Peckedhen

Took this bird well on it's way home yesterday and released it. It arrived back at my loft today! : I'm getting quite attached to it - at least I can recognise it - unlike all my whites!!;D

I moved my loft by rolling it on several broom handles. The ground was very uneven but, once we got it moving it was fairly easy.

Thanks Ryan. You've help me make my decision. I've read a lot on here about lost YB not being reported. I think I'll think twice now...someone said chase them away.....not a bad idea maybe!!

Thanks guys. It's loft flying with my birds so I guess it would come back here if I release it too near. I can send it to within 15 miles of it's home with a friend but, what if it gets lost? I don't want to annoy the owner but, there again, if he were so concerned about the bird he'd have sent for it wouldn't he? :-/

A young bird trapped with mine two weeks ago. I contacted the owner (it was stamped) who told me it was from very valuable parents and he would see if he could find someone to collect it but, if he couldn't, I could keep it. I don't want to keep the bird, a fancier has checked it out and says that it nowhere compares to my own birds and he doesn't want it either. So, how much longer should I hang onto it? Would it be reasonable to take it for a ride in the direction of it's home and release it?

Yes, one of mine had Bumblefoot -an experienced rehabber confirmed it. It is apparently caused by friction initially. The foot was painful, inflamed and the pads on the toes very swollen, rather than the actual foot. It was treated with Baytril but I'm afraid I can't remember the dose. The bird made a full recovery, though the pads still look enlarged they are not sore or inflamed.

Ok, thanks for looking for me, I'll pass that on. Cheers.

Thanks, they've got the RPRA number but they won't be able to tell them till Monday - I was hoping someone would know the club secretary's number!

Picked up by non fancier in Manchester area GB07E32346 Can someone give me a contact number for this guy please?

Takes me back this. When I was a poor student me and a friend bought a mini traveller for the grand sum of £6 !! We then bought a secondhand engine for £4 and used a block and tackle over the garage doors to replace the old engine. That car lasted us another three years Good value for money huh? ;D

There are plenty of hen and duck eggs on eBay but never racing pigeon! I wonder if there's a good reason? There surely must be a market for eggs from top birds? :-/

I've got Logans. A friend took a couple of YB to race this season but lost them! I guess you can't judge from just two birds but I was hoping they would at least get through the training!!

When I rescued mine from the chimney it was absolutely covered in soot. I thought that if left to preen it might well injest it and become ill so I gave it a bath in warm water and fairy liquid. I've watched them clean oil covered bird this way so I gave it a jolly good rub then rinsed it well in warm water. Afterwards I thought that I'd finished it off! It couldn't stand and kept falling onto it's front but, once it dried it was fine. I fed light food for a few days then gave peas and beans. It made a full recovery.

That's a kind offer Paul, obviously I'll do the same with any requests that I get in your areas. I've sent you a PM. Thanks. Sue

Hi Paul and welcome. You have a nice website. I too have white birds and am just starting a dove release business. I don't have a website and rely on word of mouth. The birds just about earn their keep! I'm in NE Lancs so shouldn't be in competition with your wife! Sue

Hope you make a speedy recovery Speck. Suex

I've got white Logans (not made any money out of them Rose, though I guess they just about earn their feed ) A friend is trying a couple in the basket this YB season, I'll let you know how they do!!

I started like Sam with a 6x4 but, in less than a year realised I needed something bigger. I bought a 12x6 shed and put a partition in the middle - nestboxes in one half and young birds in the other. I sold the 6x4 but, I wish I'd kept it as I need more room now. I think I'd advise to get as big a loft as you can to start with. Here's a link to build your own loft too: http://www.redroselofts.com/starter_loft.htm

A boat with a bent keel won't do very well in a race - surely the same will apply to a pigeon? :-/

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Calcium tablets whilst in the nest, as soon as you notice the problem. If you catch it soon enough it can be cured.

Thanks. Yes, thanks, DOVEScott I have fantails and Logans and don't race. The young are able to defend themselves so scalping won't be a problem.

Thanks Ryan. I was hoping that I could let them all just have a free run of both lofts!

Great video. I wish my birds were as tame as that!

A member posted this some time ago: "And as soon as YBs are used to their section, and under control, they run free thro the loft, which is put on 'open plan', with OBs and YBs mixing & perching up where they please, in any of my 5 sections or Aviary." I find this very interesting as, the numbers in my old bird and young bird loft are quite uneven even though they are the same size!! Does anyone else have experience of 'open loft'? I don't race and I'm considering doing this but, have a few concerns... Do you leave the nest boxes open when you change to open loft? Do the cocks not try to mate with the young hens? Do you get much fighting? Do the paired birds stay together and continue to lay and is it possible to go onto 'open loft' if you are still breeding? I'd appreciate anyone's opinions. Sue :K)