Walter swanston

Site looks great congratulations

Quite right Bullcock,climate change is upon us wether we like or not.I have said for several years now that pigeon racing in Scotland should not be contemplated until the first week in May, but in trying to argue this case I am afraid I am a voice in the wilderness fanciers are very much against innovation as the claim is that it's always been done this way so why change .Change is upon us gentlemen so get used to it

Congratulations Gareth the Lanarkshire vehicle looks terrific.

The late Baroness Thatcher could never understand Scotland and her policies unwittingly played a large part in our success in attaining a devolved parliament and may yet result in our country becoming independent.I take no pleasure in anyone's death but I know for a fact that there are certain households where the champagne is being cracked open tonight.

I am a Scotsman can't be better than a Scotsman it's impossible

September 18th 2014 changes everything

thepigeon was the first domesticated bird (long before falconry), only dogs and horses have a longer association with humankind.A papyrus from the reign of The Pharoah Merenre(2248 BC) describes keeping pigeons.According to Pliny Brutus deployed pigeons in 44BC.Pigeons brought reports to the early newspapers and helped to win two world wars.Pigeons brought news of the first Olympics, and news of Napoleon`s defeat at Waterloo.Ghengis Khan sent messages by pigeon across Asia.Reuter founded his news agency on pigeons carrying messages.The relationship between pigeons and man is long and interesting and certainly not exploitive as PETA suggests .The very name for the hobby of pigeon keeping-------------------THE FANCY-----------demonstrates the love and affection fanciers have for their doos.

There is an article in theObserver magazine about PETA and its founder Ingrid Newmark .well worth a read, she is 63years old and has been a animal advocate (fanatic) all her life with an enormous following in America, she claims to have been instrumental in halting the fur trade in Europe and the States.She gets up to all sorts of tricks and is quite single minded in he pursuit of what she sees as animal a users,she once went into a fashionable restaurant in Manhattan and threw a dead racoon on the table in front of a fashion columnist who promptly covered the animal with a napkin and called for coffee.Newmark then was escorted from the restaurant to the accompaniment oh TV cameras etc.I have changed my mind on this a wee bit and I do not think PETA is as big a threat to the pigeon fancy as I at first thought but they will still bear watching.

Words fail me with this man I do,nt know what to say other than to offer my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

The question of the transporters is currently the most vital part of this whole discussion.The transporters have got to be spot on with no overcrowding and all birds must have access to food and water also the very best weather forecasts must be obtained, holdovers must be avoided where possible and in the event of a prolonged poor weather forecast races cancelled.All birds must be vaccinated (they should be anyway) and the convoyer must have the necessary documentation.Believe me if they stop a transporter they will go through it with a fine tooth comb.

I agree with the post by Hotrod we must be extremely careful what we say on these sites any immoderate response will be siezed on by our opponents

It is not a good idea to ignore these people.We must have our defence ready against what could become an onslaught on our sport.For starters all transporters should be spotlessly clean and pigeons should be crated in such a way that the vehicle can withstand any snap inspection by DEFRA whom PETA are trying to enlist as their allies.It will have to be shown that the birds have adequate acess to food and water and not overcrowded.I hope this post is not regarded as patronising by fanciers but I repeat these people are dangerous to our sport.

Hey Bill the rest of the UK should get their act together,we wish them nothing but the best,we just do not want to be part of it anymore in September 2014 we will not be feart again.

Is there anyone in Ireland who wants to turn the clock back and have the likes of Davey Cameron running their country?

Yes you are right Michael,I cannot see pigeon racing surviving in this area.The RSPB are wealthy and extremely influential.Tourists are actively encouraged to come here to view the magnificent peregrine falcons in action. Thems the facts folks.

Interesting letter in the BHW today where reference is made to the agreements made in several clubs that I know of where only the fancier`s first three birds are shown in the club result and when this result is sent to the Fed. obviously distorts the Fed result.With the advent of ETS club secretaries can be faced with enormous results from individual members, sometimes as many as 20/30/'50 pigeons if a member was to appeal against the unwritten three bird rule there is little doubt he would win his appeal but at what cost to comradeship, peace and harmony within the club.I would be very interested to hear an opinion from the many experienced fanciers on this site.

Normally at any meetings I know of the president of an organisation acts as chairman.

This question has caused difficulties in the past .My rule of thumb as president is not to vote at all unless it becomes a tie then use my vote as a casting vote, this is made easier for me as the president and vice president of our federation do NOT represent their clubs at Federation meetings.However the SHU constitution is not sufficiently clear on this matter as it talks of a deliberative vote (this can be checked on the SHU website).Perhaps an impasse such as this should be considered by the SHU and their advice to organisations made more clear.I am not really sure what a deliberative vot really is, my position remains clear the president should only vote in the event of a tie, this should prevent later accusations of impropriety.

Each year about this time the crows around here start paying my loft a lot of attention I am convinced they can hear the squabs squeaking in the nests.About 6 years ago I lost a few to the crows through letting them out too early.I let my racers out this morning and took a chance on them, CARELESSLY I allowed a young bird out with them, too young to fly properly it tottered about on the roof of the loft and was promptly nailed by a crow.... Happy Days

Ian, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 1997.I was operated on and had part of my bowel removed in March of that year.After the operation the surgeon called my wife and I into his office and gave me two months to live.I then underwent 6 months of chemotherapy in Edinburgh as at that time it was not available in Dumfries.I am still monitored now every three years by means of a colonostomy and I cannot speak highly enough about our much maligned national health servive to which I owe my life.I give money monthly to a cancer research organisation.So persevere Ian there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.I have just celebrated my 80th. birthday and give a lot of the credit for my recovery to pigeons and pigeon racing,I know I will never be a great fancier but I have found that the day to day involvement in the lofts helped me to get over my illness.Best of luck Ian.

Anybody remember smoking cinammon sticks.I remember seeing German and Italian prisoners of war scrabbling in the gutters for douts (fag ends)

If you let out pigeons at this time of year it is your choice but be prepared to have them attacked by hen sparrowhawks and eaten alive.

I know its unpopular advice but at this time of the year in particular KEEP THEM IN....sorry for the capitals

About 8 days ago tried to pair up my new stock birds using the following recognised procedure.Locked the cocks in boxes with individual pots of grain and water.Result: absolute mayhem as they threw themself against the grills to get free overturned the pots water and feeding everywhere.After two days introduced the hens in the hope things would calm down...wrong.....absolute serious warfare broke out in each box, once again water and food all over the place absolute bloody mess.Finally today, lost patience took away the grills and allowed the birds to do their own thing.....surprise...............peace has broken out.