Peckedhen

Things are, at last, moving. The birds are still being caught and euthanised. Today TV crew have interviewed two of the people who are helping the birds, and the RSPCA is now actively involved and have said they will prosecute those responsible for attacking these birds.

Try Aarden - look at 'For Sale' board!!

Erm..........perfectly fine - just posted photos under Peckedhen! I know I worry too much - believe it or not I brought them inside every night during the cold spell we had! They're not in a loft, but in a dovecote and I thought the cold would be too much for them. They are back out now it's warmed up again. They just came out of the dovecote this weekend for the first time - very funny to watch - sort of helicoptered to the ground -but managed to get back up and in again. ;D

Three week old garden fantails. Logans generously gifted by Snowy and Westy. Settling into their new home - my new breeding loft.

An informative site is www.recombinomics.com --this guy is a recombinant geneticist who has been watching this virus for many years. He's a little scientific, but usually gets his info before the news does. Some other members in the scientific community think he is somewhat of a fatalist. If you go there click under the "what's new" sign and it will give his latest reports.

Diamond Dave - you've responded to a thread some five months old - however, your advice is timely as I have squabs at the moment and will, very shortly, be weaning them. Cheers.

Some of the birds have been caught and euthanised. It would appear the beaks have been removed with piers or some other sharp instrument. Some birds had obviously been maimed more recently than others. >

Bruno, If it was just one bird then I would agree it could be an injury but there are at least six of them and its happened near Manchester before. http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/82/82756_thug_hacks_off_pigeons_beak.html

I have just come across the most distressing case of cruelty. Im Middleton, Manchester, some ba$tard is ripping out pigeons beaks condeming them to a slow death. The RSPCA appear to be doing nothing about it. Some of these birds are ringed. I dont think this is conected to AI - surely if that were the case the birds would have been killed not tortured in this way? http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=14111 Tragic :'( :'( > > > >

Don't worry too much! ;D

Thanks Shelbin. They've no feathers under their wings yet - last night I was so concerned about them in the wind and cold that I put them in a box and brought them into the garage - no heating in there but at least out of the wind and -6 here. I was up as soon as it got light and the parents came straight to the babies when they saw me putting them back. Yours flew a third of a mile back home? I didn't know that fantails could fly that far - mine only manage about twenty yards!!

Oh dear Snowy - far be it from me to try to advise anyone but, how about trying Linda's suggestion of Milk of Magnesia? It might be a quicker way than grit of getting calcium in? :-/ :-/

Thanks Jimmy. I'll PM him.

Do you know what they are Jimmy?

Lovely photos and good publicity for the sport. Beautiful white birds, what breed are they Fifer? Do you race with them as well as releases?

OK thanks. I took a risk today and moved them into a different pop hole -out of the wind . It took the parents a while but they did find them and are feeding them in their new home!

Thanks Linda, Fifer. Well, I think I've got it covered - nest felt and straw - I even put some dried pine needles down in a bowl for them to use if they want! ;D ;D

Snowy, they look the same colour until I hold them to the light - then one is a lot lighter than the other. I'll just have to wait and see - got everything crossed!

Am I thinking of the right sort of 'bean bag' ? The sort used in infant school - about 6" x4" Is this what I need to get? I'm pretty sure that I have only one egg full in one of my nests. :-/

I'm looking for a deep litter for my new loft. I'd read about the wood pellets being used in the States Linda but, I can't get the wood pellets within 50 miles of me. However, they are available in some areas. . I did come across a warning though: Unlike softwood shavings, the phenols (natural volatile chemicals in the wood which may cause health problems) are removed during the pellet manufacturing process. It is still essential to read the label, though. Only pellets that have no additives or accelerants should be used as litter.

:-/ I certainly did this when I bought my first pair (the parents) but surely I won't need the net when they are born in there? Don't they stay with their parents? They never fly more than 100 yards - I don't know if they can go further or not. I'll put some phone number rings on today, just in case.

Thanks - no, I've no intention of pushing them - I just wanted to know if they will be self sufficient when they do come out.

Does anyone know what happens when young pigeons emerge from a dovecote? I have two three week old garden fantails. Will they be able to fly up and get back in themselves? What age do they normally leave the nest?

I scrape daily but, the loft white walks everywhere too, so I was thinking of trying deep litter when I get my new loft. (And when I can't see the droppings I might not be as paranoid about them :!)

Have a great day Richard. Sue :K)