peter pandy

My usual morning routine was not affected with 2 dogs "Jack and Jill" to waken me when their needs are required and a wee walk to fetch the morning papers from the newsagent is quite bracing at this time of the year. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Probably to late now, But I have a packet of sticky Fly Papers kept in my shed for just that situation,, Cover the top of the carcass with a roll of the Fly Paper.. No More Problems as you should be able to relocate the flying crap..

Apply neat Fairy Liquid to leg and foot then slip ring on as far as it will go.. Two pieces of Paper Towel for grip, One to hold the ring and the other to grip the toes then pull, The paper stops your fingers slipping on the Fairy Liquid, Now using a Bookies Pen slip the Ball point of the pen under the back toe and it will pop out.. Done it that way with umpteen youngsters up to 10 days old.

Are you doing anything I enquired of Wee Mary ?, WHY ?, says she who is the boss, Well I could be doing with a wee hand in the loft to vaccinate the inmates and would really appreciate it says I, OK was her reply but you can make the dinner, I will try not to jag you was my get out of jail retort, So she relented and all was completed in jig-jag time including the Young Bird team of 1.. Dinner was Spag / Bol which she knows I abhor and was her way of getting one back on me.. All the colony is handling well as they should be at this time of year regardless of the rations they are receiving once daily and am now contemplating removing the morning meal in the future and feeding to appetite just the once after exercise. Nothing tried nothing gained..

My reply to your question would be that you are overfeeding and pigeons being pigeons will pick whatever small seed is in the mixture first as its easier regurgitated. You will find it more beneficial to give them no choice and feed 100% Beans which is my preference and advice for healthy youngsters.

When I attempt a subject I always try to explore the subject at length as knowledge whether great or small can be beneficial and not seen as the ramblings of an old coffin dodger. Barley is Barley and their is no such thing as Malting Barley. There are 2 types of Barley = 2 and 6 Ear, All Varieties off which their are many are capable of being Malted. Some types have a higher Protein content and are most suited for feed usage where others have a higher Carbohydrate content which can be converted to Sugars suitable for Beer making, But all can be Malted for differing reasons, eg Colour, Taste and Medication, Moisture content only equates the storage time and whether for human consumption such as Flour Meal or similar applications. I wish now I had not looked at the subject but it has been interesting.. Information was gleaned from Wikipedia and other related sources.. On entering the loft this morning I was dismayed to find the Injured Late Breed dead in a corner and can only surmise internal injuries caused his demise.

The Yearling Late Bred Cock which was at deaths door last Saturday and put in beside the Hens for a bit of recovery and convalescence went out for a fly to-day with the Hens, Jeez you could not make it up as speaking to Tiger last night my mind was made up to send him to the dovecote in the sky to-day. The more I read about the previous post "Barley" the more complex it becomes,, So I will remain sceptical. Many in the Metropolis have paired up and are finding a poor response from their inmates regarding laying "Don't ask me why ?". I know my colony is responding to my administrations exercising, and handling well with my Young Bird team ready for its first flight onto the veranda, I think its a Cock.. New model computer in operation..

Barley,, It would appear plays an influential part in modern technology in feeding techniques which I don't necessarily agree with however on making a more intensive study, It has brought forth an insight I never knew existed .. Their are numerous types and varieties with differing properties dependant on the use each variety is applied in terms of purpose. I would if this blinking 10 year old machine would cease playing the funny beggar and respond to my administrations which it wont so it will require retiring until to-morrow when it will be replaced with a younger and more responsive model..

I have mine suspended from a gallow 12 Ft high and on a ring hook pulley as I take it down and unhook it when the birds are in the loft. Its only a case of blowing up from your lungs once a year. They are on "E" Bay or "Amazon" at £12. I can honestly recommend them.

Hens out to-day and were out of sight as usual before I was out the loft putting in a good shift before returning to the area for a dawdle round the locality. It may be a bitingly cold wind here in the Metropolis but it certainly does not halt them from racing around the sky at a good rate. The hospitalised Cock has made a good recovery and has been moved into the Hen section managing to get up onto the veranda for a drink and perching after a feed. Terror Eyes Balloon was given its annual coat of Red Enamel paint and is hanging up to dry in my tool shed !, Jeez it gave me a fright when I went back in for feeding an hour later. With 25 Hens and 40 Cocks "Stock Included", I am in a quandary as to what to put where, and am toying with the idea of leaving the Stock Cocks unpaired till Yearling Late Breeds racing has been completed.

Three Cocks are still missing as the security camera showed 5 Birds hitting the van and the cloud of feathers hid the resulting disappearance to the outcome, All the neighbours have been asked to watch their gardens for any birds walking or lying in their gardens but as yet to no avail. Its unfortunate that when released from the loft they can only go the one way which takes them over the roundabout and their have been a few near misses over the years. Thank goodness Double Decker buses no longer use this route.. The lesson learned is the bath will not be used again outside and the veranda will be modified to take it.

Naw I haven't forgot it and to be honest it is not looking good and did not expect it to last 24 Hrs, However it has picked up to-day but seems to have a hole in its crop but have not been able to locate it also all the feathers have been stripped off his back although the skin is not broken, Half his tail has gone and bruising on his chest and legs completes the injuries sustained.

LOL :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Do not believe it was a BOP Kevin as I am sure it was a Jackdaw that scared them. I hope to find out to-morrow as it is all recorded on one of my Security cameras which overlooks that particular area, So when my boy comes in he can rewind the scene and play it all back in close up then I will know how many were struck and where they went.

MMMM, Well thought out race programme "NOT", I can think of 9 Federations Birds which will be travelling over your homeward bound Birds !!! Clashing comes to mind in a big way With your East to West Route.

Disaster to-day after the Cocks had put in a good fly then came down into the Salt bath and were having a good soak when they were disturbed and took off like bats out of Hell, Narrowly scraping the top of the 6'6" boundary hedge they plowed into a van on the adjacent roundabout. With a cloud of feathers flying in all directions I hastily made my way to stop the traffic as birds were strewn over the road and two unable to help themselves through injury were lying down unable to move, Picking them up a motorist asked if it was worth getting killed for a couple of flying rats was given a piece of verbal and was astonished when I mentioned they were worth £500 apiece, He hastily asked if I needed a hand but as I could see no more thanked him for stopping while he berated half a dozen cars behind him to "F" off. I am at the moment 4 missing although I have checked out all the gardens, One that I picked up is recuperating with the Hens whilst the other is in a bad way with feathers missing from chest, back, wings and tail so is in the nursery which is a large cage in my tool shed, When last checked on he still has not moved but our wee darlings are resilient and hardy so will keep the fingers crossed for him.

Andy, I said to my laddie "44" that I wanted him to take a video of antics in the loft and he replied use your phone !, When I asked him to be more specific as my phone was only there to make phone calls with he went apoplectic as usual at my ignorance in modern technology. After some instruction I will see what I can do, No promises mind you.. No point in having a dog and barking yourself.. With a beautiful day and pre treatment course completed the Hens had their freedom after a fortnight ensconced in the loft. They thoroughly enjoyed ripping around the locality then down for a Salt bath, Away again after laying around in the sunshine seen them putting in about two hours exercise. FlightPath on the feed to replenish any lost Microflora should see them fit for meeting their future partners.

The colony has been confined to the Loft this past week with a 7 day preventative treatment course given and hopefully normal service will resume to-morrow in preparation for the joining together in three weeks time. My Young Bird team has came along in leaps and bounds attracting attention from "Jack" who wants to feed it and has his nose pecked for his troubles which ends up with him completely burying the youngster in straw. Aye we are all comedians in my loft..

I will second that. BUT no concessions for O.A.Ps

Perhaps I should have explained in a differing manner. In 1974 when I was down there Having been invited he did say they were distance birds which I could have inadvertently took for not being Club winners as in those days races were over in a matter of minutes and I certainly don't wish to mislead in any way..

John Robertson frae Jedburgh could not get his to win out of turn and gave me a couple which bred Fed winners at 65-200 mile against 5-6000 birds and they were down from Man Friday and Double Top. Perhaps loft location had something to do with it. LOL

Modern techniques as you are well aware Steve can be applied, unfortunately they wont work in all lofts especially if, as in my case, the colony are all bred down from 600 milers which are just not capable to take one through the Club programme. I can but try as last year where I employed a system from 1968 which is as near as damnit a modern day one with the main difference being that it was designed for short distance up to 250 miles and my plodders could not hack it. I can honestly say that I gave it a go regardless of results which were not forthcoming, But at least I tried and am satisfied within myself.

Ask them to be more explicit Steve !!.

Started treating for Canker to-day as my usual thought has been why treat for something you don't have but perhaps I have been wrong by only treating the birds just the once when they were leaving the nest and that was the limit of that particular drug use. With the birds picking about on the grass in front of the loft I have noticed many Slug trails so the Flock will have to be treated for Lung Worm which should cover Respiratory Infection if any. To anybody reading this do not use Slug Pellets anywhere the birds can get to them as they are deadly which I found to my cost last year. By the way,, Only a fool repeats the same methods every year and expects to get a different result according to Confucius !!.

Aye Kevin, go back and read Post 1 ..If you want to know how to win races then only YOU can do that with Dedication, Observation and Hard mental work.