pigeonman007

Hi, One of my club mates has gifted me a Benzing Quartz Modell clock, brown case. Just wondering if anyone can give me some tips on checking this over. In particular, the case is wired together with a RPRA seal, can I take take the seal off, or is that for the club officials to do, as it looks as though the clock winds from the dial and I was going to try it on time keeping. Also the key that turns on the top, I am guessing this is used to stamp the thimbles after clocking in??

Thanks Jimmy. I really struggle with this term 'darkness' I thought that by pairing end of Dec, birds would be 6months old ish around end of June, and would have the moult finished, also thought I'd be able to take my birds out training etc from early April onwards making use of the lighter evenings after work.. I dont really want to go through a darkness procedure with them. If I dont darken them down what will the result be come racing time, birds missing loads of feathers?? If I didnt pair until say end of Feb, would the ybs still need darkness, and would they be competitive come the yb races?

Hi Jimmy, Interesting reading as this is my first season breeding / racing. I have been advised to pair up around xmas time. It is my intention to take just 1 round from the birds, this hopefully giving me 16ybs and have been offered ybs from local lads, plus my space is not to great. if I have my calculations right I should have weaned ybs around mid feb time, will these have to be darkened down (darkness) or can I keep them natural?

Excellent offer from Chucka. He sent me 2 pairs of birds of free birds when I first started with pigeons back in August. Both cracking looking pairs, 1 of the cocks has broken to my loft (others not tried yet) Anyone just starting up etc, in my opinion well worth considering these birds

Ordered from JSB a few times, always had very good service from them, (next day delivery usually) and good prices as well.

A yellow kirkpatrick hen I will be breeding from this year..

Got to agree, does seem a great idea to keep them in there and would simplyfy things for me. Is there enough room in there for them to mate? Same as Vallance, are they let out box by box at all?

Looking good. Just built myself a blok of 8 widowhood boxes, look like roughly the same size as yours. Do you keep them in there until eggs are laid, then allow them free access to the loft or are they just in there for a few days to form a pair bond?

Nice looking birds Are these distance birds or sprinters?

If I pair up on or around boxing day as I have been advised to do, would I then need to put my ybs on darkness for them to be ok for racing, why are they not trained during the darkness period

Hiya The loft is 12x6, I have divided it in two. one section has 30 box perches and the other section just has some plastic v perches at the moment. I was going to use the back wall of this section for breeding boxes and the side wall for v perches or box perches. Youngsters will be put in the other section away from the parents once they are weaned. If I have 3 tiers of breeding boxes on the back wall that gives me 2ft from the floor to the first level of breeding boxes

Hi, side of my loft is just under 6ft in length. I am wanting to build breeding boxes to go on this wall. I can get 9 in there which would be a size of 22"long x 15"wide x 16" tall. Would this be big enough for them. I envisage shutting each pair in the box for a couple of days each week during the lead up to pairing and hope this will help them bond but not sure the boxes are going to be bigh enough. Other way I can do it is have 6 on that wall, each one being about 32"long Ideas welcomed

Some nice looking busschaert on louella at the moment, what distance do these birds go to, what sort of chance would I have of getting fertile eggs from them as they are quite old 8/9/10years? Cheers

Might also be worth a look at http://sunriseaviculture.bestofbreeds.net/pricelist.htm

adtrader.co.uk often have bird adverts, might be worth a look also birdtrek.co.uk has lots of bird ads

These are some of the birds I will be breeding from this year. Cooreman White Grizzle Cock. Cooreman White Grizzle Hen Yellow K/Patrick Hen Chequer Cock Red Grizzle Cock? Polish Rung cock bird I was given, he is massive, like holding a chicken lol Not sure what breed or if he is a racer? Getting ready to have a little spar...

Thanks for the replies all. Will use it just as a cleaner for my drinkers. And it is very handy for shifting red wine from clothes as well lol

Hi Does anyone put Milton in their pigeons water and if so how much/how ofern.

Hi, Have sent you a msg. Cheers Craig

Where can I get the tromexin, cant find a link online. Cheers Craig

Thank you for the list Terry. Do any of those help with the young bird sickness or do I need to get something else for that

The coxoid has a few months left, the intradine is good for another 12months.

Hi all, Just looking for ideas of an idea of products it would be good to keep for maintenance and medication for my birds incase they are ever needed. I have Coxoid, Intradine & Garlic powder left other from my cage bird days, do any of these have any uses... Cheers Craig

He now has a few woodlice in his crop. Reminds me when I was handrearing a greenfinch with broken mealworms. will the woodlice make him yack up?

How do I empty the crop, is it just done by squeazing upwards. Have him in a box on his own and just checked droppings, they are normal