Peckedhen

> > I wouldn't do this with my birds....at least when they know its a bird there's more chance of it being in the box for no longer than overnight.

:-/I've tried it but the birds definitely drink less when there's vinegar in the water......could the droppings be firmer because they're taking in less liquid??

I sent two birds for £30 but I think it covers up to four.

Amtrak have been today and charged me £30 for two birds!!! :o Apparently it went up at New Year!! :X

I usually feed them midday so they trap then but, yesterday I paired up so the feed's been down all day today and I've let them out a pair at a time - you can bet they've all stuffed themselves!! :B

Yeah, that's the trouble - there's only tomorrow to give them a practice, the forecast's good but I only just found out about it this afternoon and I know that I'll probably only be able to do one training toss cos I've already fed them too heavily this afternoon so they wont trap till they're hungry! :-/

OK, thanks guys. Yes Wiley, they've flown four times from near this place but, not since September and someone has told me that they forget over winter - hence my panic!!

I've just been asked to release my birds at a funeral on Friday. Apparently the deceased was a fancier. They have been loft flying all winter, tending to stay in sight of the loft but, the funeral is about 30 miles from home. Will the birds remember their way back or do I need to take them for a training toss a bit nearer home? :-/ :-/

5-6am doesn't sound bad at all. Mine used to get up around 4am! Enjoy it - the best Christmas Days are when the kids are young. All too soon they grow up and, like Wiley, need dragging out of bed in time for Christmas lunch!!

Open loft, cocks one day, hens the next, weather permitting.

WOW Westy, I'm well impressed, way to go... Sue

to all of you with a bit of fun. MERRY XMAS!!! Speakers on http://joecarr.ca/xmas/graphics/icqxmas.swf Suex :K)

Same website...different game tho, this will drive you nuts (pardon the unintended pun!) ;D ;D ;D http://www.107.peugeot.co.uk/catch04.swf

If he is determined to hand feed, I think that he should give the squab at least the first week, if not 10 days with it's parents. It would then stand a much better chance of survival and will still become very tame.

OMG - addictictive - and I'm still on the first level!! ;D ;D

Yeah, and their motivation's Christmas day!! ;D ;D

Take a look at this........ I know the lady who wrote it - an experienced pigeon rehabber. http://www.internationaldovesociety.com/Recipes/handfeedinghelp.htm

Happy Birthday Rose. :K)

It will alter the acid content in the water, making a less favourable environment for the cocci. I think it's the same theory as adding apple cider vinegar but with extra vitamin C. :-/ :-/

ROTFLMAO!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Erm....WRONG!! ;D ;D They'll interbreed.... and breed.... and breed.... and breed given chance!! ;D ;D You'll have to watch for them laying eggs and them replace the eggs with pot eggs. They sit on the pot eggs till they realise they're not going to hatch, come off them for a few days then lay again! I started with garden fantails in a dovecote - they make great pets - very easy to tame, don't wander too far, quite independent - just leave clean water out and throw out seed once a day. You don't need to remember to close them in at night and they don't need cleaning out more than a few times a year!! On the other hand, although they do fly around the house, you won't get the displays you would from a roller or tumbler!

Me birds are fine - I'm layed up with a slipped disc! Now, why aren't you in school? Remember, I'm an attendance officer!! ;D ;D

I use the coil ones. Certainly easier for members of public to contact you if they find the bird. I lost one on a training toss this summer. Two hours later a guy rang me from no more than half a mile from the release point. He had picked the bird up from the ground (broken keel), his daughter wanted to keep it as a pet but, because it had my number on he rang up. Not all non fanciers know to look for the wing stamp (or how to open the wing) nor how to locate the owner using the RPRA ring number and, it's too much trouble for some! The coil rings can be used for training and, if necessary, removed for racing.

Yes, I have white Logans but you're right Wiley I don't race them .....yet!! Hyacinth has a bet on that I'll be racing within a couple of years - not sure yet :-/ :-/ I want the first round but have a few people waiting for youngsters.

An idea....but don't know if it would work! My birds bath in one of those large under bed storage boxes. They come with a lid - which I just discarded but, if you cut a hole in the middle, large enough for the birds to get in and out, maybe the splashes would stay in the box??