Peckedhen

No. They've not hatched....I'm really grasping at straws now aren't I? What will be the kindest thing to do? Leave the eggs till they realise and come off them? Take the eggs but leave the birds where they are for a while, then move them when I move the young birds and other pairs? Take the eggs and move the birds to the new loft (which is where I want them to lay the next ones)? :-/

Good job Celtic. I was mistaken thinking one was chipping yesterday - it was just some 'poo' stuck on the egg! I've had them in the water today - no movement - I'll give them another couple of days......

Looking hopeful - one chipped - I dare not move them to look at the other - shall leave well alone and report back tomorrow!! :)

Looking hopeful - one chipped - I dare not move them to look at the other - shall leave well alone and report back tomorrow!! :)

OK - sent you work one!! Sent another. :

Yes, I do but I'll PM it to you.

Hope they show a little more speed though! ;D ;D The parents are still sitting and peck and wing slap me more than usual if I try to look so, fingers crossed, they know more than me (now, that wouldn't be hard would it?! : Your advice is really appreciated all. :K)

I downloaded Power Tools for Windows. There is an image resizer, you just right click on the photo and choose resize.....easy..........has to be for me to do it!! ;D http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

I'm 95% sure they are full Westy - a fancier friend checked them just after me and confirmed - I'm loath to crack them.....just in case!!

What is the maximum amount of time to wait for eggs to hatch? The second egg was laid 21 days ago, they are full but still no sign of chipping! ?? :-/ :-/

Sorry about that! I think this one works: http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/news/s/210/210273_police_to_probe_bird_cruelty_claims.html Just in case it doesn't - here's the article: Police to probe bird cruelty claims A BEAKLESS pigeon, which may have been attacked by a sadist. AN avian expert believes an animal sadist may be targeting Middleton’s pigeon population. And now Middleton police are set to investigate if someone is deliberately targeting the birds. As reported in the Guardian last week, over the past few weeks shoppers and residents have seen several birds in Middleton town centre suffering without beaks and struggling to eat. Although the birds are often considered a nuisance by some Middleton residents their unjustified suffering could have been caused by acts of animal cruelty. Lesley Crime captured four of the birds in Middleton Gardens on Saturday 4 March and another two on Sunday 5 March. She said: "I saw the birds in Middleton Gardens struggling to eat, they were very weak which made it easy to catch them. "The birds had obviously been harmed and their beaks cut off. "I took them to vet Helen Adsett for treatment but she said that they were not likely to recover. "The thought of someone doing this to the birds makes me feel sick. Whoever is doing it doesn’t care about what they’re doing to the birds and will continue to do it unless they are caught. "Somone who commits such a sick act will stop at nothing and, who knows, they may move on to something bigger and start harming children." Avian veterinarian Helen Adsett, who is based in Blackburn, said: "I am certain that this incident is an act of cruelty. "I have treated many birds from Middleton with their beaks at various stages of healing which tells me it an ongoing act. "For the birds that were brought to me from Middleton there was no hope of survival and I have had to put them to sleep. "I can confirm that there is no known avian disease that causes the birds’ beaks to completely fall off. "By the look of it the beaks have been removed in a straight line by very sharp scissors or wire cutters." Heather Holmes, from the RSPCA said: "Pigeons are a very difficult bird to capture, it’s hard to image someone being able to capture them and then ripping their beaks off without damaging their heads, then releasing them into the town centre. "It is more likely to be some kind of disease. "The RSPCA will look into this case but unless there is an eye witness to acts of cruelty there is little we can do." A spokesman for Middleton police confirmed they have launched a "line of inquiry" into the alleged acts of animal cruelty. Paneesha Chauhan First published by the Middleton Guardian

LOL - what is it? Is it a young bird? Will you race it?

Article in local paper: http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/n...ty_claims.html The RSPCA have since admitted that public had been misinformed and a new statement would have to be issued retracting the old statement and informing the public that this is indeed a mutilation and therefore a cruelty case.

LOL Westy - Silverwings, glad I didn't waste the petrol!!

Thanks Hyacinth - still worrying lots but , learning lots and loving it!

Will do , thanks. :K) :K)

Thanks Jimmy. And the two Logans which are already in the new loft - they are paired but haven't laid yet - will they just leave the youngsters alone, not peck them or anything? Or should I shut them into the nestbox and feed and water them in there for a few days? :-/

Now I've got the nest boxes ready in my new loft I want to move the breeding birds into there. I've got squeakers 8days and 6 days old and eggs due today. I need to move them before they lay again but I don't want to upset them so they stop feeding the exsisting babies. When will be the best time to do the move? All at once or a pair and their young at a time?

Gimme a year or two to get me birds bred and trained Craig! ;D Not sure anyone will want them with the Avian Flu! :-/

OK, I give up! Score 5!!! But I've no mouse on me laptop! ;D ;D

Doing well thanks Linda - I'm loving it! Two fantail babies now flying (sort of, LOL) and beginning to peck and three Logans - rung today (with the help of a friend). I've just got a a new loft BUT hubby is now getting interested and thinks he could enjoy racing!! Well, he'll have to get his own loft and birds! ;D ;D All well at your side of the big pond? At least you have a few more miles between you and AI. :-/

It's just the same this side of the pond Carol. But well done with getting your birds into school. The children were obviously inspired, who knows, in the future, some of them will maybe look at pigeons again. And I'll bet they learnt a darned site more in your lesson than the usual!!

Speight/Craig Get well soon luv. :K)

Thanks Martin - not much yellow down on them compared to the fantail squabs!

First Logan babies. I haven't been able to see these squabs - the parents are vicious!