peter pandy

I get the impression their is a stigma attached to this problem but I certainly dont feel that way and wish more would be open about it. As for Tony in an earlier post reccomending to let it run its course and do nothing well one of my mates did exactly that and when they started dropping DEAD did he go to the vet. He lost quite a few and ended up with losing the lot as Yearlings. Please dont give false information about a serious problem which is affecting many but being shoved under the carpet so their racing can continue.

Having given the birds wee Walter's potion for 2 days Thursday Friday the sickness ceased, and Saturday I recieved Belgica De Weerd medicine and started their recommended course. To-day the only problem is the droppings which look terrible however the birds themselves are looking better and I have started them on normal feed again. I feel I should pass on to the guys on Basics that I have used Flight Path for the past year and notice in their advertisment that if using their product Monthly as recommended you wont get YB Sickness or other ailments !!. I know I have dissproved that theory and will be contacting Microbial Developements as soon as all is normal in the loft.

I have just been given the same advice from a fancier who has had this problem for the past couple of years. You can obtain a packet from any agriculture shop for £2.50.

I have been saying the same for years John and the excuses are lame especially when their are enough baskets to go round, or where you suspect a fancier may be harbouring a problem then put his in a seperate basket, BUT, the problem is solved when fanciers you trust put their birds in the one basket. There is no question of discrimination when you point out it is to safeguard cross contamination.

I dont believe it to be an air borne virus allthough I will find out pretty soon if my next section contacts it with them never mixing. What I noticed on the Thursday morning was that the Easy Bed under the perches had been scratched out with them looking for spewed up food ie Peanuts and Sunflower.

Crivvens John what is ABV and CBV as I am more ignorant than you LOL.

The Begica vet said to give them a light feed daily but my main concern is if it is a virus can it spread to another section where I have my new team stationed which wont be raced this year.

Never met Tigger but when he heard of my problem he was like a shining knight coming to the rescue of a fair maiden and sorted out my predicament. One can only say he is a gentleman of the finest human being it has been my privellage to be associated with and hope that one day I can repay his kindness. ;)

Went with Almond Valley Federation last week with 15 and had 14 return in good time. Put Permanngate of Potash in the water on their return in case anything was picked up in the baskets and all was well. Tuesday I trained from 22 miles and all arrived in 35 mts and looking in top form. Wednesday trained again from 22 miles with half returning on 35 mts and the rest struggling in over the next 5 hrs with the exception of 2 which never made it home, I took a good look at them at feeding time and felt their was something wrong with them as they appeared a little slugish in their actions. Thursday morning perches and veranda were covered in feeding, green and disgusting droppings all over the section so gave them wee Watie's prescription as instructed and expected to go in this morning to them shining and fighting fit. They were worse so phoned Belgica and asked for advice as to what the problem was as I have never had this malady nor saw it before and after explaining the symptoms she diagnosed the dreaded Y.B.Sickness. On enquiring where they could have picked it up she informed me their was a 4-5 day period from contamination which takes me back to the transporter. I am not blaming anyone for putting birds away with YBS as it could have struck for the first time during Friday night Saturday morning as it appears the vomiting takes place at night. I must add that Belgica informed me they have been inundated with fanciers looking for help over the past fortnight.

Any homebrew supplier have them.

Get yourself a flowery sun bonnet for your napper Alf and thanks for the phone number :rolleyes:

Flown down with race rubber.

Brilliant Wattie and I did say you have the best team of pigeons it has been my privelage to handle.

Suicide watch has been switched off at 09,00 hrs when my lone entry returned. Happy days here again and hope the rest make it now the weather has taken a turn for the better.

Congratulations to all that timed to-day in what has been a test of character,condition and endurance.

Their up at 06.00

I know what you are saying Rab and we dont know what the score is when they are away any length of time, However this one is 2 year old and its his first time lying out, with the amount of lice on him I would imagine he has been with streeters, His feet were covered in dried mud and his moult had stopped. All in I believe he deserves another go at it and I will give him every encouragement.

The big tree in the sky I hope

Rab, We are talking about the fiasco Gold Cup race "Weather Wise" and how could you possibly blame a bird for not making it in race time. I personally think too much of a bird that makes it home regardless of how long it takes to fly 550 miles and next year it will be set up to go to 600 miles in a different nest condition.

Start at Hermiston gate then the other side of Macmerry.

John I had a Yearling which lay out from July till February and I had to assume its entire tail feathers had been pulled out as they were totally "fretted" although its secondaries apart from one were ok. This suggested to me that the bird could not nourish the entire tail growing at the same time as the one flight feather hence the "fretting" therefore we have to assume this is due to not enough feeding. I could give another example regarding my "rabbit hutch" birds I acquired but dont wish to bore our readers.

As far as I am concerned "fret" is a misconception when it concerns a pigeons feather as it would suggest the bird has been worried when in fact it is a lack of nourishment to a growing organism. Before the usual wisecracks reply let me go a little further. Two youngsters in a nest will always show a lack of nourishment and is usually shown on the second or third primaries wherea's a single reared youngster will never show this phenonemon.

One still to come from to-day 40 miles. Run into torrential rain at the home end with visibility 50 yards and expected a disaster but they came through it drookit in 85 minutes. When your youngsters are running up to 1-2 hrs you wont lose many as long as the aerial vermin are looking the other way LOL. P.S. Another Gold cup entrant returned 18.00 hrs thankfully gutty and feathers all intact.

Been my system for donkeys years,Next toss 40 mls then into first race. The great Eddy Newcombe never trained young birds and they all went into the first race. His philosophy was To get rid off the dumplings.

First time in a basket and released them roughly 24 miles into a head wind, All home in 45 minutes.