Mike Lycett

When the ordinary fancier who can't afford it is at a disadvantage then its hardly an appetiser to stay in the sport is it? Personally, I could afford it, but I don' want it. If our nearest rivals had it & started beating me, purely on the trapping system then of course i'd have to ask myself whether we needed to install it. The majority don't want it though - show me ANY RPRA based fact to prove otherwise. We know that for a fact. Hell, its hard enough trying to get of some of the old Toulets without thinking of ETS !!!!

Word on Monday from the RPRA is that there is NO FRENCH RACING. Peter Bryant got meeting with DEFRA tomorrow Don't get thinking of Belgium either - cos that looks just an unlikely

Think the Sport has enough problems don't you without shoving something our necks that the MAJORITY of RPRA fanciers don;t want.

Hopefully it'll never be brought in by the RPRA >

Turbo Pigeon Corns ran by Bill, Sheila & Mark Palmer. Hamstead area I think? Goff Lycett will tell ya more 01543-262400 (no relation) !!

Might not be approved, but its good all the same. As for the subject having a good airing, i've no problems with that at all. I'm just speaking from 35 years experience. Mike

Bruno In the Midlands we've used Aqua-Guard from Brian Wall before. Water-sanitiser & the birds take it on board regularly. Worth investigating? Mike

Rose Yes, I'd love transporters to carry it - but they don;t. Our drinkers are sterilised every week on a Friday night/saturday morning. Mike

Bruno Its the cross contamination that we have to guard against surely? That's precisely why we treat 2-3 times during a racing season. Unhealthy pigeons drinking out of the same drinking troughs cause problems Mike

Bruno I'd guess that at least 355 days of the year its nothing but clear water in our drinkers. We treat for worms once a year, cocci once a year, & canker when we see fit. No bird on our garden has ever been treated for respiratory & our performances suggest that something isn't too far adrift. We would treat for canker twice a racing season normally with OB's. Simple motto that's applied with crop canker is "prevention is better than cure". In 2005 our average entry was NINE pigeons with OB's. YBs - dunno, but I'd guess it to be about 12-15. We won 16 x 1st & about the same in 2nd's and 3rd's and currently have the Reigning Sprint Champion of the West Midlands in our lofts. I'm happy with how we look after our birds. It suits us, & it suits our birds. May not be your cup of tea, but that's fine by me Mike

Tell you something Bruno, there's nowt wrong with our birds. They are available for any form of inspection any day. Saturday afternoons are best

Very impressed Darran. Well done Mike

The Gerard & Michael Van Hee were imported bu Louella in the early-mid 1970's. Such lines as "Motta" and "Patrick" etc. Dad had 'em in 1975 & they were, and remain a superb 500 mile pigeon. No way can they possibly be construed as a sprinter.

Speight There aint no way on this earth that you can ever classify Van Hee as a sprinter. No way.

I'l vote for the Verkerks thanks for outright sprinting. Gaby's for the middle. ;D ;D

Speight As much tap water as I can get in the drinker & as often as possible too!

Ray Yes, the weather is the likely cause. If you think you're gonna be in the sport, then either "Fit to Win" or that book of Dr Colin Walker's are my idea of the best health books that you could buy. Be careful though, you can sometimes read toooooooooo much. Mike

Hi.. Sorry to hear about that. Chances are if she hasn't been at your loft all thatlong she won't hang around there. You've two options really. 1. You can let the cock rear the babies on his own. He'll do it. 2nd option - and prefered option is to float the baby under a pair of feeders. Maybe there's one in a nest or something somewhere else? If its within 2 days either side of the age of the babies then the parents ought to take to it without too many issues Mike

Was that Hardaker & Sykes ???? Didn't get to them, I was talking to Richard Donnelly

Probably a little bit of both Rose !

Rose Until the French definiely say "non" to the UK there's always a chance.. My post above was in relation to the Belgians. The MCC are already looking at other things.

We were at the RPRA Gala Award thing at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom First time we've been and it was good. Some superb "crack" with some great fliers. Well recommend it Mike

Our birds get treated for canker in the racing season 2-3 times. About every 4 weeks roughly. What's the big deal? Canker's the easiest single thing that'll knock your birds off form. Handling, looking aint no good. Canker lives & breeds in the crop. You gotta tackle it. Use a different base every cycle (i.e carnidazole, metronidazole, etc....) to improve effectiveness Boing Boing Mike

The first one is Gareth Gates - Worcester Fed Bird of The Year (30+ clubs) and West Midlands Region Award winner - over 5,000 members. Winner of 1st 5129, 3rd 5663 birds, 4th 4650 birds etc.... Assassin had 9 races & won approx £2000.00. 1st Staffs Moorlands Gold Ring, 2 x MNFC races and in top 25 OPen of both. Put him to Stock as a yearling and now probably No.1 breeder

Well.... Its from a very reputable source Rose - one that would certainly know Mike