Roland

Have similar stack away. He also set the trail blazing in Belgium, and set many records. But was never accepted and given credit due, due to his buying birds from Maurice Delbar after the war. Never forgiven.

Good post, and the other side we all need to remember and strive to be....

Well we have had this debate a few times, and the scenario of Strays is out of hand. The cost of retrieving is, whether we like it or not, too much for many fanciers a nigh £30 a throw. Before the out cries of 'I do' and they should etc. beside the criteria of adding of 'If they can't afford it, they should pack up' scenario over 50% would sooner or later be forced to pack up whether we believe it or like it or not. Seems that is the real reason why the RPRA etc. don't enforce it I guess. Soon would mean the cost of racing going up at least 60% to all who remain. Now I agree that it is a shame and with much I've written above. But I also accept that many just can not afford it. - No I'm not talking about those that can of course, these I suspect send for or retrieve their birds. The Mortgage, comes first, the clothing and feeding the kids. Each week many fancier juggle the books to make not only ends to meet, but try and justify the expense to wife’s and kids. Never mind the lad drinking 10 pints a night, these are not in the majority, and far from it - but the lad that has one or two and shoots back to the misses etc. Many are, and more so now, are on minimum wage. £240 a week less stoppages! Or even less if not doing a full week. And will be a darn site worse when the Tories get in, and that with out the promise to do the NHS AWAY with, and everyone having to take out insurances to cover illnesses, dentists etc. etc. Mortgaged etc. etc. etc means it will only get worse, so will have to become acceptable if only via turning a blind eye. And we need the grass routes flyers. Whose says they aren't entitled, and those hat moan are often glad of them that they beat each week. Stray centres seem to struggle to get off the ground etc. etc. Because too many want a lot for doing nothing, and far too many are only too quick to stick the boot in and brow beat those having no options. Though I hasten to added i don't put DJ in that cartography in the slightest. Indeed not the majority fortunately. But it is another expenses (Feed / racing etc. etc.) that wife’s have at their disposal to harp on to get them to pack up altogether. JMO. Why does DJ bother, like the rest of us, because we enjoy our hobby. So I for one wouldn't put a barrier up to stop others from trying to enjoy the same. Pain the But? Yes! Do we need them? Of course. racing is in a bad shape now, without making others pack up. P.s. when there are no apples in the barrel, no good with all the scenarois of there should be, and putting others houses in order, No apples in barrels means quite simple you can't take any out! So report and get them banned. Personally I would be ashamed to vote that way, or go down that road. Been skint and hard up, had my tough luck days and know what it's like to not be able to do what others take for granted. Infact still am lol.

Red I see the opening bids are to be £100. No problem there then. I am suprised a mite with your following quote of .... quote=2150 Surely boys and girls the breading of these 3 birds constituits a bid of sorts??, think of what the parents would cost you to buy!! :-/ :-/ Does that mean you are inviting opening bids?

And blind in one eye eh! Still suffering from headaches due to all the back of the head slapping ;D ;D ;D ;D

lol and nearly blind in one eye lol ;D ;D ;D ;D

You can also run them of the mains with a 12 volt transformer. i have a false roof which enables the breeze to enter from any direction and pulls the air up from the bottom, hitting the back and then out throgh the tops. Any breeze, no mater haow slight, works wonders. Have the car fans ready past two years, and thetransformer, but haven't as yet felt the need to set them up. Will have them opposite, one sucking in, the other sucking out.

Well one was 'Feed Only'. Where they stayed in all the time except race days. Yes it was very good and cost effective. Had 8 in total of only 14 Fed day birds from a tough Thurso race. Some having their’ first race at 469 miles. Would and should be my number one choice I suppose, but miss them on the garden and rooftops. But the loft will still cater for any 'System' or racing and one that can at the drop of a hat be changed. It will mean also perches will be a lot darker - light wise - at the back of the loft to keep them resting and settled. I will be setting the loft more inwards prone regards the compartments depths, to an more roomier compartments as opposed to a crowded one. Won't have enough birds to crowd them, so will lose a lot of natural incentives. Also means not then able to alter a system if needed quickly. Especially 'Jealousy' - the only essences of any motivation - would be harder to be done if so desired even on a natural system. Will for the first time ever mate up early! Then race just hens or the cocks any given week to separate compartments. Not a ‘Round About’ as they will fly dry. An odd opposite sex for a short spell race nights before basketing sometimes if I feel they need a bit of zip, zest like. Yes will try to race mostly cock birds on the easier races forecasted, and up to middle distance. Hens just lightly raced till hard forecasts, or distance races come up, as I certainly find them to be better then and a lot more genuine. On an even keel of upto 400 miles a widower cock is nigh on parr. So can afford - hopefully - to save the hens for races I like and matter to me. That may be two years now down the line, but I do have a few 2 - 3 y/o's so a small team trained hard when first becoming fit, then kept at 90% fit and hopefully getting them to peek when needed.

Have Unikon. Am in three clubs - like others and have One club main;y Bricon.... another All Unikon and one well mixed. Seems for friendly user Unikon edges out best. No none ake the bird fly fast, but by golly time in a flipping lot quicker, ad moreso as the season goes on. -No 'Trap shy' for starters. Fiddig with doors and thimbles or even Clocks.

Would say that you have done what is comfortable with yourself. That is good. I lost some from where they can see the loft - after ranging for hours. Also use to always go 30 odd mile for first chuck, and this seems far and away the best ever for me ... But I knew the birds they were bred from etc. Days end mucker they cause the heart to flutter a bit, and satisfatory result. What morew could one want!

Well from that disaster y/b race where I lost them all ... 2 worked back within 2 weeks. Another last Saturday, and one today. 4 home now. That 25% lol. No! I never bothered to time them in lol. ;D ;D ;D Now with a few late breds... and letting out all the stock birds I have, which I hope some stay, I may yet have an old bird team next season and especially one the year after. This is where the 18 month old late breds - if held come into their own and certainly earn their perch. Yes some say I will lose these 4 straight of. Others will say 'Get Shot of' whilst others say y/b's are intitled to make a mistake. All I know is the 'Blood' is supposedly there. very well bred birds, which will gives them, and me, another chance. When settled a mite, I intend to rebuild my loft again via end of October, and give it another shot. Also will race more authordox method. Yes I do need to pick a few choice days upto Xmas or so to train and MAKE sure before breeding that they want to be here.

May very well have gone back to original owners. his happens a lot. Seem for unknown reason - like how do the home - they get disorientated and when released again at another point home thay go. many transfer and train birds only for the to go home of a sudden. Especially those from the continent. Still if not back you ent lost nothing in real terms.

I think it would make a great little training transport for the club eh! i :P ;D ;D ;D ;D Best keep shumm incase the better half has ideas of spending fuel gad a vanting all over the place lol. Yes in 'Race season' at that lol ;D ;D

Well you can't harness the wind .... just adjust your sail a mite.... But then again so can he in the East side :-/ :-/ :-/ Never mine the 'Bull' about trying harder, getting better motivated, fitter and better birds, Every fancier is trying that every week too. AS is he in the better location - position trying every week. So go for the 350 miles up wards. Forget balony about Breaking points, Any where will do, and saves money least needed to be wasted. Then only train Fit birds to Get fitter for you can't train a pigeon, or any creature to get it fit. It's called a 'Wing and a Prayer'. When your birds are on song and in the right condition, the right conditioned race will come up. Just hope your birds aren't bettered by some one West of you lol ;D ;D ;D But that sums it up. Good luck and enjoy as that is all most of us can do.

Think it is great for those that can afford as such. Obviously most couldn't - but the info stored and related would surely have a beneficial side to it. Mind be a long process and loads of data to be fed in over a peiod of times - seasons- to give a truish and meaningful, yet worythwhile result data thay took a lot into consideraion. Would also have to be tallied from many race points on same day, and hopefully nearish Liberation time. Also of course the 'Road' that they flew. Other than that, just to see where your bird, and £125, gets lost would be nice I guess lol ;D ;D

Well it is great to have, and breed from proven stock that have done it for you. But you know, as regards strays, just before they were lost, they were very likely regarded as 'good birds' or bird to start a family or such with. Many will still have brothers, sisters / family still well thought of in the loft they have left I.e 'Bloodline' etc. So on that point, it is very likely it was / is as good as anyone elses lost birds, and nigh as good as many in other lofts. May very well be off 'Stock Birds' brought in to 'Create a family'. Many are sold / or given away same way bred with high hopes... and many aren't neccessarily better or even as good in many cases. The most important thing as to whether it stays or goes from a loft, off the top or lost training / racing is down to A. wanting to be there and contented with the system. B. isn't a product of silly 'In Breeding' ... which again may auger well for an out cross as a breeder. regardless of 'Costs' the norm spouted is get shut off. % of strays being any good are poor etc. Yep, but in reality that also applies to a very high %tage of ALL pigeons, whether in the home loft or not!

No problem there grizzal. I woud be only too pleased to help if practical.

Yep I live a couple of moiles from Jak Jak. Northampton 20 miles nigh. Derby 50 miles nigh. So would be 20 + 52miles + 52 miles 124 miles. 4 gallons £20 In fact from the M1 A14 round about it is the same distance to me as Northampton. So from Derby to Northampton and back would be shorter than a round trip.... I.e. 104 miles :-/ Yes have read the topic, but can't see the logic of any real saving here :-/ Unless there isn't a car able to fetch? :-/ But am sure some one will point this out. I.e. hi could someone help me get my pigeon closer to Derby as i have had a terrible race from mnfc and i would love to get my bird back. if there is anybody who could help me with this situation then please pm me. it would be much appreciated.... Jak Jak or Me would actually be going 20 miles farther than bombersbullets. :-/

Thought mostly good posts/replies. Shows how different slants and preceptions are preceived. Thought bit harsh if any thing to ask a novice to Spout his performces a bit steep personally. However the main and best post was and is .............. Now that is what really matters I guess.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5885PM20090909?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Not unless they are B.O.P lol ;D ;D ;D

Hope that the doo's are salted well every so often.... Just in case Terrible thing to say, but if one has to be eaten, best let the B.O.P have a salted meal eh Glad they are back tis time.

Must admitt I was ashamed of the incident. Though when you look at it again the goalie's knee did make contact. However it definately was a call for a penalty.... Especially when the rules say Stopping a 'Scoring chance'! THIS WAS NEVER an issue. and would have been just a goal kick. Evasive action my foot. Yes he would have had to have gone around the keeper! So what, that is the object of the whole game, get the ball pass the opposing side and beating he goalie etc. So I am a bit miffed. However it did spoil a overall superior performance. One that has now been eradicated through to fortunate goals in the first leg, and a bad decision in the second.

Would you Adam and eve it :-/ ............ No! :( http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090824/sc_afp/belgiumchinaanimalsoffbeat

Mind one must remember, and many don't realise that Peregrines will readily take carrion. Especially when feeding over laden nests. Have had this also confirmed by a very good and reliable sauce.