Roland

Good luck chrissy ...

12 STEP OF P.A. (PIGEONS ANONYMOUS) 1. We admitted we were powerless over pigeons and their poop has become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanitation. 3. Made a decision to turn our roof and our pigeons over to the care of God, as we understand Him. 4. Made a searching and fearless fecal inventory of the creatures. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to bi-law enforcement the exact nature of their wrongs. 6. We become willing to have God remove all these defective creatures. 7. Humbly asked Him to remove their homecomings. 8. Made a list of all sidewalks they had harmed and became willing to clean them all. 9. Made direct attacks whenever possible especially when to do so would affect the offenders and other pests. 10. Continued to take perimeter inventory and when they come back promptly annihilated them. 11. Sought through stealth and imagination to improve our conscious contact with birds, as we understand them, praying only for knowledge of their proximity to us and the power to wipe them out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other pigeon haters and to practice these principles in all our affairs. XXXXXXXXXXX I am responsible, when anyone, Anywhere reaches out for help with pigeons, I want the shotgun of P.A. always to be there, And for that I am responsible.

http://www.sitnews.us/0807news/080107/080107_wayward_pigeon.html

Interesting! For all us outdoorsy types that are getting eaten alive by mossies!! THE BEST WAY OF GETTING RID OF MOSQUITOS IS LISTERINE, THE ORIGINAL MEDICINAL TYPE. THE DOLLAR STORE TYPE WORKS TOO. I WAS AT A DECK PARTY A WHILE BACK, AND THE BUGS WERE HAVING A BALL BITING EVERYONE. A MAN AT THE PARTY SPRAYED THE LAWN AND DECK FLOOR WITH LISTERINE, AND THE LITTLE DEMONS DISAPPEARED. THE NEXT YEAR, I FILLED 4 OZ. SPRAY BOTTLE AND USED IT AROUND MY SEAT WHENEVER I SAW MOSQUITOS, AND VOILA, THAT WORKED AS WELL. IT WORKED AT A PICNIC WHERE WE SPRAYED THE AREA AROUND THE FOOD TABLE, THE CHILDREN'S SWING AREA, AND THE STANDING WATER NEARBY. DURING THE SUMMER, DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT. PASS IT ON.

I personally believe that Swilcox is genuine and does try very hard to sell what he believes to be the truth! He also is very willing to help causes, and as such I'd personally would have no scruples from having birds of off him. *-Don't know about buying them lol 8) ;D ;D

Have to agree Me, and sadly the impresson is that you have to buy more and breed more to contend and have birds left at seasons end! Too much inbreeding for starters when very few understand it! I will have a big team if I compete next season, 12 old birds and 12 yearlings, But I more than expect in a normal season that some should be making way for the y/b's bred!

Has to be true... but don't know about the 'Shut Up' bit, more like 'If you don't want to, then don't'! Yet one must also be pre - warned and have it explained to them, that some 'Feather Merchants' have no scruples what so ever, and too many are cone merchants'. Yet we have all seen the local flyer that isn't to hot, just average at a pinch say, -and even in a favourable location - that has the 'Name' enhancing his birds' Known him for.... and most is about his credabilty, hen to say that he can honestly say that any one buying of him will be getting ' birds tried and tested (not to what standard ) and ' ...he wouldn't do anyone a bad turn' etc. Yes birds are mostly crap, bred a 'Swallow' evry other summer. So yes Phone the local Sec, and / or good local flyer and ask! Yes too often the black and white static are 'Grey' .... but then you have been told that when reading mostly. Read the 'Ads' with a sarcastic air, and if hard to poke fun, then you may have just hit a good honest fancier. BUT unfortunately they are in the lesser %!

Mind we had red Skies every night here that few days, and been great weather without a spot of rain ... Was 'Rain before 7 , clear by 11' right!

Agree and crosses for racing and line jus for the 'Blood' ... but too few realise that .... hence the churches over full, - note not saying overcrowded!

I for one have no qualms with Swilcox selling and donating. Infact I think it is good and honest .... whereas all to often too many have advertised/ sold or bought through this site and nary a thank - you let alone a quiddy or two for the site. So Stuart and all others that have put their hands in the pockets for this site Well Done!

Have to agree with Sammy ...

Johnny 11 on here! same day results and very competative...

Can't tire them out as such. Like kids they recuperate by next morning if they over do it.... which is rare as they - like all youngster just love to fly. That's when you know they are happy, content and fit for a race. 50 or more miles every day wouldn't hurt them, as their recuperation is geared just for that. JMO

Yes, of course, I had the only birds on the day from Thurso last season doing just that. I found cleaning out was easier that way, but of course contained in their pboxes would probably be just as good.

4

Yep and been swallowing the 'Silly' pills to, and far too long at that!! Obviously you wouldn't give a jot if genuine fanciers leave BEACAUSE of the ET clocking. You undoubted would say 'They are just blaming that! ... They would have left any way scenario (cheap get out!)! I care about each and everyone that leaves and especially the causes. And the most blatant reason is because of Egoistic, banshee committee men and the 'Stuff you we are alright and we are telling you if it's good for us then it SHOULD be for you. Many great clubs are held together via astute and hard working committee men that work tirelessness for their club and sport ... mostly in that order, only to see all their hard endeavours come to no avail through selfish and too often short sight self righteous 'Committee men! Seem nigh impossible for you to accept that great as it is, the ET could well cost this sport dear! Golly you can’t even understand that many have to open a door, get into a compartment, catch the bird and take of the rubber / into a thimble and then strike a clock, whilst your birds never have to have a wary eye out for you and it’s not wanting to be caught – and forget about what ‘Joe Bloggs’ did and could do, smell the coffee an1760 ypm d wake up. For next week the manual clocker will lose another few seconds by a ‘Trap Shy’ bird. Equals a ¼ of a mile in 15 seconds, and as a clock setter and bottle washer you well know that! So for once accept that we all know the ET’s merits, and great they are too…. Just look at the other side for a change. On an allotment lofts 20 yards apart each have 6 birds split together … end of story! The manual clocker needn’t bother to time in! So I suppose by some quaint mysterious way he will and can have to improve to off set the ET who must be a dummy in that one can easily improve up on them. Going bed and dreaming of owning a ET clock and gaining a stretch on my good club mates. lol ;D

Cool. Am willing to do a Show / Fund - Raiser. I never handle money, - well would but Joyce won't let me lol. Seriously never at any 'Fund - Raiser' or otherwise do I handle money. So need a couple of names that are able, willing and capable. http://www.rosscoleyevents.co.uk/ Feel that a 'Race - Night- would be best! Now have ideas of course, but will see if any one is interested first! Would have to have a 'Venue' to hold the function. Two or more folks to work the Tote - simple even I could do that. Will do a show during and after.... say a 60's / 70's night with the live acts on the 'Big Screen'. Further folks on here can buy their Horses.... as many as one likes. The 8 Races can be duplicated as much as needed. Then 50% to the cause and 50% to the winning owner ... likewise Jockeys ... Could do a tri - Cast for those that decide to come... or any one here wishing to participate. etc. etc. Lets us know wha the interest is... etc.

Now for my next quest ... lol

Basically you just start Feeding after the race. A litle linseed and Barley, 3 or 4 peanuts top. Maples / Tic... or protien to mend torn, tired muscles. Mix Monday. Tuesday with a feed that gives thm any thing you feel they need or are lacking with oats, groats, etc with a little Canary Mix... Wednesday 50 / 50 mix with high Carbs. Thursday pure High Carbs... Friday mornng, high Carbs / Hemp etc. Depending on distance and forecast. Obviously as they would have had only a 'Wing Opener' the previous Saturday BEFORE a distance race yo start the Carbs a day or two or three early. Pigeons fly on Fat, then reserves, lastly on they burn the muscles and this is time for barley etc. as a good blood purifyer. Burned out Muscles, or protein over done gives birds toxin and blood poisoning. Clear Blood, and air tubes and carbs to fly on! Yes that is the essence and basic of a fit healthy bird, which then adds all the other things it self to become conditioned. That is that basis. Hope it has given you food for thought.

Great realistic, sensible and honest post. Ditto mate feel the same 100% I won't have one for them same reasons as I have stated. Yes I'd love one too, and if the club will agree to dock me 15 seconds off mine and everyone else ET, I'd have one tomorrow. As it is, there are another scenario. What if the Club or even the FED can't afford to buy their part?! You couldn't levy the club members, especially if 70% or more can't or won't have it! So what if then the pro ET brigade decide to purchase it for the club / Fed? A year or two down the line they couldn't ask, or expect any new members, or existing members that have changed their mind and decide to have the ET. I mean just where would the money go....

In that case then why not allow them that can't have one to use just 10 seconds! eh! After all you just want to use it and not gain, or have any advantage. No you won't do that simply because you have your cake and want evry last crumb to eat!

Ronnie next time you get a feral baby in … keep it, and learn. One when it traps for feed like yours, toss it with your youngster - or old ones - and I'd wager they beat yours home every time up to 60 miles at least. Two, as soon a falcon / hawk / rapture is about he'll lead yours to safety a darn site quicker than yours. George Wills, collected al the blacks he could off the Gas Silos. Within two years he was riding high at both club and fed level... In deed Frankie George’s ferals (they were adjacent to his big concerns loft) were clanging his and most others week in and week out.... till a very well known stud bought him out. Birds 1,2,3, generations from the races are fine, and soon return look the part. Now if one looks at it realistically with all the 'GREAT pedigree birds lost every year the church has a great breed stud farm lol. But the Pedigree birds that are lost today are too much inbred and produce crap. Obviously, otherwise as they would hom!. And where do they go?! to find as many others as possible and to become crowded and happy. Sorry Ron, didn't mean this sarcastic like, or having a pop at you personally.

Will have to get some photo's of a Dove cote near me, and try to get someone to showme how to put them up on here. It's walls are 3 feet thick at least. 30 foot high and about 50 x 30 sqare. With another exact same adjacent. Made in stone s pretude outwards about 9 inches square. Underneath hole like left about the same. This was to enable the 'Man in Charge to climb and collect egs, or whatever. The hole go back inwards and the round to the right where there is a about an 8 inch square nest box. Of course there would be no light at all, which is similar to aWidowerhood set up - There is only one little door in a corner to get in, about 2 feet square. And three slits on each wall about 18 inches high and 4 inches wide. There is a brook, close by, but no means whatsoever for the youngster to drink at all till they leave the nest. Must house at least 350 pairs in each side. Yes ther are a few fantails there now etc. but when you get them, they also are in absolute spot on condition.

What you repeat the same old agreed garbage for. That is true and stated 100's of time... or have you just realised that! But just what has that got to do with the price of eggs!

Just look at the barn pigeons, and feral feeders! They eat the good and ripe feed and live of three foot high droppings, and the youngster are always in first class condition. Lice keep their feathering in tip top condition! Never say that feral pigeons are inferior in their resistence to disease to any other pigeon. I think that they are the hardiest breed we have and this comes from cross-breeding and selecting only by their ability to survive - that is Nature's way - not by the kind of feather curls and the like that are completely inconsequential to ther survival. Some scientists tested feral pigeons as well as racing pigeons a few years back as to the presence of Salmonella antibodies. It was found that while 30 % of racing pigeons in Munich had experienced Salmonella exposure, the same could be said of only 5 % of the feral pigeon population. It would appear that we have too many "doctors" who like to use antibiotics on our pigeons that Mother Nature would have considered unfit for life - and then we breed more like them.