peter pandy

Very Interesting, And could you please tell me which Scientific Paper you read this in ?. As the science on Pigeon flight and its energy uses are not long completed using the latest technology with wind tunnels in Europe, USA, South Africa, Australia. Information gathered includes, Ltr's of Oxygen used per minute, Carbohydrate use and burn up rate, Where and when Blood Fats are used, Energy expelled for flight heat through the breast "lack of feathering" at 18-22 Mtrs per Second of flight etc etc. As Derek said !!. ""I need to move into the 21st Century"", sic, And here was me thinking I was keeping abreast of knowledge..

When I read this I had to check the date.. NAW its not the 1st April.

AYE, So am I..

Do you have a phone No for Chlorocarb as I could be doing with a couple of packets.

Ok then Wiley you have mentioned "Temperature being controlled by Air Sacks" which is all important when sitting in the loft. However I am writing on the subject about energy when racing and the heat loss through lack of covering over the Keel..

"""They've either got it or they have'nt"""sic..Del, So, why oh why did we have more 500-600 milers sitting in our lofts over the Winter having completed a full race programne in the 70,80,90's than we have now ???.

Ah, Wiley, There is a massive differance in racing in Scotland and down South where you can run about in short sleeved shirts and shorts to match virtually all the year round. What I noticed when down South was that you could feed light which was all the bird required with the warmer climate whereas in Scotland we have a completely different climate and much colder therefore the heat loss is greater requiring a heavier feed to replace energy used for keeping the bird in condition and the greatest heat loss is the breast bereft of feathers hence the need to have a thick covering to maintain energy. I thought I had explained it in post 600 quite well but perhaps not !!..

That is a really interesting reply George as I have noticed the same condition when they expand and lighten up, the keel feathers part slightly, especially when the muscles on either side of the Keel feel like thick fingers running its length.

No one has contradicted the feathered Keel post so I will give an instance..Eddy Newcombe had a Mealy Hen named "The Donaldson Hen" which was a consistent National winner and her Keel feathers were so thick it was unbelievable as was many if not all his birds.. My old team of birds were the same all those years ago. As regards Birds being faster now than in the past.. The silence of replies is deafening.. I had it in my head that the Autumn Exuinox was last week but it is to-morrow "Thursday" and that is my day for separating the sexes, Please dont ask why but has always been so unless I have tried not splitting at all and leaving them to-gether all Winter. To be honest I don't really think it makes any differance. Perhaps it is a fallacy, after all the wild birds stay to-gether untill one passes on to wherever birds go.

John, The Pied Cock is the most perfect specimen you could ever wish to hold in your hand and will be treated the same as all the other inmates in the loft with no favour.. Maybe.. <_<

I suppose we are all in the same boat now with feathers flying about the loft like burst pillows and feeling peed of with them sticking everwhere. Went shopping with Wee Mary and it was only when we returned home that she told me I had a couple of them in my hair !! Wondered why I was getting strange looks in Morrisons and at the time thought I was still a handsome b*gger "NOT". 3 cwt of Malting Barley delivered yesterday will keep me going till next harvest and last years leftovers will be humped over the road to the canal for the swans and coots to help themselves to the bounty. Them doon the Street have went their separate ways and our club will have another member join for next year which means more competition for me to tank the *expletive removed* aff, Brother or no brother there's nae love lost when it comes to racing the burds LOL.

I wondered how I could put into print what I felt about "Facebook" and Walter has furnished the answer perfectly.

I think it was 1966 when I was invited entry to the Social Circle by the Whitelaw's from Blackridge "West Lothian" and it comes to mind Hammy Sloan "North West", Sec of the S.H.U. and am sure the Smillie Bros "Fauldhouse" too were part of having me as a member and I only declined due to racing on a Wednesday. Absolutely nothing to do with religion or gender, Only like minded fanciers.

I cannot comment on that George as it was the reply I recieved from L/Shire Social Circle Sec when applying for membership.

I was informed it was "The ML Post Code".

This weeks R.P. and B.H.W. writers seem to be agreeing with me that Young Bird losses could be atributed to feeding to light "not enough Beans,Peas" etc. I think we should explore the myth of Birds being faster now than in the past !! and I have a hunch they are'nt. But maybe I am writing P**H as Billy1 commented on LOL. I will continue with times from the past.. 65 miles was covered in 1 hour 20 minutes..75 miles took 1 hour 40 minutes.. 112 miles was 2 hours and 10 minutes.. and so on 300 miles 7 hours 15 minutes.. 515 miles into the Scottish Central Combine area was 13-14 Hours.. All those times were only beaten when there was South in the wind. Their is no doubt the East had faster times, but they never had to face Westerlies at the home end. Ah well its all food for thought...

I have started malting Barley at 10% in the feed and dont see a problem at this time of year as long as you dont over do it.

Get in touch with the Police as it will be classed as a Firearm crime and they will probably go the distance trying to find the bassa especially if you tell them somebody has attempted to shoot you or your family in the home..

With the "Slaughter of the Lambs" completed, the lofts are in the process of being gutted, starting with the deep litter which I had to put up with for two seasons, This year I tried Hemp bedding and really could not believe the amount of Moths it attracted, I reckon I was disposing 40 every day that could be seen on the walls, with the bedding just a breeding ground for them, I watched them coming up out of it and walking up the walls to be squashed. On handling some of the Old Bird "racers" [note inverted comma's] they are a bit on the plump side so have introduced Barley into the Mix as the old saying "Fat birds dont Moult well" is a true one. All should be completed to-morrow and the birds will be separated for the Winter with each sex going out on alternate days and the bath replenished daily. As each section goes out, the Gas Burner will be in use to rid the loft of any unwanted immigrants lurking, and my trusty Industrial Hoover will keep the dust and bloom at bay from now on again. Fresh Air is the by-word from here on in, with plenty off it. With the saving in Electricity on the Heaters being made redundant, I will be switching the Mountain Breeze fans on in each Section so Wee Mary wont notice any Electricity Charge changes. :emoticon-0136-giggle: My Athritis is starting to play up again with trimming the privot hedges but at least they are pleasant on the eye and passer's bye usually comment on the gardens so its worth the effort. As I was a professional Gardener its hard to see an untidy garden especially when each of my Agapanthas have given over 80 heads of a brilliant Blue. Just wish I could sit down and appreciate it all..

Why is it that no one has replied to the findings in their own lofts regarding quality of feather covering the Keel ??. 3 Nights in the National transporter will see youngsters bereft of feathers, so I would imagine 60% losses although I hope I am wrong and it's a great success. GOOD LUCK to all competing..

Basically Lewis you will be F*$ked when you are no longer able to be supplied by the Up North Combine fancier who breeds your Young Birds which you bring in every year according to the A/V Fed race results.

Lewis, thank's for reminding me of earlier posts and I can reveal all is in hand. My Brother was one of them "Down the Street" and has decided to take up the challenge of racing to his own loft in Tamfourhill, So all the Stock birds will be going there, and my Stock Loft will be converted back into a Young bird Loft and feed store as soon as they are gone.

YES. And you spell NO ** Know.

C'mon William we are all looking for answers as to why losses are so great not only with young birds, but overall, I am only forwarding a theory which I am convinced that only you, "as an individual" can answer by going through what you have left in your loft.. All the input can help every fancier in the future.. As regards my stock birds ?? If you had spent thousands of ££,£££ on purchases, Would you try to break them ?.. A stupid question off course..But one which I will take on board "NOT",, For those who have sent to the National I hope you are successfull.. Yet ultimately what a waste of good birds West off the Lothians.

Well excuse me Ian !!! You are still a pup at 69 and I grew out of shorts when I was 14 LOL..