Roland

Hi Blondie... Suppose being a Scot will help you cope up there... Be plenty of Kirkpatricks and Tic beans I guess lol.

.. we do not know why a certain bird does not home ... HOW true Beanz ... But hen again we don't have to worry about them... as they aren't there. I am more concerned about the condition I send them in. I've make mistaes and - like some others - pushed, or sent on a Hope and a Wing' Now Mr Basket didn't sort them out, I did, and very unfairly too. Indeed one could say I've thrown away better birds than are actually in the loft. Now they are sent for three reasons only, whether training or racing. Expierence, fitness... to win. If they wink and me before going, have adorned the eye liner and smiled... then failed to shine, that is when the first and maybe last black mark is put besides their number. Often only reprieve is if needed for rearing or as a Nest mate.... unless it has proven youngsters. Then OF COURSE it is seperated to find out if it was that or the mate... or them together. But if room is needed, then they must be gone.

Mr Basket is great! ... but must only be allowed to sort conditioned healthy birds...!

Wish a few more would take the plunge, and many many more would support such like schemes, if only with a couple here and then. I haven't this season bred any Latebreds as suh... well a couple like. But it is great for patient flyers, and meand supplements any season a couple of years down the line. Are the best birds bred in the 'purple / Pinl, and often the very best when buying. Why are they not so popular now! Simply because too many want instant sucess or results. Late breds need to be just left alone to come and go as thjey please, maybe 2/3 odd little tosses on fine days. Next season just one or two 100 mile races or even one 150 miler, Then next race season they will and do take all the beating! But then I hear... 'Yeah, but after all that I might lose half of them ... etc. Likewise many do that breed 50 or more. To me breeding anything like 24 or more y/bs is a waste of time and effort. So I know that if 18 bred, then a dozen l/b's most years I have a good well founded race team. JMO

http://www.chevita.com/tauben/behandlung-englisch/specificinfections_paramyxovirus.htm Could be of help and of an interest...

Any birds home now will I take it be added to the 'Rook Pie' for Xmas dinner then I take it lol

Very True Bruno, I hope you point that out to the Hawk and Falcon brigade if they ever moan why their numbers are shrinking ... likewise their own Rapture reports. Thanks I agree entirely and as such doublely urge every one to use 'Pour On'!

Have a local 'Bobby' just been given a big spread in our local paper trying to encourage youngsters to take up that very sport. I have decided that I'd like a couple and use the cock bird as a dropper. udsed a lot in Canada for that reason with success . some though didn't get the drift and didn't like them as 'Droppes'.

You know a Fox will get a squab of sheep wool and hold it in his mouth. Then foxy swims around in a river, or part of stream / lake and get deep till just his snout is out of the water. He then drops the wool ... with all the nits, lice etc on it that have kept getting higher till the wool was last resort. Dip the birds in Duramite and have done with it... even put a little regular in the bath... but remember if they shower proper they won't be able to fly... !

one eyed cold is just that, an eye subject to cold... a little draught... in one eye.

Yep soon they will not only not want the buisness, they won't bother to have it... Mind whilst travelling around the different parts of the country spending time and money, will meet some nice folks, and see quite a bit of the countryside we haven't seen before. So every cloud has a silver lining... unless of course one can't get, or then want their bird back... mostly due to the fact, time and cost...

I believe it is a lot simple, and cock birds not so ardent if you put the Cock to The hen in HER nest! Especially of course when mating to new mate.

Normally caused by a little hole that causes a draught in that eye... why the other eye don't get it of course.

Costs would be high ... then again it would be that the 'Couriers' take so far and pass onto another courier. More hassle and the element of Human error. Great believer me in 'You can always do without Tom, Dick or Harry ... But how much better can you do with them'! When I was a lad, the Rail took out birds, not only to the 'Race Points' but trained them via being released by the Station Master when clear, with a Filled in form as to the wind, and weather like. They also relayed the strays back to stations, and then either brought them mostly to the door step. They put a lot of time and effort into pleasing our hobby. Indeed, transport wise it has never been bettered. A few wanted to make a quick buck and many found reasons to complain. Scare mongering became the norm - after Beechams' evil money making scheme took off, just look a the profits the government reel in from Oil / Diesel etc. revenue - Till BR gave them warnings back... use us or lose us. We lost them... down hill fast. So a few had a car, many more didn't... some share, many more struggled. This was when the Conn men were starting to sell the 'Sprint Races' that they so ably exploited. Change for change sake rarely pays dividends. Some will always be able to have an angle. Now many don't bother to even wing stamp ... which many believe they don't want it back if lost.... so don't bother. Many more just don't bother anyway, because some are and have been just down right rude and pig ignorant! 'If’s mine... well why bother to waste a phone call... neck it'. Or politely 'Are you a Fancier, as to a member of the public ... Good, will you do us the honours'. Etc. etc. And those that send want their birds back pay extra, for fewer are using it! I don't think for a minute that Amtrax could survive for a moment on pigeon returns alone. Seen many attempts and great idea's come and go... still have to see one last more than a year! Indeed it s fast becoming I would ascertain when it will be more hassle than its worth!

Nor me... been first rate.... And even if I did / do, I'd sill say overall 'It is a blumming good job they are there and hic cups of not, many are, and hopefully will grateful for their services. Wouldn't even be this amount reported, let alone called for if they weren't'. In stead of knocking, just think of all the hours, costs you will incurr without them! aLSO, VOICE AN OPINION TO THEM ALSO, But they will be fondly remembered - like so many others when they tell us to get stuffed and fetch your own flippy birds! Yes of course they aren't perfect, yes they have to employ some off the ftreet that are to be learnt, or sacked, but that goes with every territory!

Because they don't use 'Pour On', and it must be that. And also ecause most don't / didn't know. Sooner they put it into practise the sooner you hawk lovers will be peeved off and we nature lovers will enjoy their sights a lot more freely and better, for they will be in a proper ratio. Yes where we can all see and appreciate them, and marvel at the... even if then a odd pigeon is taken. Now that is a relevant fact. obviously it is for the betterment of our pigeons, and ultimately the betterment of our sport. Any Garden Centre can supply what you need, or "Ivomec Pour-On". It can be obtained from Farmers or Agricultural Stores. Gos and Sparrowhawk will both take carrion, and so will the peregrine in a severe winter. though I think the last winter here,and that wasn't a bad one, was 1963.

http://www.canadianracingpigeonunion.com/ Click on Winberg, follow simple instructions and it's good, very easy and extensive. Everything including training , races, Feds, awards, breeding etc. etc. AND it's free

Yes, spit in the eye. Works wonders and old timers, like me still do it.

And further their off spring are useless also as breeders!

Crossing may make some pretty ones... but like my father said when I was a youngster and had them... They are worthless, both for flying and cost wise. In fact there really is no gain in crossing.

Quote: BBC NEWS A group of pigeon fanciers has swooped on the Scottish Parliament to appeal for action to protect their birds. They have called on MSPs to support reform of the Wildlife and Countryside Act which would allow the culling of certain predators known to target their homing pigeons. The enthusiasts allege thousands of their prized birds are killed by falcons and sparrowhawks each year. Racing bird victims Scotland has been viewed as home to more than half of the UK's peregrine falcons and pigeon racers have complained that newly replenished sparrowhawks and falcons killed about 70,000 racing birds in one year. The Scottish Homing Union, which began lobbying MPs at Westminster, has now shifted part of its campaign to the new parliament. It has already received backing from several MSPs who posed outside the parliament in Edinburgh with five feathered friends belonging to one fancier. However, they have now appealed for wider support for changes to the law, which they said has so far failed to protect their birds.

Bruno this wil be my last post on this matter al being well. your statement here is flawed ... With respect, if you look again at your question you will see that your reasoning is flawed. The main point being that you are comparing correct ivomec usage & dosage on large mammals (cattle, for which ivomec was intended) the research to support that doseage endorsed by the license allowing its use in cattle, and incorrect ivomec use on 'small' birds (pigeons) involving a probable massive overdose, probable no research and definite no license... They sel the stuff for satarters, and the amount needed for pigeons is minute in comparison. Hence why every 10 years a CLUB or such purchases a load... It is minute and hence why the silly spat of yours in saying that it could be injected direct. THAT would be too much strain on their system. But the simple reality is that the THEORY that they put forward in son calld proven tests don't work in [RACTISE. Pour on iIS being used as stated. It is very effective. It does seem to be havng a great effect on Falcon / hawks, and NO there are no known side or adverse effects... otherwise they wouldn't still be using it! Golly the 'Rusty Nail' in the water takes time, and accordingly should have been harmful etc. Never was... Your birds like any one else will Pick outsideof the loft. They will drink out side of the loft... And nigh every time a crop is opened there is Quatz present... bet you never have that in your grit... so go figure, Stranger than fiction is so prevalent. I am a great believer in Molehills, Stinging nettles and thisles, like wise Spring water ... just too darn lazy to get off me butt and fetch the darn stuff.... and maybe at a price I can go to the Supermarket and get tailored made products nigh as good... Then one has to read a litttle on the label. Check on the internet and go for it. Harkers eh ... been a few years since I bought oat with that name on it ... infact there is still a load lying around from yonks back waiting to be chucked out.

Bruno the 'Members' won't even fund a P.R. fir to looby or put a united front together over 'Avian Flu' / Hawks or Falcons' etc. etc. at less than a £1 per year, and you think they would tolerate funding for Y/b' losses! They don't mind paying a small fortune for fancy bits of paper, but a PR firm for a quiddy! A fund for... forget it!

And fantails are a lot hardier than racers... so be careful. Like many I thought that they would make great 'Foster Parents' .. seems they can implant more harm than good when feeding.

Inbreeding damages the inmune system granted. Y'b sickness is fortunately something I've never had. Mind I also believe that Garden lime, and lime pecked in the walls are of a soothing effect. and I don't believe in the E.Coli spread from it for a moment.