MsPigeon

Yes, I hope our schedules work out that I am able to bring my entry down Linda. I would love to meet you in person and see your place and lofts. But I thought if I couldn't maybe I would enter more birds for myself so as not to have to mail the one youngin all alone. But I see Bill's all color race it full.

I would most certainly let them go at their own pace. I like them to feel safe at home and don't like to chase them out or scare them into flight before they are going out an in on there own very well. Then I might encourage them to go out or keep them flying with a flag. Yours in the sport. Carol

It does get difficult Westy when you have different age birds to train. I usually put the youngest in a crate and set them outside to see around while the older young birds play a while. Like Rentenier said, make sure they are hungary so they will trap better. After they have traped I put the younger ones on the landing board with a settling cage. A setteling cage is just a removable cage that allows them to sit on the landing board in front of the closed bobs and figure out how to go in them. They can see the others inside eating and this helps. But sometimes I do have to push some through, some learn quicker than others. The setteling cage can just be made from chicken wire like Rentenier said or it can be a part of the flight pen. Yours in the sport. Carol

Okie Dokie... ;D Thank You ;D

What would that be Mike?? :-/

http://www.vydex.co.uk/Animal/shopping/Return.asp?oid=238 http://vitakingproducts.com/ http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/ http://www.globalpigeon.com/ https://www.jedds.com/index.asp http://www.siegelpigeons.com/ I have ordered from each of these places at one time or another with no complaints. Carol

right leg, upside down But there is that occasional goof up and it is rightside up. :-/ Or sometimes I have missed one or it dropped it's band and I had to try to band it too big. > In some cases I made the right foot swell and gave up and went to the left. :'( I have not done that this year though, not yet anyway! ;D

Yes, Thanks Danielle, we appreciate you keeping us posted. Let Craig know we miss him, are praying for him, and look forward to his return. He hasn't been kissing any sick birds has he???? : :X ;D

Don't forget your green! That is unless you want a little pinch. ;D

Team # 6 Carol Fitzpatrick Blue Moon Loft station: Lorane, OR - 204.457 miles

Is it coming soon Webmaster? ;D

Wow! thats amazing! Good to see you back Speight! Carol

My babies are beautiful this year. I am attributing it to the recommendation I got on here to use Purina pigeon pellets, green label, 50/50 with grain mix. I also use things in the water like garlic, multi vitamins and probiotics. I also got the tip here about using milk formula but I was using it in the water because what I have is canned. I was given several cases of outdated tube feeding formula from a hospital. I started out trying it and I don't know if it was the milk or the pellets, but I did see nice babies. I gave up the milk though because too much was getting wasted and you really needed to change it every day. But I did use it at weaning in the YB loft in the water and the babies seemed to prefer the milky water to the plain as they had a choice. And there has been no weaning set backs in the YB loft. Carol

I hope it does set things straight about pigeons. We do not have a problem with the public here as of yet. I was a little worried after the fact when I took my pigeons to school without getting permission first. But no one complained. But in our local paper they have on average a couple articles a week about the bird flu on the second or third page. Last night the article was accompanied by a lovely picture of a park full of white pigeons and a little girl and the article was about how they were going to be testing a lot more birds this year in order to be prepared for it coming with the migration from Alaska of migratory birds, nothing to do with pigeons. The article said nothing about pigeons in connection with bird flu, but it won't take the public long to put them together with pictures like that.

I was wondering why Speight had not posted lately. So sorry to hear he is ill. Tell him we miss him and to get well soon. If he doesn't get out maybe someone has a laptop he could borrow to use while he is in the hospitol. I bet that would help him while away the time there. Carol

All Great! suggestions, But I a can't see it happening. At least not unless it happened to be that their teacher was into the sport. Time is precious in the classroom because teachers are held accountable for so much, not just teaching the regular students but also the slow and handicapped and students that speak english as a second language, or not. The thing is the teacher would have to incorporate lessons and learning into the activity with pigeons and they won't take the time to do that unless they have an interest themselves. I obtained all the AU literature to promote pigeon projects in schools and presentd it to the NR school science teacher and there was just no interest. I am only a substitute teacher and substitutes are allowed some leaway with lesson plans especially when called in at the last minute and the regular teacher has not supplied any. So I take advantage when I can and share pigeons even if it is just a book about them.

Snowy, I just use 5 in 1 from Vita King. I use it before race and breeding season to knock the bugs out before they are under stress. It was most likely the stress of rearing that caused the flare up. If it is happening in breeding season it will probably happen under the stress of raceing as well. But since you know it is cocci I would look at that list that Speight posted some time ago with all the meds and dosages and percautions and side effects and all that. Chose the one thats best for your situation. Some are safe durring breeding season. Yours in the sport. Carol

Thanks for all your wonderful comments, I really have to admit I love to share the pigeons as much as they enjoy seeing them if not more. I always have fun shareing this wonderful hobby of ours and the wonders of the species. I'm here at NR school again today subbing. I am hopeing the students get their work done so they can have a look at Pigeon Basics. Whether they join the sport or not it is learning something about the world around them. yours in the sport. Carol

This depicts the students releasing the birds.