Peckedhen

If you are not using nest felts, a handful of Easibed, in the nest bowl, stops the eggs/babies resting on the bottom of the bowl and keeps them warmer. I use straw/hay to make up the nest and throw cut up tobacco stalks on the loft floor, for the birds to finish their nests off. This encourages them to fly up and down for exercise and reinforces finding their own nest bowl before the eggs are laid.

I prefer an old 2.5 litre paint tin in the corner of the nest box. It gives the hen a little extra height and the cock can't get up on it.

I have just paired the birds and am taking orders for the YBs so, first come first served! Sue

I haven't raced these birds but some of their parents have raced from Barcelona. I have trained them out to 50 miles with no problem. They will be rung. Sue

Thanks chickadee, 883girl and Ted. Redfoxkrauths - too much interest at the moment.

I have decided to fly only my old birds this year and, therefore, am taking orders for young birds, pure white Logans. These are class birds and you will not be disappointed. £25 per bird, buyer to pay Amtrak. I am in NE Lancs, near Burnley and am happy for birds to be collected. Photo of parents of birds, I'll post a photo of the youngsters when they are ready.

My first hen laid right into my hand....she was panting so, I picked her up thinking that she was ill and not realising what was going on!! : The egg was warm but not especially soft. I put it in the nest and, when she laid the second egg, she sat on them with no problem.

Two calcium tablets, one in the morning and one at night.

No chance! There's not even one for having kids of your own let alone pigeons.

I think that it will be hard to decide the parentage from the babies. Could you get into the loft early morning and see whether the hens (which should be on the nests at this time) are Logans and repeat early afternoon when the cocks should be sitting. If you have Logans on the nest each time then babies should, in theory (but not always), be Logans! Not entirely accurate but might give you some idea. another thought - start to train out the YB - you'll soon find if they can home or not!! Sue

My garden fantail/homer couldn't find their way back from the end of the street! : Tumblers can't home but, I'm not sure if a cross could be trained or not. How far along are these eggs? Why not pull them now and start breeding what you need. Do you have just one loft? Is there any way of dividing it so that you can control who breeds with who? That way you can breed best cock to best hen and improve the quality of your birds. Although they don't have to be fast for 'dove' releases they do need to be reliable. I would try to keep your Logans separate from the others. The dummy eggs work by you replacing laid eggs with plastic ones. The birds will sit on them till they realise that they're not going to hatch roughly 18 - 22 days then, they lay again and you swap for dummy eggs again. Sue

Poor dog. They could try Dalmation Welfare, they will help to re-home her to a suitable home. British Dalmatian Club Welfare Co-ordinator, Tel: 07905 495084 Email: british.dalmatian.club.welfare@dial.pipex.com Dalmatian Club of Scotland Rescue Mr A Kerr, Newport, Fife. Tel: 01382 330010 North of England Dalmatian Club Welfare Service Co-ordinator John Terry, Scotton, Lincs. Tel: 07941 861654 Fax: 01724 761981 Email: johnrfterry@aol.com

I've used Easi-bed for two years with no problems. The droppings turn to powder but, any piles under perches, I remove weekly. However, with the recent weather, my loft has developed two damp corners and guess where the birds have decided to make their nests? (Does anyone have a totally dry loft in this weather? :-/)

Lovely babies. Made me quite broody - I'm gonna pair up soon now, after seeing those!!

Right, I see what you mean. Thanks. Sue

Three years ago and loving them!! I started with a dovecote in the garden then realised that I needed a loft if I wanted to control the birds. My first loft lasted about three months before I realised it was too small, I got a larger one but really could do with another now!! :

Congrats Kelly Tom and thanks to Stuart for making it possible.

Yes please.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll definitely give the Logans coal dust. It sounds like the benefits outweigh them getting a bit grubby!! ;D

Does anyone give their pigeons coal dust? I was sweeping out the coal bin and the fantails came down and seem to love the stuff. I guess it's full of minerals though they do have the clay mineral blocks too. I was wondering whether to start giving it to my Logans but I don't want their white feathers dirtying!! ;D

Owner collected bird. Thanks again Rose.

Owner contacted. Thanks.

I use either 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar to one gallon of water or one chopped up clove of garlic to one gallon. I give them plain water two days in between.

Thanks Rose. :K)

GB 07 R 20427 Any clues please?