MsPigeon

Right On Silverwings!!!! ;D

Yes, it is nice that there is something for everyone. But, darn, I spent yesterday taking pictures of my unraced yb's. Oh well, it was good practice. I got this camera last April and never used it much till now. This is fun! Thanks Webmaster Carol

No speedbird, IU do not race across the channel, I live in the USA. We do not as yet have any rules requiring us to vaccinate birds in order to race. But many fanciers do. I have not vaccinated in the past but was concidering it. Thus I wanted to get some more opinions from all of you. Carol

I agree with others that garlic is cheap and they probably do a better job at picking, and drying at the proper time for those nice ,easy to peel, pretty white cloves. I especially like the garlic braids. But it is easy to grow too, I just planted some for next year. It does better if it feels the seasons, has a cold spell, but don't let it freeze. It likes well drained fertile soil. This is just a guess symbro, but I think it is similar to daffidals. I think you could plant it and if left to go it would spread, especially with cultivation to break up and spread the cloves, like naturalizing flower bulbs. If they were deep enough that it did not freeze you could probably dig some up year around to use fresh (not dryed). But if you have a plot of weeds, you will still have a plot of weeds all around the garlics, and it will probably be more work than mowing. Carol

I have used DE, not the type with pyrethrins, the food grade type from our local health food store. Maybe it's the time of year, the damp air, but I have not found that it caused a dust after the initial mixing in the feed barrel or application to the loft floor. As Bill B pointed out it is like microscopic shards of glass to parasites and not good to breath. :X But if I was going to worry about everything microscopic that I breath in the air, I might as well stop breathing. ;D LOL It is a natural product and as Bruno suggested with the grit, this is something that wild birds and pigeons could find and pick at in the wild to naturally worm themselves. It should be used with caution, you don't want to kill good insects like honey bees and you should avoid inhaleing it. Carol

Treat them NOW! There is a variety of safe and effective wormers, ask your vet for a recomendation. Carol

Good Luck Everyone, Oh..... This is FUN! I can sure appreciate what those pigeon photographers go thru to get pigeons to pose and get the picture snapped. I don't know how it went for the rest of you but I found that what I considered a more showy bird (I'm very inexperienced at showing) did not necessarily look the best in a picture. I soon started just trying all sorts of them to get a photogenic one. Yours in the sport. Carol

Well, I am starting by putting it in the feed in my feed barrels, not just the pigeon feed but also the chicken feed and goat grain, and canary seeds, as specified on: http:www.healthypigeons.com/D-EarthPage.html as this will protect the feed from getting bugs as well. But this web site tells about its many uses for plants and animals: http://www.dirtworks.net/DiatomaceousEarth.html I don't know that one would be able to tell much about how it works on animals for some time. But I did have a jar of hemp seeds for my canaries that had worms growing in it. I added a little of the D-Earth and I just checked and there are no more live worms. Carol

Has anyone used diatomaceous earth for lice and other parasites? I looked it up on the web and read about it's many uses. I bought some at the health food store and decided to give it a try. Any recomendations? Carol

I agree, I would leave the cocks in the nest box pen so they can stake claim to their nest boxes. The hens won't build nests till you put them back together and they mate up any way. Put the hens in the other pen where they will also get exercise. That's what I would do anyway. Carol

Hi Bruno, I thank you for all your informative and fact based posts, it is appreciated. I'm sorry but I don't have time to persue this ivomec debate or write the manufacturer. There are many products made for one thing and safely used for another, but no manufacturer is going to open themselves up for a lawsuit by telling you it is ok. My vets advice is good enough for me. It works for me. Respectfully Carol

Has anyone used diatomaceous earth for lice and other parasites? I know I read about it's use somewhere. I ran across it at the health food store and decided to give it a try. Any recomendations? Carol

Happy Birthday Speckled! Hope you get pampered. Kick up your heals and have fun. Carol

Thanks Jimmy, I plan on trying the milk this year. Silverwings what is the clay blocks for? never heard of them. Carol

Good point Mike, I have heard that aspect mentioned before. Not having the YB's to feed any longer than necessary. I guess I prefer the earlier rearing (Nov/Dec) because there is not much else going on then. But if I reared for YB's in the garden in April as you say I would be busy training OB's and preparing for the OB race season at that time of year. I am the race secretary, so there is much to do with band lists and assigning electronic bands and such. And as for BirdBrain, he is just trying to get a rise from us ladies. He can't really be that much of an idiot to think otherwise. From the sounds of his other posts he is a kid and flys with his Dad, maybe his comments reflect what he has heard from his Dad. Carol

Thanks Linda, Is it painted a color inside? Is light or dark interior better? Carol

A couple TBLS in how much water jimmy? what size drinker? I think it's a great idea, I use it when making my soft canary food so why not pigeons. Good idea. Carol

Any suggestions on how to get a good picture? Do you pose them somehow or put them in a box to take their picture? Carol

What a great idea Linda. I think it would be wonderful for promoting the sport. I wanted to use your idea of a day at the races at the SWWCounty fair, but we didn't get a loft going and birds in it soon enough. But one like this, on a trailer would be great, as you said, for parades and such too. Carol

Hi Rick, I bet is nice to have critters and birds again, I would be lost without them and I'm sure I would always keep pigeons even if I couldn't race them. Maybe you can send some to one loft races, like the WA State race. The Rainier Club is hosting it this year, in Tacoma area. And Yes, training isn't cheap with the gas prices as they are. I don't know about others but we purchased an old Geo Metro, 50+ miles to a gallon. We can carry about 3-4 crates of birds now but plan to try to do some remodeling so it can carry more. Carol

Thank you so much for your opinions, I have not vaccinated routinly myself. I did once for paratyphoid and pox the first year I started, over 15 years ago. But then I stoped because no one else did and did'n't seem to need to. I thought then that my YB's didn't feel well for a week or so after, didn't want to fly much. I been reading a book written by a pigeon flying vet and was contimplating vaccinateing again. But from what I'm hearing it sounds like there is really no need, especially since I have a healthy flock and haven't had problems with any of these diseases. Please keep your opinions coming. Given the choice, would you vaccinate? Carol

Hi ghost007, Glad to hear your birds are better. And sounds like you have a more than adequit loft for the number of birds. Don't get discouraged, it just takes time to recognize and ward problems in the loft and birds off before they do damage. You are paying attention, seaking help, and doing something, not ignoring problems, and thats very important in the begining. I live in Washington state too, south of Seattle, near Aberdeen. Are you in the AU Beginner program. I know Linda of Redrose Lofts is in charge of it, I have been a mentor in the program myself. Do you belong to a club in Spokane? I attended the WA State Race this year in Yakima. Where you there? Yours in the Sport. Carol

Thank You. That is very interesting guys. So far, at least where I live, they have not forced any vacinnating in the USA. If you had a choice would you still vacinnate? No one vaccinates for parityphoid or pox? Silverwings, have you noticed any side effects to the PMV vaccine? Carol

Just curious ghost007, where do you live? And tell us more about your loft design.

Hi Bruno and others, I mean no disrespect and I in no way want to debate the issue of using Ivomec for pigeons or any other animals. But I think it is safe to say that if you want to find information on an issue that reflects your point of view it is very easy to do so. Especially with the WWW. I could post anothers pigeon vets opposing views on the matter, but I won't. I just want to say, like Jimmy White, I tried it, I've compared it, and it has safely and effectivly worked for me. But I would not want any fellow pigeon fancier to use it on my say so. So better do what Bruno says! Carol