cheltenhamfancier

Alvarado, is a good e/w shot at 20/1

Treating cocci/canker etc with antimicrobials should not interfere with the PMV vaccination and its stimulation of the pigeons immunity, Anti biotics (if thats what you intend to use) can take their toll on metabolic processes as they can sometimes do when we take them, but certainly wont interfere with the immune system's capability to respond to vaccination. So it shouldnt be a problem, but if theyre not showing any symptoms I wouldn't go ahead and blanket treat them just yet.

Exactly, thats the beauty of pigeon racing, you can become jockey, trainer, owner breeder, and thereby enjoy all the satisfaction that goes with that, you cant get that same satisfaction with horse racing

Grew up with my brothers keeping pigeons as a kid, Been working as racehorse vet for some time now, and the pigeon bug has been reignited by a recent visit to the blackpool show, in the process of constructing a loft, on the lookout for some youngbirds right now, fascinating sport, racehorses of the sky!!!

Thanks guys, Yea I figured it wouldnt be feasible but always good to ask you guys, Ive just finished putting my loft together, and hopefully picking up the birds next weekend, problem is I leave for work at 6am most days, and not back til 6pm usually, so I guess ill have to start on a Sat, while I have time to be around when I release them first, after that it will have to be morning or evening, What would be your preferences? letting them out in morning or waiting until the evening, as its begining to be still some daylight at 6pm now? Kevin

Hey guys, I wonder can someone advise me, Is it possible to manage your young birds, by just realeasing at weekends, and maybe once in mid week? just trying to work out the logistics around my day job?

Hi Guys, Just in the procss of making my first loft, Im using a 4x6 garden shed, which just arrived today, and now I need to construct a sputnik of some sort, would be grateful if anyone knows anyone who is handy at making them, or any design I could try myself, Regards Kevin

Thanks everyone for the contributions, Im going to go with a 6x4 shed, for 6 birds, keeping it simple, ill hopefully get things started this weekend, also if anyone is near chelteneham direction with young birds for sale? Regards Kevin

Paul, that spretty impressive conversion, one of my constraints is space, but your designs look very neat, Im not so good re the DIY, but ill pm you at some point, many thanks,

Thanks guys, Yea RV woodcraft seem to have a loft of nice accessories in store, and thank you Dal, yea I was thinking of putting in a mesh door, with maybe the trap fixed on that somehow, in order to leave the windows intact to allow some light in, or does that matter much?

Hey Guys, So having recently been given the go ahead from my landlord to keep pigeons, am in the process of decidng on what to keep them in, I see some really nice purpose built 6 bird racing kit lofts on ebay, but all of them seem to be north England direction, so am leaning towards the idea of a 6x4 garden shed, those ones which come in a flat pack, and put it on some blocks to keep it off the ground? I guess the added benefit is ill be able to walk into them, bearing in mind im planning on starting with 6 young birds, so it should be plenty of room? Anyone got any thoughts tips, on what I should definitley not do, etc, I guess I would need to construct a new frame for the door way where I could put a trap, Any ideas tips all welcome, Kevin

Hi Do you know is Alex Wight still making small lofts? is he close to South west area? Regards

Thank you Paddymac, interesting point, re commercial racing kits, Duly noted

Thanks Andy, and everyone who has replied, Many more novice questions to follow no doubt, Thanks

Thanks guys, yea ive seen a pic of one of those on a previous post, looks ideal indeed, heres a stupid question for you guys, ? the 6 bird racing kits availlable through the commercial places such as louella etc, is that a 3 hen/3 cock group and are they genetically seperrated, ie could they be then mated the following year? or should i expect to lose the vast majority through birds of prey etcccc?