Peckedhen

You've hit the nail right on the head. Yes, they are moulting and yes, they are on their guard. It makes me sad that they would all fly to me and now, since I've been trying to catch them, they 'growl' when I go in the loft and seem really nervous. I'll give it a break until they finish moulting - how long does the moult last? :-/

I've read the advice on Westy's thread re taking the birds out five miles. I've let my two pigeons out today and they have not flown at all even though I have discouraged them from sitting on the roof. (I seperated them from my fantails thinking they were holding them back.) If they have not been ranging will they still find their way home from five miles? I don't want to loose them! Also I find them very hard to catch, will chasing them round trying to get them cause them stress? Is there an easy way of catching them? :-/ :-/

OK. Thanks Webmaster. ;D

Is it possible to look at the old forum archives? Or have they gone forever now? I can't find a link to them but, there again, it might be right under my nose! :

Bruno, That's great and I even think I could manage that myself! I'm thinking that if I put a shelf up inside the grid the birds can sit there and enjoy the sunshine if they wish. ;D If I can think how to make the wooden straps adjustable I could vary the angle of the window according to the weather - a bit like my cooker hood! (Don't hold your breath though! ;D) The prevailing wind comes onto the short back side, opposite the door so I'll need to put a sort wind break there or it will blow under the window and, as you said will probably blow it off! Thanks again for your time. Samantha, It's worth getting some pigeon suppliers catalogues just to look at the pictures! It gives you an idea of what people are talking about! Just do a google search for them and request one on line. The Petron perches are 80p but then you've got £4.95 postage unless you live nearby and could collect. I like the grills for the boxes - if ever I get that far! ;D I'm thinking that if they stand on those and I have a sheet of newspaper underneath I could change it everyday and keep their feet clean. What do you think?

The shed is 6'x4', pent roof sloping, unfortunately, towards the windows which are on the long side. There are two windows side by side,each is 60cm square. They do not open at all, they are made of perspex. Actually I havent put them in yet, I've just put an old grid I had across because someone said they would make the loft too hot. The door is on the short side. The windows face roughly South and the door East. Some new neighbours had a skip outside but I didn't like to ask - didn't want them to think they'd come to live next to the Dingles! ;D ;D

Thanks for your offer Samantha. I've just today received a petron lofts catalogue. I rang earlier to ask what their cheapest loft costs! LOL £1000ish!! However there are bob wires in the cat and they are only 25p so I'll order those along with a few of the perches. There is a fancier on local allotments, he has old sputnik traps lying around - I'll call on him and see if he would like to sell one. ;D ;D I'm not sure that I could train my birds as you did. I'm not very good at catching them - after one or two unsuccessful attempts they are very wary of me now! : : I'll give it a go though - I see from one of your threads that I'll have to keep them hungry so they return and trap.

Hi Samantha, ;D Did you have to train your birds to go through the bob hole you made, or did they just find it out themselves? It soundsa good idea for a start. I've looked at the sputnik traps and they are quite pricey! :o

Thanks Bruno. Well, its legs look swollen in comparison to the other birds!! Its sort of puffy around the ankles and I'm watching the ring doesn't get too tight. Maybe I am getting paranoid! I only have four pigeons so far, so a corridor is out of the question! ;D I have got a new loft now ( I think you'd laugh and call it a shed ) so I'll move the others in there and keep this one in the brick leanto.

Ok, so it's now had cocciod, baytrill and probioticsn Yesterday I noticed that it's legs are swollen and woke up this morning to find the three others have been pecking its head. I took it to ou,r supposedly, avian experienced vet who said that it has 'gone light' and needs worming! I now have two doses of worming med to give! Do worms cause swollen legs? I've read salmonellosis can but surely the baytril should have taken care of that? The vet said it wasn't in pain? :-/ :-/ Should I move this bird from the others? It's too late for it infecting them but, I don't want it canablising! Again advice appreciated. Who told me keeping pigeons was no problem? :

Thanks again Doostalker.

Thanks Don. You're right about the worrying - so, it's not just a female thing! ;D Doostalker, Yes, a great help - thanks very much for spending the time to help a novice. The shed was a bargain - it only cost me £30 so I can't take it back,! ;D The walls are like laplarch fencing so I'll put some sealant in the gaps and then drill some more holes (well, I'll get 'someone' to do that bit for me) : ) So, it's OK to keep the parents and all their offspring in the one shed?

I've now got a new B&Q shed erected in my garden ready for conversion to my first loft. Now I need some advice: It was only a cheap shed and there are a few gaps in the wall panels and the floor, should I fill these with something or will they help the ventilation? It is a 6'x4' pent shed. How much ventilation should I put in? I know that it is necessary but, equally, I don't want the birds to be cold in winter. Is it a good idea to cover the floor in vinyl, so it is easier to clean, or is there a reason not to do this? I only have two pigeons so far but I'm hoping that they will breed soon. They will all have to live in the one shed to start with, can anyone suggest what I need to put in for nesting and perching? Will it be ok to have the windows in the shed until I get myself sorted with a sputnik trap? I'd appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks

Thanks everyone. I've bought a shed from B&Q, when 'he who thinks he must be obeyed' gets it up I'll start the conversion! ;D

So, are these still for sale or not? :-/

Thanks Don, I've already looked at those and think that they're a bit beyond me. I did sewing at school not woodwork!! ;D ;D Sue

I am just starting up. Does anyone have/know of a small loft for sale? I'm thinking 4'x7 or so. I am in NE Lancashire. Thanks E-mail sueh@f2s.com.

Well, that is what I thought, at first, Samantha. So serious and everyone seemed to know what they were talking about and I didn't think a novice with stupid questions would be welcome. How wrong I was! I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of some of these guys helping me to save my ill bird. The griping is not on this board and, long may it remain this way. It didn't give a very good impression to newcomers to the sport!!

Are you able to put her out on the loft roof? You could use an upturned laundry basket if you've nothing else. She may encourage him back. Good luck. Peckedhen

Please check private messages.

Decided to give them some pro-biotic yogurt today. They didn't like it and it took them ages to eat it. I put one teaspoon of yogurt in two teaspoons of pigeon mix was that right or should they have more?

Thanks Joe, I've found the Gem-thepax in a smaller bottle so it's not so expensive. I'll ring and order some on Monday. You've reassured me about the droppings, all the birds are loose now and I thought that they must have caught cocci from the infected one. The ill one took a bath and Jimmy tells me that he can't be too bad if he does that so, it looks as though he is improving.

Thanks Webmaster I appreciate that. Nope, it was just the forum index - it's so much easier to see now. Peckedhen.

Thanks Jimmy. I'll put the bath in and see.

The new forum is great. Is it just me or is it difficult to see which boards you've read? I find it hard to distinguish betwen the green? and blue dots. Is it possible to have more contrasting colours? If I'm the only person then, no prob.