Peckedhen

I think folks are holding back to the last minute - ebay style! I'll go for £2430

Fantails one day old. See how we've grown - 6 days. I know, I know, you've all seen it before but bear with me - my first babies and I'm a very excited mum!

http://www.pigeons.com/photogallery/baby/sara/sindex.html http://www.speedpigeon.com/baby_racing_pigeon.htm Here's a couple of links to photos of baby pigeons. I've looked at them but even so, am absolutely amazed at how quickly my fantails are growing!!

Have a great day. Put your feet up and be pampered! LOL! ;D

Have a great day. :K) :K)

Hmm - couple of cans of spray dye and you could disguise your penguin Westy!

Great photos - I can't believe how quickly they are growing!

Thanks guys. One thing after another huh? :-/

72 hours now and still no second egg! Does this mean she wont lay another now? :-/

Thanks Bruno - everything's crossed!

Thanks. The shell was moist and she laid within five minutes of me lifting her up. The problem was, I didn't know she was laying it and it was just good luck that I caught it! : :

Separated for 5 days maximum Bruno. :-/ :-/

Yes, she's young - 05 early bred. The shell was a bit rough - what does this mean?

Thanks. The hen is sitting on the egg still so it looks as though she has accepted it. I'll leave well alone now! I have more exciting news - my fantails have just hatched two eggs! I am sooo excited - my first babies! Isn't it amazing......I put a bath out on Friday for them, the cock forgot all about his shift incubating and sat in the bath for ages. He then flew up onto the house roof...the eggs were uncovered for 3/4 hour and its very cold here - I decided that the eggs would have chilled too far but, obviously not!

One of my hens just laid an egg right in my hand!! About an hour ago I went to look at my hens and one didn't look right - she was crouched making gasping noises and didn't stand up when I approached, I picked her up thinking she was ill, brought her into the house and she laid an egg right in my hand!! eek So, I'd separated them because I hadn't seen any signs of romance in the loft - let alone eggs and now I feel bad, I've really botched up! They were obviously getting on fine but, I just didn't recognize it! I've put the other hens back now - just in case more eggs are on the way. :B The strange thing is, had I not gone in, she was going to lay the egg on a 4" perch even though there was a box with straw in that she could have used! As Ted says....it could only happen to me!

Yep, I've got the same. Actually I think Chatrace first put me onto these perches- and they work brilliantly - 99% of the poop goes on the floor directly underneath the perches. Just a couple of downsides, because the bird is not in a box it doesn't back into it so is harder to catch, also I had a dominant cock who cleared the whole row of top perches by ducking under the dividers.

Before I joined this forum I had no idea about the increasing numbers of raptors, nor did I know that hawks eat birds whilst they are still alive. :o. I just today received mail from the RSPB asking me join to SOS - Save Our Songbirds. The decline in birds is put down to changes in the way the countryside is farmed. I have sent them an email explaining what I think is contributing to the decline of songbirds and asking for their comments. It is very easy to send an email. The 'Contact Us' link is at the very bottom of the page: http://www.rspb.org.uk/

Ok, I've moved the hens out. I'm going to wait now until the weather warms up a bit and then put them back in. Will I have to pair them again or will they remember which is their partner? Should I put them back in one at a time or all at once? Will they lay (hopefully) straight away or will there be a 10 day wait again? Sorry I'm asking so many questions. : Peckedhen.

I read somewhere that if you look at the vent of a squab it either apears to smile or be turmed down as in a sad mouth. Trouble is I cant remember which was cock and which was hen! Does anyone ele know of this method? :-/

You were one of the first people here to respond to me when I came on the forum;) Good luck with the race Linda. Although I can't contribute much I also read the forum every morning and evening and I'm certainly learning loads. I wouldn't like to be without it. Thanks guys. Peckedhen :K) :K)

Also the cost - unless you have found a cheap source!

Hi Astropigeon, Snowy converted a large, secondhand rabbit hutch into a mini loft for his first birds. It would have to be plenty big enough for the birds and then, if you get two young birds you can home them so that they need not be confined. You would have to make sure that it was cat proof though and get it up off the ground in some way. Here's a link to a photo of Snowy's loft: http://www.pigeonbasics.com/forum/blah/m-1124402996/s-0/ Peckedhen

Yeah, your probably right - I don't do patience very well! :

03, 04. and early bred 05 :-/ :-/

No, still no eggs - they've been paired for 16 days now - no signs of driving or anything! :-/ :-/ They've had the hemp and a light in the loft for two days.