Jillus

Hi, after a disastrous winter( bloody hawk) I have been left with just one very lonely white dovecote dove. A male .Does anyone in a Fife have any birds that they want to rehome to come and live with Only the Lonely. Had to give up work due to ill health so can't afford to spend lots would be happy to donate to charity. Jill

I reported Yesterday's and I have reported today's kill.

Just got back from a quick trip to town and was gutted to find this in the garden, at this rate there are not going to be any left to catch even if I can catch them. Enough is enough.

Thanks for the pm Harry. I can see why you are all so mad about the situation, it is intolerable. And any right minded person should see that. I just wish I didn't feel so helpless . Thanks for all the encouragement, just need to wAit and see what happens next.

Sad times for me, I have been a happy backyard Dovecote doo keeper for four years now but after a disastrous winter am just about set to call it a day. Since November have had 18 of my doos taken by a sparrowhawk. Nothing deters him/her. I have no loft to keep them safe,they lived happily in all weathers in the doocots, I just enjoyed them for what they were, a fabulous sight on a cold clear day and great to watch them doing what they do best. In a vain attempt to keep some safe I have just caught two and have them in a large covered box and run and am hoping I might be able to get some more of them to keep safe until the end of April. Who knows I might be able to get some to breed when they are out again if they last but knowing my luck I have just been left with a bunch of males! Cant really afford to restock if I am only restocking to feed the hawk. I had always lost a few to the hawk each year which I guess was par for the course but this last winter has been horrendous, four in the last two weeks. My heart bleeds for you guys who have lofts full of valuable birds and who still get attacks. When Winterwatch was on TV and they did a piece about Sparrowhawks I sent them pictures of my slaughtered birds but they never used them! Thanks for all the help I have had since I started, the forum is full of great advice and tips for a newbie like me and very special thanks to Harry .

Just to say bird died this morning, no idea what was wrong with it. At least the stoat or sparrowhawk never got him.

After hearing from Harry not sure he is a Dutch Cropper after all might try and post a photo tomorrow.

Thanks for that Harry.

A few days ago a stray bird arrived to join my garden fantails ( dovecote) doves. No rings or wing markings, not an expert but he looks like a Dutch Cropper. White and pale orange. Unable to fly very far, got him in a cage and feeding and rehydrating. Any ideas. Location near Balmullo Fife. Very friendly and placid.

Thanks for that!

By St Andrews

I am in Fife

Hi, Can anyone tell me if I can buy corn mixtures/dove food for my fan tails from any supplier in Scotland. Currently I buy from the internet but the delivery charges are very expensive. Thanks.

Just wanted to post this to thank Harry for all his help in the past and especially yesterday when he showed me how to treat an injury and to stitch up my wee baby doos injury. He was like the cavalry riding in with his bottle of iodine and wise words. Harry is a real ambassador for the Pigeon Racing Fraternity and despite me just keeping a few dovecote doves he has always answered all my silly questions and been a font of knowledge. Thanks too for all the good bits of info on the forum, to anyone new to the hobby ( Did I say hobby? it is taking over my life and my garden), never be afraid to ask!

My son took these pictures a couple of hours ago just near my house. The bird was huge and in it's talons had a pigeon with an orange ring, not one of mine. Is this a buzzard and would it have taken the pigeon as carrion or would he have caught it?

Can someone explain to a new girl why we are going to be fairly safe from the hawk until the end of September please. I am fairly new to the game and have my birds in a dovecote, I lost two to the hawk last year and yesterday saw another attack attempt that failed, the doo came home after about an hour none the worse for her encounter.

Thanks for all the suggestions, huge owl bought on eBay yesterday and delivered today less than 24 hours later, amazing. Garden now covered in hanging Cd's and I spend my life hovering around the window ready to yell at the hawk. My lovely husband is spending his day off building some winter quarters which may even be ready tonight. Thanks of the offer of the homing cage but I think the new mini Hilton may be ready very soon!

This might sound a silly question but if they are in a large shed or a homing cage affair they would be unable to fly other than flap a bit, would that be OK, I think I have just about managed to persuade my husband to built a winter refuge this weekend but am worried about the loss of liberty after they have enjoyed flying free since I got them back in June ........though probably better than the loss of them totally.

Trouble is with the dove cote, there is no way I could catch them to put them in a shed even if I had one. I do have a dove sitting on eggs in the cote so could trap her I suppose if I had somewhere to put her. I don't suppose any eggs will hatch this late anyway will they? This is the second lot, the chicks died in the first eggs when nearly ready to hatch, that was two weeks ago. Is it usual for them to lay so late when it is so cold. Sorry for all the questions

No, no shotgun but the bird is so fast I doubt it would ever stay still long enough anyway, I did once see it perching in a tree 6 feet from the cote but only had my voice to scare it away!

I am a new member and don't even know if I am posting on the right forum! I don't have racing pigeons I just have two lovely white garden fantails who live in a beautiful dovecote on my garden so please don't shoot me down if I am breaching etiquette or anything. I had four fantails but over the past month two have been taken and today I saw the culprit as a sparrowhawk grabbed one in front of the window, luckily I sprinted to the door and was able to cause enough commotion to get it to drop my lovely Lily. However I guess it will be back. Is there anything at all I can do or am I destined to lose my last two as well. Many thanks in advance for any advice.