preston powerblast

3rd of January for rings. The new rings being a little wider seem to help.

Kev paired up the allotment birds over ten days ago. Some have gone down already. I'm pairing up next week,I've got all the golden oldies. But the first round half is going for stock. As it may be the last year for some of the older birds. Second rounders are going to be for each of our race teams. Reason I like to pair up early, is to get a bit of age on them for racing.

We had it all just lying around, so it would have been a shame not use it. Especially the prices they are charging at the moment for wood. The fronts we just made from feather edge boards a hell of a lot cheaper than T&G.

We built it from scratch,but saying that, we did have an advantage of using the wood for the floor sides and back. From two other lofts, with some modifications. Also the nestboxes. But everything else we planned and made from scratch. Using as much reclaimed materials as possible to keep down the cost.

The new race loft is nearly finished at last. The new ETS ready trapping system. A view from inside the loft The new ventilation system Note the vent above the cage

Birds should be in by end of next week, just inside to finish and a few coats of preservative on the outside and that should be us done. Then I'm building a stock loft at home for 12 or 14 additional pairs

The end is finally in sight. Love it or hate it, were happy with how it has turned out. It should be finished by the end of the week. Hooray.

The new race loft almost complete, the end is now in sight.

Been back on the allotment today, apart from the rain we achieved a lot. But decided to re design the traps. But I can see then in sight. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/kanejess/DSCF8930.jpg

Should have plenty more pics to put up this week almost finished

Kev's new race loft. It's been a busy week down on the allotment, but the new race loft is now beginning to take shape. New design for cages is starting to come together, mesh bottom with a plastic slider.

Cheers guys, am going back over next week to do a bit more, so hopefully should have some more pics to share with you.

It's coming along nicely

Been down the allotment again today and did a bit more on the new race loft. it's coming along nicely. A rough plan of the new loft.

Oh yes, we just the forms for next year. Ive been going for a good few years now.

We was there. LOL http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/kanejess/Racing%20pigeons/164064_188544527841359_100000574403908_605418_4311579_n.jpg

Cheers guys, I'm like a bad penny. LOL. It's been great, weve put in some long hours, but the results have been worth it. It's been like old school loft building using nearly all second hand stuff. But power tools and a small compressor and spray gun have helped us immensely. The stock birds love their new home. We've even used plexiglass on half of the roof as we thought this would not also generate a little beat of heat from the sun during the winter but will make the whole loft bright as well. But if it becomes really hot we have installed shutters on runners in the roof space, so we can shut it down. TBH it's amazing what you can create with loads of second hand material and a little imagination. The race loft id going to amazing if it works out. as we are doing cock sections on either end which will house eight widowhood cocks in each section and a hen section in between. With a passage at the rear for entry, solid sides to block all three sections off with sliding doors and only entry through the hen section, with cages and traps at the fron coming down at 50 deg angles. Thats if it works out. Pegboard ventilation above the nest boxes in the stock loft. Down with the old. Up with new.

It's been a busy two weeks down at the allotments helping out my mate. Stock loft now done, now it's down to building the race loft. Floor down, Back and sides up, front framework done, now time to assemble the boxes and build the partitions. The entrance to this loft will be from the rear.

I have over the years bought stock from Louells. Visiting Louella Pigeon World was a great experience and everytime I went I must say that I came away extremely happy. Not all the birds I bought produced the goods. But in all fairness I would say that well over 50% did produce prize winners.It's a great place if you want to buy outcrosses for your existing stock. But like mentioned earlier as with anything pigeon. You pay money and take your chance. It also helps to do you your home work.

Welcome Kev

Having been out of the sport for a few years, it's been nice to get re acquainted with some of my old racers, which a friend of mine bought when I sold up. But he was in a bit of a hopeless situation. Having been flying on an allotment owned by British waterways for over 17 years. They decided to evict him. So seeing how distraught he was at the prospect of giving up his lifelong hobby, I decided to give him an hand relocating his lofts to an adjourning allotment. But his lofts had been up for a long time and we feared that they would not take the move. So we decided to make new lofts from what we could salvage from the old ones. The New Stock Loft 16 x6 Lots of thought to make the prisoner stock as comfortable as possible, so we aimed for a bright airy loft. I think we managed to acheive it. Not bad for under a week. They seem to like it. Next the race loft

Why is it people let their pigeons carry the name from where they originated from. When to be quite honest if you bred them, then they are your strain. If you win with them then this is a testiment to your eye for pairing up two birds and your skill as a fancier flying them. But I suppose Jack duckworth doesnt have the same sales appeal as some of the better named european fanciers. But that is a fair comment, good uns and bad uns.

Found it, have sent them an email. Many thanks...

Found it, have sent them an email. Many thanks...

Found it, have sent them an email. Many thanks...