PigeonTracker

Thanks Blaz, I just think that its going to take more than just us though to survive in the serious season and I can't for the life of me let people down which is why I'm working on getting a stronger system in place, I'd rather get out of the game than let you down Blaz and that comes from the heart mate.

I was only going by their website terms and conditions and it was probably the way I read it which loooking at it the second time I can see how I probaby got it wrong, sorry, was trying to help not hinder as SPDS even though a dirty goods carrier are from what I've been told an excellent service in Scotland and been dealing with pigeon delivery up to the nether regions for a long time? http://www.spds.co.uk/COC.pdf Its in a pdf file so if you don't have access to adobe I've cut and pasted where I got it from. http://www.spds.co.uk/COC.pdf Also if as you say you can also pay on reciept then that's even better. I'm going to throw a few questions their way just to see if there is any distance in the idea behind using them and report back. Sorry again for reading it wrong will find out from them by asking.

Sorry I missed this one, good post, and well thought out. SPDS are a good company but as most of us know its the person on the other end who pays for the delivery, or at least in my experience it is and its one of SPDS terms that you pay up front so this is another hurdle to overcome. Great input though, shows we're all starting to sing the same tune now and even though we're not quite the choir we're getting somewhere with the good ideas. Keep them coming I say.

Remember one doing 18 birds for you Darren, that wasn't unusual at that time of year. The average pickup from experience, although it can be different is say 4 - 6 birds each go, that's taken it down to 10 - 15 drops or in real money £250 to £325 per run, take the cost of fuel, wear and tear and insurance and your not left with much if anything depending on distance. Stray season is definately different as you can get lots more single pickups and then I think your totally spot on bigda, its then that those who aren't afraid of graft could see a healthy living even if for just the season.

Touche'

you got me ;D ;D was touting for business and proud of ours. Nothing like an unashamed plug on a product is there, besides your water/feeder cups would go a treat as an extra add on, then they'd need the corn to put in them and so on... See, thinking of you without even showing it.

Not for boxes it aint' you want to buy some from me. ;D ;D Love your site by the way, very clean and professional just like your shop, credit to you.

Its not a load of crap its fact, you try and get 60 birds going in one direction as opposed to all over the country in a zig zag which soon eats away at what seems to be a healthy profit. Not sure on the last bit of your post though Darren, what's it supposed to mean?

There is literature on this somewhere, I'll dig it out for you if I can. The main reason modern strains are becoming smaller is the genetic mutation caused by cross breeding to the nth degree. Just like the stupid looking skinny dogs that win crufts, they were once sheepdogs weighing say 16 Kilos, now they are hairless and wiegh half what the original breed did. OldYellow is correct with the size doesn't always matter theory, although more often than not a lighter strain will win over distance than a heavier bird and vice verca. The heavy bird is laden with heavy deep 'fast twich' muscles which give them the power of speed, just like a human sprinter, most times you'll see them built like houses, but then the odd one like the one who won this years olympics will come along with not much wieght to him and he went and won with ease. Its all down to personal preference and breeding nothing more, and it really is case of size doesn't matter here, for a change. Apologies to those who may own stupid looking skinny dogs, just my opinion on that one, they probably look lovely to you.

Was one of the answers I was waiting for. Done this with Peter from Southern Pigeon Couriers who are to me one of the best out there, met up with him in dorchester for example and he'd then take them the next step where I couldn't touch but he could. It is definately got plus points Roland and the only thing I suspect will prevent this from happening is the fact it cost so much to transport the birds from each point. The Royal mail can do this easily because they carry literally hundreds of individual consignments per carraige, same with any dirty goods courier, lots of small amounts add up to a lot. With pigeons you are seriously limited to how many you could safely fit on a van at any given time thus reducing the income per van.. :-/

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/heat/index.htm might help. Nothing about pigeons but reference to animals having plenty of access to water / electrolytes The relevant information I found seemed to be this.... One of the reasons I got the carrying boxes manufactured with resealable flaps (page 103 of the British Homing World) so you can water the birds very easily during transport in hot weather, not that we ever have any! (10 mins in service station putting water cups on for example) or you could even leave them on during transport and you can't be accused of not looking after the birds. I suspect Defra are going to come down hard on transport of birds soon, don't know why they haven't before, looks like they don't treat pigeons as worthy enough for thought as the fancy do? :-/

Whatever. ;D

Whatever. ;D

346 views 18 votes. Perhaps I'll ask the question a month down the line when we see what state of affairs the courier system is in then, perhaps then we'll all recognise the gravity of the problem as I do. :-/ Will shut up now as its none of my business according to the main man on here, god help us all is what I say.

Who's all us? Nothing more nasty than threatening to ruin a courier financially so lets not go there okay. I asked a simple question to which couriers you suggested were not interested as you'd implied, nothing more nothing less. :-/

As a courier of course its my business, perhaps such a rude response wasn't necessary here? :-/

Which ones are they then Chris?

Then all you have to do is vote that way. I agree with your concerns for what its worth but don't agree with your sceptisism regarding fair play. Sure it would be easy to cherry pick, that's what's happening now but in a disorganised way which is not beneficial to the customer. Just seeking to bring a bit of organisation to the chaos otherwise one thing is for certain, the courier system is as it stands ready for self destruction.

Good point and it goes without saying that it would be done by the ones with the most resources and ALL couriers treated equally. There can be no room for favouritism when it comes to getting the birds out, they will be passed to the most suitable courier for the job in hand. To have an absolutely independant operation to take control of the calls, etc would mean a huge expense which would ultimately have to be passed on to the customer and if that is what the fancier wants then that is what they'll have to pay for.

Every courier out there at the moment are having to turn down work because they either can't deliver to that area for lack of numbers to make it cost effective or other logistical reasons, this often means that the customer has to phone several couriers struggling to find a suitable courier. With squeaker season fast approaching and then strays, I've posted two questions that I'd be grateful if you'd answer as there can be no better advice offered than from the customer themselves. To better explain the questions here is my thoughts. A central hub, call-center, forum and more where customers can interact and post with the sole purpose of getting a delivery satisfied. Only couriers who are fanciers and have the birds at heart would be involved in the network. or Would you all prefer to simply pick your own favourite courier regardless of whether they can do the delivery or not and then go find someone else if they can't do it. Please remember that the network is not compulsory and you'll always be able to use the courier of your choice, the idea is to put the network in place just in case your courier can't do the order. There is no real need to reply to the post please simply vote for either question.

I said it from the start Debbie, and I'll say it again, through the coming season and many seasons to come Pigeon Tracker WILL be here to help. Be well and look after the kids.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Good point and something that most couriers would prefer to be using as well, the only problem is the 3% plus cut that paypal want for every purchase which adds up.

Thanks for the assistance Darren, great work. Sadly they do airport runs on certain days which rules them out for this job but at least we know exaclty where we stand with them. Next on the list.....

You will, I will, you won't.