Roland

I heard of a safe, and inexpensive way, to control mice and apparently it works. Ray Naklicki read, and tried, this experiment. Mix 1 equal part flour with 1 equal part sugar with 1 equal part baking soda. Place in container around loft. Mice will devour the mixture. Once the mice drink water the baking soda foams up they bloat up and die. Ray says he hasn't seen any mice in weeks. Seen mice eating one in a trap.

Kipps had 17 in 20 minutes after one in the morning from Barcelona. The Canadian forces in the war years - so did the British but not quite so successful, released pigeon at night, in total darkness, in paper bags at 5000 feet. They timed in, in the dark, from 200 - 300 miles. Why the paper bags? Because the wind would catch and steer it clear of the planes tail end. So the thought of training pigeons to 'Sleep at night' is ....

Barry Andrews, a great all rounder distance wise, excelled at the distance. One thing he did do was take and release 20 - 30 miles dusk time. Giving them just enough time to home. Said they can and will fly in the dark if needs be - (Obviously very true and proven fact). Gave them an urgency to get home. If out, they learnt to cope etc. and not get stressed out. In days when often the early bird next day won the hard and distance races, this training was a boon.

True Hillstreet. I prefer just the 7. The eighth can be any fruit of ones choice. As the seven it is Brilliant. Now a little Pear, plum / cherry or such, puts a personal flavour can make the eighth.

Many a good young bird race won on Horse Beans, that's for sure.

ROSE HIPS HAWS ROWAN (Mountain Rowan) SLOES APPLES BLACKBERRIES ELDER BERRIES I do 8 equal ounce's. Mountain Rowan is poisonous raw. Must be cooked of course. Hence great for it is well heated for Jam. Can also make a great drink.

Meant Polystarene. But polycarbonate will / would work out just the same. I saved up jam jars... Till I needed for my jam making. But got some from skips. Also I went to Double glazing places , asked, and took as much as want from their skips. Rats / Mice CAN'T, let alone won't gnaw through glass. It is also a good insulator. When I had wooden lofts, I'd cover floor / walls with glass. Then covered with chip board / ply or what was available. Skips and Packing Companies are only to please for you to take some board used on Pallets. Talking of jam making I found a great idea regards what is thrown away ... Freeze in cubes and put in drinks. One I make has 8 diferent ingrediants from the hegderows. Apply name 'Hedgerow'. Very popular and great for have all the vitamins etc. etc needed. Plenty of 'C' of cause, which is very good in cols weather.

Via giving a small dose of most things a natural immunity can be had ... But only a percentage... they can still get the virus or whatever, but may cope with it a lot better. Not always ... indeed pedigrees dogs, for instance, still go down with parva after being vaccinated, yes even die. Where as mongrels, walking the streets, with own immunity taking it in their stride with no affect. Like wise with very much.

What stuff Alan? Antibiotics prevent nothing. Seems if read that probiotic don't either. Makes one think that one never reads the posters at the doctors in these regards. Only health? Well again health over combats anything. to better or lesser depending on the birds health and constitution. Now Garlic is a sauce of prevention... Causes weight loss etc. because the birds only eat and drink as little as possible as they hate it. Duncan you have hit the nail straight on the head.

You know, when I built my loft - Bricks and tiled - I had some wield looks regards what I put under the concrete. I did a flat concrete, then put polycarbonate on to. Covered with glass. The concrete. Then the same with glass and polycarbonate and another layer of concrete. A fellow old timer, in the building trade as much as said I was stupid. I said warmth and no rats or mice will get under the loft and through into the loft. I also dug a trench all the way around the loft and buildings about 2 foot deep and a foot or more wide. Filled it with broken glass. The same mate last year - indeed for two years had rats getting through via coming under his concrete flooring. Caused havoc and great losses besides the much stress! I know he wishes he'd done the same. Never had frozen water in loft since either. Yes had frozen bowls and taps outside.

A certain percentage always... For rearing young a very high percentage with say Tic beans. 60 - 75 Groats. Some times with little seeds added. But not at the groats expense. Race days 30% or more. Conditioning - with say canary seeds or such. Winter / cold nights / Race days a little hemp gives good heat units.

True Wiley ... remarkable how the tend revolves eh! Only thing I'd say is a % of Groats all year...

Setting a new trend. Going to Corby (Miniature Scotland) and instead of first footing with taking coal to them ... will take coal from them instead :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Seen Pouters doing a fine job

Cut in half is fine - I use to ... Now I find better to cut in 4 inches personally.

Have fun, enjoy, and remember much is said with a nod and a wink in good jest. But also much good advice given freely. Oh and watch out for BLACK W F

Nah that is a myth... Nigh everywhere maybe. Over populated by far in many places. Only ever been one, maybe two here about. Mind both moved on after a day or so. S/H a nuisance sure, one Goss hawk that visits the lib site as soon as the transporter comes. So yes we are lucky I guess. Have said that, and let's be clear here, though they do a lot of damage etc. they take a lot of blame undeservedly so... But then the 'Fancier' is and has been the biggest problem in this regards.

Thankful I'm never thought of lol :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Good of yer Pat. Regards how well you try, they will still be soothsayers etc. and pull you downs. But by and large MOST will respect and bide by the decisions. You will please most Most of the time ... But not all all of the time... and some never! But heres to you. Good luck ... you will need it lol.

Some truth there. Mine, like Sunday last, just rise up high above them. Have a few feral around too. Make great 'Watch Birds. Some, I did once, have a feral or two that come into the loft. Left to be at home, cleaned up for this very purpose.

Good idea that.

Will add a little hemp, or maize, at night.

always did, always, snow etc. Never hurt them none. If anything made them more hardy and better for distance and hard races. Then in Canada at mates he kept his in all winter. He did more than well winning his share. Did for a couple of seasons... Now open loft all year round... if not out in an aviary. Not good for 'Shows' etc. unless bringing them into the house in front of the radiators for a week or so lol. I tend to watch the wild birds and what they are up to. Sometimes I don't open if East in wind, or a 'Still' day / Night where and when nothing moves. But they still have the aviary to sit in. If I was interested in short or Wind bag races though I'd keep them in in the winter ... and only allow aviary on warm sunny days I guess.

Personally I think the 1st of January is / was quite adequate. Where does one want how early it is to stop? B. Earlier the better and ALL want to steal a march eh! Simple fact is in that scenario NO march on any competitor can or will be gained. I know, instead of breeding good 'Late Breds' let us put next year's rings on them eh! Just what and how can December be the time to send OUT next years rung youngster! Gosh one can already have youngster racing to big youngsters! Just what more does ones want? Besides being detrimental to the birds well being.

Ditto. Always believe that Racing was a Bonus. Winning! Well that is the icing on the cake if you so desire to take part. One thing for sure and certain, you will have ups and downs. No two ways about that whether you race or not. But overall a lot of happy times.