peter pandy

Having a pleasant chat with David Talbot had me wondering if my water supply could have been detrimental to my problems and loss of birds, At present I have a 50 Ft garden hose attached to my main water supply and would regularly water the garden plants in Summer, Now back in July during the heat wave we experienced and with Wee Mary falling ill everything took a back seat but I used the hose to replenish the Loft water, Inevitably it would be warm and could have been a breeding ground for Bacterial encouragement providing a Viral problem, It was only when reading about the use of plastic hosepipes and the warning given not to drink from it unless running it first for a couple of minutes which I don't believe I was doing as normally I would have watered the garden first which would have cleaned the pipe of any crap. Just a bit of thought.

After contemplating our wee chat !!, just you take the Doc's advice and keep takin yir medication as instructed.. See you on Wednesday as It's your turn for the pies..

With the gales here in the Metropolis the ventury ventilation system I introduced into the loft is working a treat with no internal pressure build up although the inmates on the veranda had a good soak in the rain. Droppings are perfect again now they have had a couple of days to accustom themselves to the new surroundings and all in all I am more than pleased. I am rather peed off with drop down adverts interrupting my ramblings losing all I have composed forcing me to re-write all the script.. :emoticon-0179-headbang: :emoticon-0179-headbang:

I know plenty top fanciers who send 50, BUT, don't know any who just send 5..

Being a generous chappie !!, I purchased Tea and Pies last night at Clarkston for the old fat gits that looked like they needed a feed (NOT), Jings they are even tapping me for a home made Loaf of Bread and I am only a Penshunner. Taking advantage or taking the Pee says I..

With gales forecast for the next few days I will have to keep a close eye on the loft with having removed the windows the South Wester will be blowing straight into the loft, Angle Iron holds the roof down so all should be OK but one can never count ones chickens. The kettle was switched on to-day to straighten a few flights that were alright yesterday or at least I never noticed any, Perhaps Specsavers for me.

When I phone my Son in Law who has his own Building Business he always replies " Hi What can I Do For You" as he knows after my sob story there is something I need done that he is an expert in "doing". So without further ado he came at the week-end and fitted new nest boxes to my satisfaction, and a lovely job was completed !!. The only problem was he mysteriously disappeared before I could talk to him regarding the erection of my new greenhouse !!, but I will capture him before Spring with a cunning trap he cannot escape from.. Regarding the colony they are out on alternating days weather permitting but have noticed they are giving the bath a miss, Cannot figure that one out as it was always last in is a "Streeter" attitude. Are our charges getting enough air (ventilation) as all Lofts now appear to be closed up so I removed the windows and let the wind blow through "As Donald Would Say". (Where is your Trousers) for non Scots. Oh Aye, you go your way and I will go mine..

In another post regarding System's, I would say that no matter what system you employ you will only reap what you sow !! In other words a good fancier will get the best out of his charges whether they cost £1,000 or £1. Pigeons only respond to the way we look after them and no system is better than the other, The mob flier will always employ Roundabout because he knows and looks to get one into the leading batch, The Natural flier when he has set his individual bird up on a known form whether it is sitting eggs, Hatching, Feeding a small youngster or a big Youngster and looking at his Hen again will get that bird on numerous occasions.. Personally I have tried them all and Natural makes you a better fancier..

No doubt we will all be pleased now the big moult has completed its course and feathers cease to be attracted to the blade of the scraper which require cleaning or the scrape becomes a spread across the floor, It only requires hoovering weekly now to remove down feathers as the colony comes into Winter condition. Just recently the weather has taken a turn for the worse so the colony has been confined to the loft and they are not happy campers especially the Hens which all gather at the entrance to freedom and have to return to their perches when I start scraping. More samples taken for deliberation should show positive results and I will be satisfied that all is definitely well with the colony to carry on racing next year albeit with only 4 Yearlings which is a pity but we can only endeavour to get the best from them..

It appears on some posts and not on others..

With the weather here in the Metropolis not being conjunctive to giving the colony its freedom they have had a wee rest for a couple of days. An interesting article by the Scottish correspondent of the RSPB in the Daily Express confirming 1,000 Breeding Pairs of Peri's in Scotland the other day had me wishing I was still working estates instead of sitting idly bye doing nothing of consequence. It was quite galling to read to-days Express with the headline "Bravest Animals Of Them All" with 32 Pigeons winning Dickin medals being celebrated at the London War Museum.

Another good night out with Derek cleaning up with his Hens, The topics of conversation were as usual of a good nature with ETS getting a bashing regarding multiple time in's. Unlike the past where most clocked their first arrival then the pooler, not shoving in birds hoping to take the first 10 in the Club. My dog "Jack" had the spare pies and I went home with the Grouse after finding my Puffer that someone had squirreled away. Oh aye and the next time "Del" requires a haircut I can give him the use of my lawnmower LOL..

Och Well,, back to "NATURAL".. With the hens turning in a 90 minute fly to-day all is definitely OK with them and feed has been reduced to 28 Grams of a rich mixture this past week, Rather than putting them on a Barley mix I will just cut the feed back as and when required. Regarding winter flying, I had time to remember when in Wales the boss brought his race horses back from Ireland and fed them a High Energy feed without them having the freedom of the paddock to burn the energy off, with the result they went hyper, severely injuring the stable girl when she went near them. At all times I enter the Loft the Colony want to have the freedom of the skies which is why they are out in alternating days whenever possible. Nobody has ever divulged to me why a race team should be incarcerated over the Winter months. How, Why, do I know they want out to burn up the sky ??. Quite easy as they all head onto the veranda waiting for me to open the inner door to freedom whereupon they all bail out in seconds.

Never used to be.

Something only a few birds in lofts up North are getting while we in the Central belt are only experiencing Middle Distance Steve.

Quite a few topics were discussed by the scallywags last night at Clarkston Show and one was, Are the best distance birds now in Holland ?. Well everyone agreed that they have a far superior race programme than the SNFC which has reverted to Middle distance now.. This caused some to question why the Central Scotland Feds could not arrange to have an Amalgamation convoying to the same race points from 200 miles and joint liberations, with safety in numbers a safeguard, and, a real 600 mile race after the two 500 milers have been flown by the SNFC. I do believe all were in agreement however the officialls of N/W,Cen,A/V,MID,LAN and GLAS would have to get to-gether to bring it to fruition. Food for Thought in a 1,000 + fancier catchment area..

Nae luck at Clarkston either last night LOL...

With the colony incarcerated this past week due to the damp cold weather experienced in the valley it was a pleasant surprise on rising this morning to a Blue sky with a nice Nor/Westerly, chilly yet bearable, so the Hens were turfed out and put in an excellent 1 Hour in a tight ball about 1/2 Mile out. When they are flying in such a manner they must cover at least 50 Miles, Aye it's ""Winter Form"" and only November. All the Athletes I ever read about train Daily !!, So I like to keep them in a fitness regime as often as possible as long as it is not damp and miserable.

Twenty Cocks and Twenty Seven Hens left after the problems this year and only Four Yearling Hens to dance with next year will not depress me one little bit as it is easier to identify them individually plus less droppings to scrape up. When I think back to yesteryear I only Wintered about 40 and could more than hold my own racing against up to 6,000 birds so it does not faze me in the least to return to a select small team which I am confident in. My feeding has been returned to an all year mixture with no changes being envisaged at any time as I recall the top men off the past including myself fed the same mixture 7 days a week and 52 weeks of the year racing 60-600 miles successfully. I had decided to put another 16 nest boxes in the loft and had everything prepared when I noticed my power screwdriver was not where it should have been in the tool shed and had no success in determining its location which had me stumped however I recalled a neighbour had borrowed it 6 weeks ago to hang a picture so down I went to see him and low and behold he had just left for a fortnight in Italy to pick up San Morzano tomato seeds which no doubt some will be coming my way, That's another job waiting to be done. Wee Mary refused to give the grass its final cut of the year although I am incapacitated and waiting result of an MRI scan on my shoulder which will no doubt mean an operation to repair the torn tendons, So it can wait till next year..

Four weeks have gone bye and all appears well with the flock since the medication supplied by Belgica De Weerde was completed so I am a happy camper once again with droppings rolling off the perches and no damp patches to be seen, All looking a picture and handling like silk however it will be another fortnight before I send further samples for determination and inmates will be confined to the locality over the Winter. While they have been given freedom of exercise they are going well and none are dropping early, Appetite is good so I am hopeful this disaster has now completed its course..

Just a wee thanks to Charlie and his compatriots for another excellent night oot and Dellboy for keeping my Mince Pie warm under his armpit,, It was the thought that counts. By the way I told Charlie you would pay next week for the Coffee I ordered for you as you were skint looking for cheap ply. Wee Tiger was in usual form hiding things from me but I am well aware of his tricks however my deep pockets trick was woeful as I could not persuade anyone that my raffle money was somewhere I just could not remember where due to my age. Not to worry there is always next week..

Are the REFRESMENTS free Charlie ?? Awfy kind of you...

I'll get that tenner you owe me the morra night at Clarkston.

Don't be such a miserable auld git and pay the going price, Your like a door knocker Tap Tap Tap all the time..

Are you giving out OAP discounts this year !!!.