peterpau

First race for me tommorow. Warwickshire fed at wincanton about 100mls to me.

Yes we can do better than this. Get yourself an ultrasonic cat deterant. Make the pen cat proof. Maybe a Jack Russell or similar. And if you do catch the cat chuck it in a bin full of water just to scare it. Sounds to me that there are a range of measures you could take to protect your birds. I have two cat deterrants facing differant directions, and a 12 volt electric cattle fence. Don't have trouble with cats. I did have a tom cat which was much easier. When he got run over, we had another and that was a very different story. YOUR BIRDS NEED YOUR PROTECTION.

Top winner in our club. Widdowhood hens but they aint seen the basket yet, and 350mls is the limit.

Nice one Joe. If you have all the best lines you should get better than average results. And at his prices it has to be worth a punt

Donal . Rose is right, we're south roaders. I'd like to go south, but on the strength of the NFC issueing a good north rd program, and the MNFC pandering to the sprinters. Publishing a race program under 135 miles to me. I Paid for my 13 year old son to join the NFC. Now the NFC appear to be doing an about turn, can I have me money back. Bugger I don't know.

I take my hat off to you Hyacinth, those birds cover a lot of miles. What sort of percentage will you end up with at the end of the season. I'm still fascinated to know. Will you be sending the yearlings this week

Personaly speaking. The only sensible choice the NFC had was to go north. I live bang in the middle of the country. and had intended going north. The MNFC were always gonna get stuck with a dogs dinner. For me MNFC are probaly right, but it aint a program I can support. NFC is now no better.

Oh well I always thought WBA were a charity case

You hang on to it old lad. I hope you're gonna be right.

Dead sky with no wind can be very difficult

How long you holdin that fiver for Mike? In principal I think Tammy's right. Think you might have to go double or quits.

Rose I put me post up hoping for other peoples ideas. I want to try things a bit different this year, and I am fascinated what Hyacinth will do with her yearlings. Our club sec was 10th MNFC with a yearling from Bergerac 535mls but I wouldn't dare. But after visiting Mike Young I knew I couldn't do what he did. We're getting nearer now though.

Mine go half the final distance they are intended for and double the distance in total beforehand. ie 600 mile race. Need to do half that distance, 300 miles 3/4 weeks beforehand. Also,a further 900 miles in training and racing before our target 600miler. This is for 2 yr olds. Yearlings go 350 miles. Young birds 200 miles. I got this from a book and it works. But Hyacinth your yealings from last week had a tough time of it and I'd rest 'em. But then I know what works for me. Other people have very different ideas, that work for them. Our birds will start a week on Friday and everyone else will have had at least two races by then. The yearlings won't be out till May.

Nice one mate well done

Milton in the water for me

Much inclined to agree with Stuart. only I go fo Cider vinegar 3 x a week and put Natural yoghurt on the corn + twice a week milton in the water

Tiz about 8 years ago and I don't know that I handled Channel queen, but I did handle Heatwave and Sunrise if you have squills 94 & 95 and look at these two just try and convince me all distance pigeons are of a particular type

Dip 'em in a bucket of fairy liquid and water. might do the job. Elastic band is a better idea. Clip the wings if you want to, but you'll have months to wait before they can fly propperly. All the soapy water does is take away the naturaly water repelant oils on the feathers this soon comes back, but when the birds are dry they will probably up and go. Elastic bands are often laid on the floor where the posty has been

Thanks Ben. I'm not realy into this genetics stuff, but I did find it surprising. The Red Check Cock has no signs of black splash but he is almost blood red slightly pied. The Grizzle hen is what I would recognise as a true blue grizzle. Now I do have a very different type of blue grizzle which is more white with blue splashes.

I would let 'em breed a pair of youngsters and let 'em go down on eggs again then you could try them as the second lot of eggs are due to hatch. Then if you loose 'em at least you have a pair

Why would you want to over-rule the Defra vets. I've mailed Defra and asked why they think it's a good idea, that we can race from Perth in June, but not from the continent. Mike may well be right, but then so may Rose. I could see restrictions lifted, but probably no permits issued till June. EU orriginaly planned to meet in June, and I still think first week of June, will be when we get the green light. I did say to Defra, that if we are a small risk then why take a risk at all. Let us go south

Don't be colour prejudiced we've won with black,grizzle, barless, etc

Always have 'em out in the evening

Years ago I went to visit Mike Young of Timsbury, at the time one of the best in the BICC. He was a real gentleman. He showed me all his birds "Spangles". All I can say is, that visit has stuck in my mind. I went to him knowing exactly what I saw as a good pigeon. After seeing the variety in his stock pen????? One hen he show'd me I'd give my right hand for. The very next bird I wouldn't give the loft space to. These two would have cost me two months salary each. The blood of these birds is still in the pen 10 years later. I know what pleases my eye. No more

So tell me how is it R ch Cock Grizzle Hen produce Blue pd and a mealy. Just to be sure these two were in a section on their own. I'd guess the blue is a cock and the mealy is a hen.