Roland

http://www.countrystoredirect.com/acatalog/Electric_Fencing.html?gclid=CO7C_NuLhqACFdoB4wod7Ez6iw Call 01233 712948 They are cheaper too than Rutland :-/

And countrystores. Used Rutland first time. Last time Country stores. Both good, but country stores are very very helpful.

No! Paddy and Murphy are on a cruise ship. Paddy says, "It's awfully quiet on deck tonight." Murphy says, "Everyone will be watching the band." Paddy says, "There isn't a band playing tonight." So Murphy says, "I definitely heard someone say, 'a band on ship.'"

Well to many I suppose. http://www.itv.com/london/racing-pigeons-stolen33472/

John of Formula lofts.... takes all the beating, and has a very impressive set up with some great birds.... That must be worth a 5% discount John when I next buy eh ;) ;D ;D But joking aside, is right.

Sorry STB I have none. Which isn't suprising as there is only been about 3 all told in about 123 years of trying. Perhap Frankie George. Alf Jones.... :-/ Reg Gutterigde did the Gold Cup from Lerwicke, but of the 8 sent he only nominated 4 ... Yes the Fed winner etc. would have won....But wasn't entered

As long as it's not before lol ;D ;D

I'd go alng with that, and certainly is the case with 'Mob feather sellers. I put it to one that of the 200 odd he sends, if any loft had 8% (8 winners in a 100) they do very well. He said, 'Brilliant, never mind well'! Now they race 200 and sell 190 lol. I wonder why. Why I often think one is better off without a 'Stock Loft' and every bird has to earn a perch, let alone a nest box. And after 4 years they have to go.... preferably to a new comer or a not so good flyer.

Don't see them drinking .... bathing etc. Also a must to keep their feathering good. But they can't shift salt, rest assured. As for the many 'Hawkers / RSPB watching, A. They advocate 'Salt' as a deterrent, and B. I rub salt on my birds as a detterent for mites etc.

Yes you rub it well in. Pigeons drink water, so no problem to them if they did preen any as such. Now Hawks / B O.P don't drink water! They can't shift it full stop. So the salt plays havoc and they can't shift it. was a time when any carcase any where bin fields were doused with salt ... Like that is good when a Sparrow Hawk hen comes back a she will after being disturbed from it's kill. Was how the land was cleared of B.O.P. etc. Most don't realise that Peregrines are also scavagers, and won't mist up a carcass, especially if feeding young. Youngster of Peregrines are now attacking their parents for food. Many are bold around the shoulders / necks etc. when rearing youngsters. The RSPB and the RSPCA copied this line of salt. They thought and advocated it as a good thing as a detterent to pigeons being taken.... How so very true! Rainy days means Peregrinces are sitting and waiting... first lapse of rain and they are up.

Yep, a great drive, and harmless birds to our pigeons. Carrion feeders. Be too slow to suprise, let alone catch a pigeon.

Yep free, and more than adequate. Takes some getting the registaor Key sent unless P.C. litureate, but it is worth the hassle. Just got mine, and it's free for life too. OK it's the Lite version, 2 -3 years old. So what, a year back it was the thing lol.

Just think :-/ if a few years back, - as fanciers now should be doing, because the same ole song will still be playing -, fanciers had listen to the likes of Bilco, Less, and a few others, the RSPB would be striving to get the fancy around the table to talk in regards allowing Hawks, and B.O.P. a little lee way. So in 3 years time, the 3000 fanciers or so left will be saying, 'If only... if only 3 years ago we'd stopped whinging and got of our butts and listened up to the like of Les, Bilco and them very few isolated voices and done something then, we may have stood a little chance.... But let's face it, the main ideaa now is.... 'If only I can see my time out with the doo's then it will be alright, it won't matter as there won't be a pigeon left any road. :o

Yep Davey speaks sense of course regards 'Freebies'. But I personally can't see a more cost effective way to make mistakes with whilst learning. Yes if one has a reliable sauce close at hand with time and willingness to help, great. Most disappear quickly... the quicker and the sooner the more you start to win lol ;D Many 'Has beens' ( that never was) spout great yarns of how good their' birds are etc. Gosh everyone barr me is a world beater and has great birds. Especially after a couple of sherberts lol. These are one mostly, YES their' birds you will be given in 'Hope' that they will do something, or throw something good for you ... as they never have for them lol ;D ;D ;D So a 'Bad' bird cost just as much to fed and train as a good birds. :-/ Now if one has the means, and time to start of correct and wants to achieve, then Davey's word may well be the best offered.

Find out a club that will accept you - or two or three, because you will be welcomed first of. They find out a couple of good consistant flyers in another Fed or two and buy some late breds of them later in year. In the mean time you will be unendated with freebies from here and your club members. So that done pronto ask 'What are the pit fals in building a loft... Like roof should slope downwards so you can always see if anything untoward is on it. etc. etc. An electric fence...

Yep, like the RSPB state and promoted, salt is a great detterent. They never come again.

Said Pete... but won't be through lack of trying lol. Need to make himself a wire cage with a decreasing hole to follow the seed trail eh!

Worse is Protein Poisoning... Toxin waste etc. Once in the system takes all the shifting. Now burn muscles etc. or draining on such when reserves and what not when ardious burdens occur causes toxin poisoning. But many don't appreciate that feeding as such can also have this effect ... like Whey etc. being added.... concerns must be for the 'Toxin poison'. Just too much for the system to handle, get shot of waste, and ... Some will say no doubt that a good system discards waste, where the same may also say 'Don't give too much 'Whatever' because....'

Remember a fellow caught a cracking mealy in Trafalger Square. First off got it settled and thought he'd transfer it. Mated and settled... first toss disappeared. Yep was back in Trafalger Square. Like I say, Wills and his mate Dick rung any Blacks on the Gas Silo's. He set of winning a few y/b races.... over the next 4 seasons set the place alight ... and sold to a well known stud when he packed up.

Agree. I am at the moment feding only maples - was Tic Beans. Wanting to implemant a decent building 'Block' for the upcoming breeding. Yes a mixture two weeks prior will then have to take pla down place. Reduction of maples and Tic beans, but will be down to around 60% - 70% of the diet when hatched out. Think 22% protein is ideal personally. Also an 'Oil' base seed will then also have to be prevalent. 15% regardless from what sauce.

I think we need a dozen more Bilco's and Les's. But then if we had a hundred more of each ... most would still do nowt but moan and whinge. Let me assure any and everyone, RSPB included, any Hawk or B.O.P. that tears one of mine to bits had better enjoy it! If needs be, hopefully the carcase will be taken back to it's youngsters and mate, for it will be the last supper for them. Mine will only fly out when well Salted with Lard. Doesn't hinder them in any way whatsoever. But will certainly not die in vain if the case has to be! It would also help to reduce these aerial killers.

' ............ i would gate the back as damp will be carried on wet days back into the loft' In regards a trap etc. I thought how simple and realistic is that statement in regards 'Droppings'. Had thought - when there is a post regards droppings in putting forward a realism, which those few words sum up a treat. As must will know I have the wind / breeze, current flowing or blowing right across my loft at all times. Yes this of course affects the droppings very much. Yes there is a gap, all the way around my loft for the purpose of the breeze blowing through and the air being sucked in and out through the top. This provides a constant circulation of air. Yes always smells fresh. It feels fresh annal when standing in there sometimes too lol. Indeed depending on the way the wind blows, it does really have an affect upon the droppings in colour, textures etc. East in wind means that the back compartment have green and moisture droppings whilst the Front left compartment start going nut brown, and some, but not so much in the right front compartment. Now also in the Back, facing East I also have a 8-inch doubled wired mesh. Likewise there is also at the bottom an 18 inch 'Hole and wired mesh. This of course means that the droppings vary on the perches as to the amount of wind / or moisture the birds have whilst perching. Now as soon as a bit of warmth is in the air, a little sunshine, and you see a vast difference straight off in the droppings. And of course one does see a difference in regards the time of day / night droppings. Now in a more enclosed, and then of course a mite warm compartment then of course I'd expect to see - like many - a nicer nut brown dropping. Now I had to handle the birds yesterday. My hands were white in bloom, and there are feather downing around. So yes, will this year treat a little before mating them up - have mated them, then separated them, via leaving the cock and hens together for 4 - 5 days. Think this was just enough (Hopefully) to form a part bonding. Now when these birds are put together again, I'd expect the dropping to change again for a little while. I, for instance, have the 'Runs' Sunday and yesterday. Was aching and not too good... Though droppings are firming up a mite now, so I expect to be in better condition soon lol

Ah wel... good luck to the luky person, I'm very confident that they will do the honours for whoever got them. As for me... of to bed lol dreaming of how I saved £50 lol ;D ;D

Samonell / Pharphoid. Get them sorted EVERYONE of them. It won't go away and thats for sure, and if you want another certainty.... IT will get worse. Me I'd ben in touch waith a mate or so and HAD it done via the time The third reply was posted. Next day delivery via some. £22 with P & P. Soon be this season a total waste... get you phone on and sort it. Paul Newbold with post within minutes of you calling for instance. Would knock up a compound that will sort whatever it is... and perhaps not Baytril.

Naw... I have3 better legs than her.... just wish I had the Tax she pays each year lol. Better still the Tax avoidance she doesn't pay lol ;D ;D