Roland

once related a story on here how I cried, several times when a fantastic clever Labrador *expletive removed* I owned. So sad when got Cancer of the brain. She lost all doggy sense, though could still actively response to commands. Third time at vets he said 'Well we can keep him going another 2 years or so ….'. Why. She had no empathy of a good life and I suffered with my empathy for her. In all honesty, I decided it would be cruel, even with best intentions merited and selfish to keep her like that! With no quality of life. Step Daughter had to take her … I have a great painting of her, and her 12 years later I still miss her, but I remember the great times and enjoyment I, and I'm sure she had too. Yes obviously she would have been gone a long while back now, but I miss her, and am more than glad I did the right thing by her. Yes and what she deserved … suffering ended. There, I have tears in my eyes again … But a warm feeling inside.

Well, maybe it's time to do, as Bilco stated many years ago, and give them a beautiful coat on back. It sadly makes me laugh, though it is seriously not funny. RPRA asked, a few years back, regards having a 'Think tank' set up to do and help with many things, as a Spoke person for any Public notice. Also in regards the B.O.P. Problem.... the cost well less than £30,000 a year. Less than a £1 a year in today's members!! Yes, that's right a £1 a year!. Members soon saw that off, saying that the wealthy members who have offices and businesses' could do much work FOR FREE and they should foot the rest of the bill! Fact! True! On here a debate went on for a few months regards a right way of handling the B.O.P Problem. A think tank of course within P.R. firm to address our problem! Members who wanted to be on the list were chosen. Some excellent names too, yes well known and national flyers etc. Of course, the committee would have and should have stayed unknown till up and running. Not least because of the hassle and dirty trick campaigns that the RSPB is so well renowned for. Members on here, were not willing to let this happen, even at no costs to themselves. This whether they were not even interested. Letters were written to the BHW condemning it etc. Indeed irate became against anyone trying to help in this regards, though was nigh insane … the best reason put forward ... in utter stupidity, 'It was best not upset the RSPB'! Couldn't Adam and Eve it... correct. Also first off was that ANY and everyone should be named, and hence made public! Why eeemmm doh doh? In any event just what would be the cost to them? NOWT! There were great ways of raising funds RAISED TO!... costing members pennies... all being rejected by members on here! True. Head in sand eh! Now here we are 12 years later still no further with the problem, but the hope and belief SOME shining white Knight will gallop to the rescue still prevalent. P.s. They don't exist, that was in Fairy Land... the land where many tried to put those genuinely trying to help!

Was having hassle. Did as Scroll down and click on windows trouble shooter, it will go into your downloads, click on it and it will run, hopefully sort your problem. https://www.windowsc...blems-and-fixes Had to put that in Cantana and then followed what was what and downloaded as said. Seems at last more than O.k. Every time I turned off the P.c. it said up date and switch off. First thing on notification said Downloads not successful.

Yep they can. In Canada they do the first of three in the nest. Second about when they leave it and another 3 - 4 weeks later.

Beautiful day this morning. Looked out at the loft from bedroom … nary a one in the aviary. 10. 30 there was one, and then a second. Air clear and fresh … just the odd swallow flying. The magpies / Jackdaws and crows were not to be seen, let alone fighting and chasing each other etc. Hedgerows dormant, Even the bird table and feed not being eaten. Not a sign of any life..... Well I never open the loft up. Afternoon was a resemblance of life in the air, (though not now!) so I opened the loft up. by 4.30 all bar one was inside the loft. None in the aviary compartment! 5 minutes later that one was inside the loft too. Now the aviary is full. Do you think 'Nature is telling us something?! Better still are the birds telling us something? !

What a great Gesture of Hotrod's. Great to hear. Well done.

Mirror or Race controller! Besides the flak if they don't let them up often groans and moans are deafening. Done my on own homework on the weather and I should never have went. Anywie it won’t happen again if in doubt keep the pigeons in the loft for another day. Seek and on suicide watch.������ Again I say Costs also play a part

Good post! Plus failing to Looking in the mirror. Other than that, I have voiced an opinion many times on this subject. Not least Incest Breeding. People hate change and unfortunately one gets 'Comfortable' with bad habits. they invent and pick and choose what they want to see and hear regardless. Hence too many breed far too many TO LOSE!

I believe this to be one of our biggest worries. One that is truly and realistically out of our control. A happening that occurs where any Human can't, doesn't have a say or hand in that might change this happening. (Indeed many other disastrous event can be, or, via fanciers or governing bodies) Many have only heard of a 'Fly Away'. Many, obviously have also had this horrid experience, me included. Let me assure every one A. No one knows why or can explain it ... of course many try and there are many the myth how and why to avoid as such. That's gooley - dash. Indeed known some that often spouted the reasons and remedies to make themselves prone free ... only to be devastated some way along the line. Terry and his Nephew took their youngsters 20 miles one evening. Started of looking good. Then heavy rain hit home. Nigel let his birds up. Terry took his back home. Nigel's were drenched sitting in loft when getting home. Nice day next morning, so terry per usual let the youngsters out. He never saw a feather of them again. believe just two were reported. They flew well too when yearlings etc. So go and figure. Often think it's the tender hooks and adrenalin rushes that keep us glue to the sport. JMO

Will be a few back in morning and over the week I hope.

Many, if not most will most likely get back. Sure hope so mate. Often happens ... But the 'Fly Away' quickly clouds and worries one mind in such happenings. But by far the happening is good returns.

I think, though many may be disappointed, common sense has prevailed. The ones that WOULD have been lost, or late arrivals / worn out etc. will be A. better for the experience, and B. after a good rest now and soon when back in the loft, will be able to compete next week or so. Think a round of applause for the 'Race Controller' etc. would be in order... They take far too much abuse and insults as it is. Weather red hot here till about 12 - 30 ... now overcast and cold winds.

Yes Kyleakin Lofts I have seen and heard your' story many times, so I, like so many others can relate to that. I learnt in the first year how to use a needle and thread to sow up my youngsters. Am I grateful? Well yes and know. I was training my birds down 'Stitch Valley' Had been told in an innocence way that that was the way to train. They would come that way and there was some many pylons casualties were inevitable. Instead of one laughing when showing how to sow them up, I believe it would have been better telling not to go that way. 12 miles I peddled. So one could say 2 valuable lessons learned eh! But I Kyleakin Lofts am certainly not discrediting the good and honest and helpful fanciers am I! Sadly a large majority do do the fancy a disservice. Often those that are really very good themselves at the sport ... Maybe a chance to impress comes their way and jump at the chance first off. then don't.or can't live up to their promises... made I'd believe at the time in good faith etc. Here's another true tale. A very good friend of mine, I was his best man at his wedding and much more. Just three years back in front of my loft shock his head and said 'Sorry Roly, I must say it. I can't see how you can be in such a bad , I think nigh evil sport as pigeons'! Well now I couldn't believe my ears. Long story short, he'd been on a holiday Camp. At night they would go for a quiet drink and had made friends with a few. they would huddle around and chat as the norm. then this one guy stated he was a Pigeon fancier. Yes some, indeed most knew next to nothing about the sport of course. He then, over the next few nights took the lime light and tell them about how to keep them, how to race and the made theme each time was how to Cull. !!! Even from babies you had to have an eye what was going to be any good ... so went into a bucket! the excuses then of why became very many. Too dastardly and uncalled for to put up on a site. Now it seemed to my mate that if you didn't cull at least 70% to 80% you would never be any good at the game. A disservice to our sport surely. Indeed the £000's of pounds raised every year and the good we do goes out the window, through a thoughtless and silly, and most likely a dishonest so called fancier. Sadly in in our grass roots there are too many thoughtless comments and talk. The Romany's call it 'Tavern Talk' for good reason. Are we to say that that so - called fancier's bragging rights did our sport any good? Indeed doesn't that in it's self distract from all the good fanciers and good that they do for others, members charities concerns? Of course it does. So what I would say, suggest, is the hat fits, get shot of it and look in the mirror. Self praise is indeed no praise, but I can, personally, look not only in the mirror but ANTY pigeon fanciers and say I am without spot! I could list umpteen deeds I've done for clubs and feds ... Very few sadly to say appreciated. BUT I still did good for any member or club or fed. fact. As many now / or may know I'm not even a health wreck these days.

Like I say the are many great and generous fanciers, no two ways about that... Shame about the other eh! What a load of P*** ' ...........all members are equal but some are more equal than others !! now that says it all eh!

You know, some fanciers never cease to amaze me and others fanciers of course. A young man had a stray in so reported it. It was actually a 'National winner, and sire of some good birds. The fancier went and fetched the pigeon himself. He spent much time bragging and relating his' own exploits as to how good HE was etc. Yes, he well impressed this young man. The finder was a newbie and struggling to build a team. Was also a mite short, of course of money. The fancier promised him, not only some youngsters but one off this National winner! Of course, the newbie couldn't believe his luck and was over the moon telling many how fortunate he was. He needn't have bothered. It never happened! Later a couple of friends of the newbie, one a scribe for a racing magazine, visited to this so - called fancier and 'Good Sport' regards this. The fancier said, when realising he was found out, he had forgotten. That it had slipped his mind... Yeah right, and I give slices of Moon cheese for toast eh! I bet anyone any amount of money he never forgot the time his national winner went into another loft! Nor the youngster that reported it! Same as today, it never ceases to amaze me how many club members have, and do, promised Newbies a helping hand, free advice and some youngsters to help them set up. It's sadly likened to striving after the wind. For so many times, once the bragging rights, and chest swelling IS OVER they become scare. The youngsters! Yer having a laff ent yer! Happen to me when I first started up. I've never forget it, or them. In fact I never have a good word to say to them, let alone about them. Though a couple of real good fanciers did indeed help me with some youngsters. One whom my dad had set up when he first started and another a real genuine man. Others promised much but treated me as a joke. Promises! Telling me to be at such and such, and they would pick the birds up for training, yes a few I did do that, believing ... more hoping I guess that they would! So I would struggle carrying two basket of pigeons to be picked up. Of course that never happened. Always an excuse when meeting them at the club etc. as to why. Why only has one answer... Because,... scum springs to mind. Is it any wonder that the sport is down spiralling down hill so fast? Gosh, when new fanciers are needed so much in this so-called sport! Then these hollow promises from these shysters who aren't as good as their' last word! Just what would be the feeling prevailed to these newbies??? Disappointments. Of course. Hurt feelings! Definitely! Feeling of being let down and betrayal, and the Wee - Wee extracted!. Thinking that the sport is full of shysters of the highest degree and level! Most likely. Sadly this bears a lot of merit as to the discredit, and poor thoughts regards honesty in this so-called sport. Gosh, what better way to advertise the sport eh! How these people look and smirk in the mirror beats me. Me, I'd bow my head in shame and hide under a stone with other slugs! ... but they won't. They just pass it off and say 'Well I'm only human' eek! What a sad state of affairs eh! Human? Yer having a laugh mate'! You know, another sad thing is the reality that ALL genuine fanciers, those that play the game, who are pleased to help and donate birds etc. Whom raise money for a good causes, who will go out their' way to be kind, considerate and helpful ARE TARRED WITH the same brush and become ridiculed for the happenings of these shysters. Wouldn't it be better, and get a lot more respect, if they kept their gobs shut, and didn't lie, promise this and that etc. and not deliver!

drummondp842 says' ..... I honestly feel that when there is electricity in the atmosphere it does something to the pigeons....' Very true. When birds are milling there is electric in the air. Age known. Swallows etc. fly higher etc. Heavy rain / and even lightening in place will follow. Oh how I've hated that face in the mirror in past times when ignored what nature is and does etc. But then what the heck too many say. The worst excuse is listening to those saying 'If some can and will do it WHY not all'?! Words of fools. Time after time it is proven that they can't and don't. Indeed many, very many actually, good birds don't and didn't! Fed winners etc. included a like. Mind, it is often a matter of Costs! Losses Verses / Against hold overs I guess. 'What about 'Next Week'! Well one thing for sure and again proven 'Birdage WILL be down'! Now that's a fact!

no good for man or best is the wind coming from the East. electrical too. When the birds - like Seagulls are 'Milling mine stay in... the gnats rise and so do birds to eat them. Electrical follows with rain and lightening most likely. This help fertilise the ground... Mine always stay in the loft in such cases. J.M.O. One thing foe sure Sometime it is out of our hands, and 'Race Controllers' etc. won't ever please more than 60%. So if mine are in fine fettle and RACE fit they may well be in a transporter. I can't control them happenings. I can and do look in the mirror though. Yes often I haven't liked what I saw.

genetic engineering Lol. Mind quite feasible. Because that means, like the G.M. Crops, and for no other reason that it can be pattern.

Benzing V5.4 Express G2 system for sale... hardly used and updated. Two 22 inch pads etc. 50 or more E.T. Rings etc. Any one interested please contact me. Will have too see exactly what I have etc. regards number of ring. Sensible (and realistic) offer will get. Buyer to pay post and package like. Or come and see for a day out. Have a cuppa of Rosie Lea,

Leslie the best tasting meat by far is 'Rooks' without a shadow of Doubt. 4 and 20 blackbirds in a pie is the most arduous time lol Don't know regards Crows. Swans very black and tough apparently. Now goose is good. Great for grease in winter spread on you to keep out the cold lol. On the continent linnets etc. sparrows anything caught in the nests.

Too true, like wise all that family. Hawks and raptures too. Squirrels will desecrate a loft too.

Not true. Hawks / B.O.P make short thrift of them if hungry. Mind they don't aggravate them if the Hawks / B.O.P. are hungry. Nuisance only when suits. They become dinner if and when suited. I move crows etc. on if possible.... Many a loft of youngsters have been devastated by crows etc. Yes they will kill y/b's, when of a mind. When that starts they don't stop. fact.

Great believer in the F.M.B. So maybe out...

Hi Bandit. You are, and rightly so, pleased and enjoying your birds performances at the present. That's good and may well it continue. (Yes it goes without saying one always hopes and strives to do better) Will be good also if you let us know how these birds perform in the last few race, and the distance and hard days. I feel that much valuable info gleaned in these results will have a bearing and provide thoughts for future experiences. JMO. May you continue to enjoy, good luck mate... After all this is what it is all about.

Thanks mate.