rasbull

Thanks guys for the replies. I was just wondering if the weaning at the end of July would affect them but obviously not. If nothing else will give me an interest after the young bird racing, selecting the nice days and training my late bred team up quietly. Cheers.

Hi, I plan to breed plenty of young birds this year as just starting back up and currently have no old bird team. I have worked the dates and if I do, the 3rd round will be weaned 26.6.09, and the 4th the 28.7.09. Now I know, I cant race those rounds this year but what are peoples opinions if I bred them and trained them up slowly over the autumn on the nice days and just let them develop and mature on there own acord. What effect would the moult have on them, and do people think they could amount to anything. I would already have my young bird team bred and trained up, but should things go haywire, at least I would have an interest in the old bird racing come the following April with these birds. Thoughts??????

It is exactly reasons and political jokes like this that is killing the sport. I race in Wales, so no neither the organisations involved nor the people in question. I find it sickening a member can be refused acceptance to a club without a proper reason. Pigeon men are there own worst enemies on times. When numbers in the sport are dwindling and we are trying to encourage new members into the sport, we treat our own like this! Baffles me, but if this chap has been refused for the quality of the birds he flies, then shame on you! If it is for some other valid reason then at least the man could have had an explanation in the letter he received! Pigeon racing is a dying sport...fact. We are speeding up that process by cutting our own throats! No club should have a right to ban anyone unless they are a defaulter or a proven troublemaker. If there birds are too good......get better yourself! THAT IS SPORT!

I have noticed a few of my pigeons have there mouths open and appear to be panting. Is this to cool the body down and totally natural or is it for some underlaying reason? I have seen many birds display the same signs especially when landing after a fly. (not just my own pigeons)

sorry to hear that m8, the same thing happened to me, loft door left open and 8 pairs of stock flew out. Only one pigeon remained in the loft. I had one reported a 8 year red cock that had flown back to previous owner in london. I live in Mid Wales, and the weather was very poor, raining and low cloud. This pigeon did exceptionaly well to get back! It is very annoying and felt sick for days thinking about it.

challenger - I too ordered personalised rings and when I phoned them today was told they were waiting for delivery that and were sure they would be in next week! Sounds like I might have had a standard reply!

I placed an order with them for various things. Had an email saying they had dispatched the goods (about 4-5 days from date of order). Waited for delivery on the date stated and nothing turned up. Phoned up 4 times trying to track the delivery. The girl phoned Parcel force there and then for me and was told that the order would be delivered the following day on all 4 occasions. Today I then phoned again, but this time she got parcel force to phone me straight away. She informed me that the parcel had been left on my local post office. I then phoned them and they said the parcel had been sitting there for 3 days! I asked when they would be delivering it and was told they were nothing to do with parcel force and that they only hold parcels which parcel force had difficulty delivering! I now have to collect the parcel myself. I had received no letter, note saying they had tried delivering or that the parcel was at the post office and would require picking up. On this occasion Boddy and Ridewood obviously posted and had done all they could. I have to speak as I find, there can be a delay in when you get the product, but as on this occasion it might not always be there fault!!

What date in June? We talking eggs to be laid early june or eggs laid late june? Will this affect the moulting of the birds in previous seasons?

I have been rather late this year pairing up and my first eggs were laid on the 21st February. I want to breed enough youngsters for my own purposes. I then want to breed a round for my brother who is currently building a loft. He is not gonna be racing this year, but will train the birds up quietly and breed his own young birds next year. Whats the latest I could leave it to breed him a round so he is able to breed his own next year around jan/feb?

I do hope so! I moved the eggs under the foster pair due to wanting more eggs from the parents. The ironic part of this that it was father of the eggs that had kicked the foster parents out of there box!

The eggs had probably been uncovered for anything upto 12 hours but could have been no more than half hour! so should be interesting!

very nice mate! the big dark cheq is a cracker. How do you find the width of the loft affects the birds? It seems very narrow. Do you think it improves them at all as when let out they may fly better and longer as they dont have the room really to fly about much in the loft. I know several people who have narrow lofts who's pigeons fly very well. Best of luck with the birds.

I had a pair of eggs that were laid on the 28th Feb and the second on the 2nd March so would be 3 days old from the date of the 2nd egg, but a cock had gone into the box and kicked the parents out. The eggs had gone cold. Instead of chucking them out, I had two spare cocks that have paired up! I thought the eggs are probably ruined now, and took them away so the birds could repair. Instead of chucking I decided to put the eggs under the 2 cocks that have paired up. I went in this morning and the cocks are sitting them! Firstly is there any chance that these eggs will hatch out? And secondly if they do, how will it affect the birds if there is no mother? Will the cocks be able to rear the youngsters on there own or does the hen bird produce the milk etc when first hatched? I have nothing to lose by putting the eggs there so thought I would give it a try!

Yeah I did consider doing this. I think this would help. Regarding the window would you leave that open at all times other than raining or closed at all times?

All mine see is at that front with the window the air vent and then the soffit on the side. I have nothing at the back. I dont know what to do for the best?

All mine see is at that front with the window the air vent and then the soffit on the side. I have nothing at the back. I dont know what to do for the best?

Hi, I am not sure what to do regarding my loft. Here is a pic of the loft. The part sticking out is 6 x 6, although only 3ft of that is sticking out. It has a vent on the front and also has a soffit vent along the top (white). Since this pic was taken I have put the window of the 6 x 6 loft on hinges. which when closed leaves a 6 inch gap at the bottom so the air can circulate. So its a triangle shape from top to bottom of the window. I now have the option of opening the window and hooking onto the roof overhang. I would like to know peoples opinions regarding the ventilation of my loft. Firstly do I have enough with what I have. Secondly what should I do regarding the window? Would people leave the window open fully at all times to increase air flow, but close if rain is driving in that direction? Oer close the window and just allow the gap to provide the air flow? The window however is about 3 ft x 3ft so is that to much of a gap? I have been also been leaving the main door open at night to increase air flow, but I have been closing the window? I have seen some lofts with nothing except wire mess on the front, Is this a good idea? I dont know! What are your opinions regarding this?

Well done Paul, what you gonna be using this loft for? How is the breeding going mate?

Managed to take a few more pics now the snow has gone and the loft is finished. Hope to put some more of the birds on in the next few days. Hope everyones breeding is going well.

I have been on facebook for a while and when I decided to put some pictures of my loft and pigeons on my profile I have been amazed by the level of response from friends who have looked at the pictures. Some of their friends in turn have also responded to the pictures. I feel this could be a great way to promote the sport. If every member posted pictures of the birds onto a facebook or networking site there are bound to be people interested in the pictures of the birds and start asking questions as I have found. Facebook is huge and what better way of promoting the sport where the younger generation spend most of their time. Even if just one person responds, comments or shows an interest then it is a positive thing. I had people asking all sorts of questions regarding the pigeons. I even have someone bringing his two young boys coming to have a look at the birds next week! Its worth thinking about.

Mine is through Orange, £5 a month, with unlimited house calls 24/7 and free to Orange mobiles. Download speed upto 8meg

I agree with that, only one year ring to prove the age of the bird. But if the old bird season is 'opened' up you would only need one ring anyway!

Interesting topic, there is a very simple way of solving this problem/loophole/cheating/bending the rules, call it what you like. The easiest way would be to allow the young birds to fly in the old bird season, thus taking away any problem what so ever. I cant see how racing young birds in the old bird season is a problem anyway if its what the owner wants. The old bird season could be renamed as any age season, and those wanting to enter young birds could do so as long as the birds were correctly sexed therefore preventing any trouble with the widowhood flyers. I think it would be a great way of reducing losses as well. I dont think for one minute many 'babies' would be able to compete with a fully motivated cock/hen on widowhood but those wishing to give the experience could be free to do so. Things change over time, and if the world of pigeon racing is to carry on then we as a sport need to move on to. Losses are killing the sport, could this be an answer? At the end of the day young bird or old bird its still going to be pigeon vs pigeon!

Yeah Mike was telling me about the new loft. You had a bargain there didnt you! What did Lee do with the birds? Did you have those as well?

Hiya Paul. Yeah he does like the grizzles. Was on the phone to him last night, was on there over an hour! lol. He has some real quality there now fair play. He is umming and arring about purchasing one more pair. I am chuffed how the loft has turned out. Got to put the felt on the roof tomorrow and then should be finished. Can't wait to pair up now!