of mods to the loft will be the traps.

Cheers for the info guys. Have done all of the suggested and will additionally spray them a few more times before the birds go in to be 100% safe.

Got a deal on some 2nd hand nest boxes. They are chipboard and a few years old so want to treat them with something before putting them into the loft. I have heard people talk about Jeyes fluid being used. Is this the best thing to use and if so will it not damage chipboard? Also if you use this gear, how long do you have to leave them before contact with the birds? cheers, pete

Finland is an amazing country but the booze is a real rip off. Your better taking a flask with you and mixing your own

I went to visit a local flyer the other week. He is an old boy 88 years old and is on a shoe string budget and has to sell the bulk of his yb's each year (for pennies) just to fund the corn etc. He doesn't win much but then to be fair the guy is 88 and not in great health. But his birds look immaculate and he said he has never had much in the way of sickness. The bird he sells the buyers have had decent wins (And come back each year so they can't be bad). He believes the reason is he doesn't have any incoming birds be it gift or bought in over 20 years so his birds are inbred as hell and bred from generations of birds that have not been treated and are hard as nails. I am not saying he is right or wrong or this is true or not. But I can see the logic from his argument and can testify his birds looked fantastic (in a loft most of us would say wasn't fit to race to).

Bad news Walter and hope it sorts itself out as no doubt them late breds are bred off the cream

That is great news that the little fella is out of ICU. Like you say it can take some time but progress at any speed is progress and that is all we can ask for. I had some drama with my little boy (newborn) earlier this year so really do feel for you mate. Keep us posted please and lets hope he is out before you know it.

Hi Guys, Whats everyone's opinion on training AM or PM? I know often it is dependent on what fits around work, life etc. But in an ideal world would you rather train AM or PM? Also, regarding PM training. How late it too late? What time would you say is too late to lib them?

Wow a GT-R! What a car.

Highflyers couriers are 2nd to none in my opinion. Their speed of delivery and communications are superb. www.http://highflyers-ukcouriers.co.uk highflyersukcouriers@hotmail.co.uk

A little misty here, visibility not terrible but not great. Hardly any wind about.

Great to see some more new starter/novices on here. Let's hope we can all get to compete in 2015 and see some good returns.

Hi Stuart, Sorry to hear about your troubles with your son. Thoughts are with you in this difficult time and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Best bet it to talk to the person building it. Any tradesman worth their salt will know roughly what you need in terms of timber. Timber is very expensive though, if you are buying new timber and paying someone to build it you might find the price isn't far off a budget pre built/bought loft. A lot of the manufacturers are buying timber in bulk and knocking them up in workshops and then just coming to the house and building them (almost flat pack) in a matter of hours.

Windows gone crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

I have his nestmate who I prefer to be honest. Good looking bird no doubt but I have too many cocks and not enough hens. Hope it can do somebody a good turn though.

Red Fox Janseen cock (yearling). No pedigree but bred from good lines. Will swap for two bags of corn or something similar. Maybe drinkers or feeders, books. Anything of interest. Drop me PM.

Done it again. Took out Pelle from Southampton to put in Jovetic from City. Jovetic didnt score and Pelle did haha.

Smashing little dog. Good on ya Archie

Good luck this week lads.

Nice thing to do, the kids will never forget. Good effort and gesture. Hats off to you mate.

Wow Emily you are fantastic. Well done on your efforts to help the little feathered friend out. The world needs more people like yourself