Peckedhen

I think that my birds were hit by a falcon yesterday. Yesterday they did not return to the loft together, one didn't get back until this morning and I have just collected another from a member of the public. It cannot fly and the keel feels sort of crackly (like a full crop) and is not easily felt. :'( Is it possible to reset or splint a broken keel? :-/

On Channel 5 at 8:00 PM this Wednesday (25th Oct.) coming, an episode in the paranormal animals series is entitled "Paranormal Pigeons: Stranger Than Fiction" from 5 website: "Tom Baker narrates a documentary exploring one of the great mysteries of the natural world - how animals, especially pigeons, navigate thousands of miles. Academics from the universities of Frankfurt, Pisa and Oxford put forward their competing theories: pigeons use the earth's magnetic field, an incredible sense of smell or perhaps visual landmarks. And yet another theory suggests that pigeons and other animals have a form of telepathic link between themselves and their homes."

Bought a dovecote and a couple of fantails, began to read about pigeons and decided to get racing pigeons and a loft...

Buy a bigger loft then you think you'll need. ;D

WOW! Super looking loft.

Sorry Craig...only nearly a year late answering your question! Whiskey and honey is a 'hot toddy' drink it to cure a cold or help you sleep!!

Not really sure...there are plenty of crows around here but, on several occasions I've seen them chasing the sparrowhawks away - I know which I'd rather have around!! :-/ :-/

Hi Cooleflyer, welcome to the forum. I'm quite new (one year) to pigeons myself. I have trawled the internet, borrowed library books but, the best advice I had, was to make contact with a fancier. I called at some lofts and couldn't have been made more welcome. Whilst this site is great for advice, differing opinions and information, I don't think that you can beat having someone you can call on close by ....I now have a mentor, a new friend, a lovely old gentleman who is enjoying sharing all his knowledge, who calls by to reassure me that the birds are healthy, to help me wing stamp, pick out the best birds etc. It has benefited us both - I have bid on the internet for birds and check out the forecast for races for him and we have shared the training. :)

A real cutie..bet she grows all too quickly!

Great Ted, I 'specially like the Logans.

Sounds interesting Tubbles...any chance of a photo? BTW guys, I still can't catch my birds but, have solved the problem by having a sheet of thin ply hinged above the window. I simply lower it and pick the birds from their perches in the darkened loft - much less stressful for both them and me!! ;D

Thanks Shadow.....I'll move him back with the cocks........bet his eyes lit up when I put him in with all the hens!! ;D

I've separated my cocks and hens....well, at least I thought that I had! One cock was spinning and sweeping the floor at another bird so, I thought it must be a hen and put it with the hens. Now the 'hen' is cooing and sweeping at the other hens!! I'm confused...think they must be too!! :-/ :-/ What is it? Cock or hen? ;D

Yep, very fancy pigeons!! ;D

He's lovely! The baby, not Ted!! You could always try some bleach! ;D

:'( :'( Clockman is a great guy. We have lost a good, proactive member from the forum. :'( :'(

Hmm, great but, very confusing for novices!! I'm trying to use up old feed so have mine on 50% moulting mix, 25% barley and 25%breed and wean. Is this OK for the time being till I've used up?? :-/

Interesting!! Four members of the forum have asked if I'll breed Logans for them next year! White pigeons are becoming popular!!

I think they're great. Look at the eyes - like something out of The Exorcist!! ;D

Please check your private messages.

Oh, :'( Really sorry to read this. You need to get him on antibiotics. Cats carry a bacteria in their saliva which will kill the bird. Get him to a vet asap. Let us know how he gets on.

And tell me Jimmy ....did you inform the guy you are getting the birds from? Of course you did! And there lies the difference!!

Yeah Fifer, foolproof......if you've the time to stand in the loft waiting for the eggs to pop out!! ;D

Hey Bill, Just what I need! I'm usually wrong 100% of the time so this method must be an improvement. : ;D

Hey guys, let it drop....I never intended to start off an argument between others....I was just p***** off that I'd been messed around and wasted my time. I've got over it now, just needed to vent! I think that it's even more galling when you are doing a favour and giving birds away rather than selling them. No need to name and shame, he knows who he is, he's read this thread but, hasn't even responded/apologised in a PM. Grrr. The majority of peeps on this forum are good, genuine guys, there's just the odd few but....that's how it is in the 'real world' too.