Valiant Fifer

Since youve got the choice between south or east i would choose south definately.

Sad and puts things into perspective.

Rip.

Forgot to say im talking about the first 5 flights as well. Maybe something not quite eight if its the laat couple of flights which is not realy the norm.

Yup seen and handled many good pigeons with fretmarks with the stress of winning a top race incl the National winners and the ones with the fretmarks are realy the ones i want Even though stressed theve got what it takes!

I agree dal, only show judges take notice of fretmarks. Personaly i dont condem a bird with a fretmark when its entered in a 500ml class. I wonder how many 500/600/700ml National winners are sittin in their lofts right now without a fretmark. What say you m8 ???

Seems i managed to get 2 post on the on subject oops sorry guys cant find the edit key at the min. Dunno how i managed it but my 2nd from last post is for another topic lol. Ive only had a few beers too lol!

Lol, thats exactly my point dal. Iv'e never had a good doo that hasnt at some point been stressed out. They always have fretmarks when you check them to see how they have completed the moult. You know what i mean dal, say ur first bird home from say Reims this year and even tho it was in with the early birds im sure it would have a fret mark on the flight it was growing at the time of the race. It would probably be on its 1st or 2nd flight and you would maybe look a wk or 2 wks after the race and guaranteed there would be a fret mark on that flight.

They fly to the western sahara. Not sure how long it takes them but something tells me its around 2 wks depending how many times they stop on the way with the weather etc. The quicker they get to mainland Europe the better, its a wee bit warmer in France and then they move on to Gibralta before leaving Europe heading over to Africa. They should catch a few flies on the way especially after leaving Britain. The thing that realy annoys me tho is after flying all that way there are guys waiting to catch them in nets. Seemingly they are a much soughy after delicasy. Its an absolute sin, doing that to thum after flying so far. A dam shame!!! Yet again another case of man destroying everything they touch!!!

Common sense m8. Dont worry the yb sickness is a temporary setback it wont stop them from being good doos in the end. Now that youve trained them out youll find that theyll be as good as in previous years. Just need to take yer time and dont put them all into first ob race nexy year. Spread them out over the first two or three races. At the end of the ylg or 2yo stage you might be surprised.

I think yer spot on del. Either fanciers are not observant enough or they just wont admit it. A lot think that their own craws are the whitest and nothing can possibly be wrong with thum. Worse than that some burry their head in the sand!

Prefer mature beans during the rearing time also during racing. During the moult and after the moult tho it may not be as important. Although Eddie Newcombe once said a bean was never meant to be old before eatin. He said it was meant to be eatin as new saying that their were more nutrients in them when still new. When u think of it other grains are best eatin before they get old before all the goodness goes out of them. However as most know beans carry a lot of moisture and some fanciers wont feed new beans prefering to wait til a yr old or sometimes 2 yr old before using. Personaly i belive depending on what bean they are (type) and where they came from has a lot to do with it. When they were gathered in how they were stored etc. I believe some pigeons cant handle new beans as they may be a little accidic or something to that effect hence the reason for some maturity. I have to say tho that its not that big a deal with plenty of minerals, clay blocks and grit it seems to nulify the effect if you get my drift.

Well its high time i and everyone else got some of these birds that dont get stressed out so we could do some more winning. For me pigeons do get stressed especially after a long hard race. Most of that is from the exertion they put in to get home. That also includes the winners who get home quicker and get food down them hrs and maybe even a day faster than some on the result! Yet they still fret. Frets are their scars of what rhwy went through. Also ive noticed ybs will get fret marks in the nest but single reared ones dont seem to get thum. Maybe because single reared have more supply of soft food.

Beautiful wee birds they are. Just love watchin thum. Still a few around here and i'll miss thum when they migrate. Hope every one of them make it there and return here next year! :emoticon-0157-sun: :emoticon-0157-sun:

Dont think ive ever used epsom salts but ive used bicarbonate of soda. Ive put in as much as 1 tablespoon to a 5 pint drinker and fill up to the top with water. I think it does them a bit of good they seem brighter and perked up after it. It was used by nurses years ago it was also used for cleaning out fridges and utensils etc.ive even heard it being mixed with tooth paste. I know ur not supposed to add it to accidic stiff like lemons or vinegar as it reacts like a mimi explosion lol. I know for a fact people have been using it down drains or sinks and add vinegar it helps remove blockages. Just a bit white powder it does a wide range of stuff. Some say amazing lol.

Someone gave me a tiny little jar recently and i used some for the first time in years. A little amount goes a long long way. Good stuff me thinks.

Na a wouldnt advise that m8, but you could try it in their water if ye like then post on here ur findings! Ps ru in a hurry to bring in new stock.

I wouldnt say i advocate it but ive had winners from this pairing. Then their offspring bred winners when crossed. This was only a few years ago. Many years ago a pair took together which were full brother x full sister. I wasnt fussed about the cock as he was younger and had time yet being a ylg. The hen was a good hen tho and as they were happy i left them together and was pleasantly surprised when one of the ybs they reared won a race. So a happy ending lol.

Realy like an aviary.When the birds have a bath no predators can get thum. Good for breaking birds to loft also.

Nope not a wind up peter, i shoulda said pigeons release heat from the feather shaft or vane as those parts are hollow. They are then conected to the pigeons blood flow hot or cold it varies depending on the birds temp when resting or flying. Suppose these parts are a bit like a car radiator which when used more it heats up then the thermostat kicks in and triggers the fan to come on. As u know peter pigeons regulate all this themselves via the air sacs but also the above which i mentioned. It will come into more effect with long hrs on the wing with our long distance doos hopefuly. Dont underestimate this.

Meant to say earlier pigeons also let some heat out through tiny minute holes in their feathers on the wing particularly during long hrs on the wing.

Yes you are correct wiley

Got too many like most lofts. They get an easy life compared to the race team. Not so bad if their retired racers thev'e earned their upkeep and valuable room in the loft.

Finaly had a look geo. Its no concern of mine as i'm not from that area, but very interesting all the same though. The two irish races their going to have will be something to keep an eye out for.