Peckedhen

I rarely loose birds but, one that I did loose was reported by a non-fancier - it had a ring with my phone number on. It was also wing stamped but, many non-fanciers don't know to look at the wings - I certainly didn't, heck, I didn't even know how to open a wing. :B

The thread needs to run longer to get many more opinions. It's annoying that people don't make a donation, I didn't know that! Especially annoying if these people advertise frequently. > I do know that a member has to make 10 posts before they can advertise, to stop guys coming on simply to sell their birds without contributing anything to the forum. On Pigeon Chat you have to pay £25 up front - that sorts out those who don't have a conscience.

Personally, I think that the advertiser should pay for the privilege of advertising their birds. I don't see why the buyer should have to pay. :

OK, I'm not racing but, I train them out to all four points of the compass and then single them up with a ten minute gap between each one - sorts the sheep out from the goats and makes them think for themselves!!

Hi Jason, Good to see you're still around - miss your posting the lib times for Border Amal though!! Sue

Well, I'll tell you what I did, I too knew nothing about pigeons. First I read as many books as I could find on keeping pigeons, next I looked for a loft and stopped and asked the owner if he could give me some advice. I think that most fanciers are only too pleased to tell genuine people all about the hobby. Not only did I make a new friend that day, I also found a mentor who has generously given his time and shared his knowledge to help me get going with pigeons. He found some good birds for me to buy in British Homing World (the fanciers weekly paper), helped me to build and equip a loft, breed the birds and then taught me how to train the birds to home. Good luck.

They quoted me £30 for the first four birds then £2.50 per bird after that. Goodness knows where the odd one pence comes from!! :

Looks super. Shame the birds will mess it all up!! ;D ;D ;D

I wonder why they've lost so much weight? Mine do slim down some when they are feeding youngsters but not dramatically. Do you have food in front of them all the time? :-/

Yep, just scroll down the forum page, it's right there!

I'd like to add Rich to the list as a sound buyer

;D ;D ;D

Hapyy Birthday Clockie.

I'll second that, my fantails are far tamer than my racers yet as they are free flying, from a dovecote, I spend far less time with them.

NE Lancs update Still grey cloud but higher and visibility much improved.

NE Lancs. Low grey cloud Moderate NE wind. Dry.

Eeuk! Yes, it was dead in shell. The shell looked even worse today so I decided to remove it, as there was still no sign of chipping. The baby was quite well developed but, judging by the smell, had been dead a few days!

Really sorry to hear this. :( Maybe he can join the forum when he's home and keep in touch with racing and chat/advise members on here?

Thanks Karl - just rung a friend who has just said the same thing!

ROFLMAO ;D ;D

My garden fantails tend to sit the first egg so that it hatches a couple of days before the second. Today the first hatched but the second egg looks odd, I can only describe it as having dark, bruise like patches on it with no signs of chipping. It looked fine yesterday - any ideas?? :-/

Count 18 days from when the second egg is laid for hatch date.

If you hold the egg up to the light soon after it's laid (ie two or three days) and note how the light shines through the egg. As Shadow says, after six days or so you can see red veins developing and, a few days after that, the egg looks full - the light no longer shines through it - it's sort of dull. Do be very careful when you hold up the egg as it's very easy to drop it when you have it between finger and thumb. (says she from experience!! :) When you take the eggs from the hen, put your hand in palm down to protect them, as she may well peck or wing slap as you do it...same putting them back under her.

llcoolj ordered 4 birds but depite several reminders didn't pay. He repeatedly said he wanted them but, still hadn't paid the night before Amtrak were to collect. He then said he couldn't pay as his wife was in labour and he was at the hospital - yet he had logged onto PB at midnight!! Time waster ???

Go on this site under 'member exchange' and PM Cyro51. She has rehabbed many woodies and will be your best bet. They are not like pigeons and are very easily stressed. They fledge at a later age so it may be that the one you have isn't self feeding yet. http://www.pigeon-life.net/