Roland

I wonder also. Fortunately never having had it .. or my birds lol. Further I wonder many, many, times These birds that get over it, DO their' youngster still get it? If so then they answer lies somewhere in their constitutions and poor immunity surely. Indeed do the same birds get it again? A quite knowledgeable fancier once said. 'Cocci, going light etc. means many panic and say / fear it's Y/B sickness because Y/B sickness seems all the rage now'! Food for thought as does Y/B sickness get the blame for much else?

I know you won't believe this ... but I complain. Also take customs else where. One particular supplier gets peeved every time I go in ... just for my easy bed. Spouts / lies about super specials etc. One bad feed did me damage and cost me money, and sadly some youngsters. Found his sauce and it was 'Out of Stock' bought cheap. Never again. Many, but many know this to be true ... But still buy because of price! I deserve better for my money. My birds, to me, DEMAND IT!

Experience.... I suppose youngster don't, if ever range / roam. A contented experience flown with zest and a want to fly! Where does one think they go? For a natter up the church? For a few chips in Town Centres or Morrison's? They roam at least miles upon miles. 50 / 60 miles or more and still don't get lost ... well some decide not to bother coming back. So then we - I don't, heaven forbid - take them up the road in 3 - 5 mile stages losing some most times saying 'Gosh... just think of those that don't train'! Having a few No returns as one goes along eh. So I see, and nigh 'ALL you do' where 13 or less from 60 etc. is regrettable, but THAT'S today - said. Maybe they get peeved off with the constant 'Up the Road'. I'd wager any one that taking 20 of the 60 in turns 50 miles would at least be as good losses wise than this molly coddling short stages. I'd also wager that - in rotation just sending them to the races result would be at least as good, and most likely better. Certainly far less losses. If you can, you do... if you can't, won't don't call those that do. Simple.

Some truth Williedoo. I'm saying MOST do know their' way back ... if they can be bothered. If not, then they certainly won't hurry if they don't want to. Also, saying that, there is NOTHING that you, me, or any one else can say, let alone do, that will alter the fact. Yes I also realise that moods, fitness and desires to home can and do vary. They may certainly take a different view and win a few shortly after a poor day or two away. But most that don't care, be bothered seldom change their' minds. I had a great fancier at my loft when a later bird arrived. I handed it to him and said 'I'd guess you'd cull it'. After handling he said 'No, I'd leave in a nest box where it can see it's mate. Then put in a basket away from the loft 2 -3 days then take to the club, THEN I'd pool it next week because it's starting the beam'. It did too. Took it's first card. I was trying to break and race some birds in 1984 when I started up again. Had 24 from another loft who was packing up. Barry said 'He has some good birds, but not a lot what to do with them'. Any way the blue cock bird was back and forth between lofts. Send it Grantham as a trainer early week. Was on big youngsters. He went back to old loft. I fetched and left it with the youngsters and removed the hen bird. He now had a reason, want or desire to stay / home. Sent it that week to Frazerbough. 2nd Club and 9th fed. We can only guess - hopefully with an experience eye, what we may do that will bring it on. Let's be truthful here. A bird can be 100% fit and we believe ready to star. Only to be back late, or at best propping up the list come race night. So he wanted to be back.

Depends if they want another couple of mega wages I guess. Mine if Mayweather wins, bang goes another two big pay days. But then does he need the money or glory? Obviously likes the money. Why else? Certainly has nothing to prove.

My Brother, like many more take babies and simply put them into the deep end. They normally sink a mite ... know instinctively to hold their breath and quickly are able to get around. Never ever heard of a case that a Baby has come to harm. Like wise these many thesis of so many folks have never been tried or tested. Just personal thoughts based on a humanity thesis. Makes me smile when a prisoner returns to it's former loft with no training or experience. New born grass eating animals can, do, and will run within 3/4 of an hour. Baby birds leave their' nest and in many cases having never seen an adult fly, they quickly take to the air. I've yet to see any human there abouts teaching them Albatrosses' home from 000's of miles when needs be, having no previous. Moths emigrate 3000 miles and back having never been there be fore. Butterflies can travel 9000 miles etc. Yet we, with an air of self knowledge know better than the pigeons... indeed how to train and teach them lol. Training is no more than a reason to put mileage under their wings if need. Plus single tosses no more than an added value - if needed, than to strengthen the heart. Let me state here and now, no one, but no one can teach a pigeon anything regards homing. Gosh we don't even know how they do it! Yet we know better. I should co - coa. Even last year a very good results shows that the Magnetic field has no bearing whatsoever on how they do it. Also Sun Spots have no bearing. Another thing for certain, and one can make all the reasons / excuses / theories galore if a pigeon doesn't want to home, it won't! Maybe 2 years later or so it make if it feels like it. Then of course it's the adage it was held prisoner ... maybe, but more likely not. Simple reality is that they can! Thus we can enjoy our sport.

Me and many more do and have. Straight into first race or second is splitting teams. Was the time when MOST did it as a natural thing. Before cars and the train cost 2/6 or 3/6 at least. Used the races with certain ones in mind. Chosen to get a few miles under their wing to sharpen them up etc. No disrespect meant, but how does one conceive that they are teaching their' birds what comes naturally? Indeed, like the myth of breaking points and other adages. Was a time when I lived 200 yards from a 2 and half mile lake. This could of course be seen for absolute miles away from the air. Yet often they flew by from a wee toss and became strays just a couple of miles away. Indeed some would sit on the church top 50 yards away. But missed and came back. Some call that 'gaining experience'. ... For what! Do we believe that the pigeon knows it's learning to race lol. No a pigeon flies home because it wants to be there. To it's next box or perch. Because that is the place it wants to be. Time it takes is just a matter of the wanting to. No one, but no one can, or ever has of course, motivate, or trained a pigeon to race. Just WHAT one feels to please own ends. the 3 C's plus one more C is all that is a must. Then their fitness and mental state takes over. Loft fit is all that they need to start them off. I thought Del did some as such this start of this season start. Seems it was as good as his other birds. The main barrier is the stigma of fanciers crying rubbish about 'Shouldn't etc. because '...'. Then of course because they 'Don't' because they daren't and fear others that do will, and might steal a March. If one hasn't tried it like, they their thesis is irrelevant. The downing calls are no more than striving after the wind. If health allows me to race this next season - Didn't allow it this season as past season - I will be entering birds, this years youngsters straight in at 150 mile or so first time in basket. Maybe it is why the rush home lol. Maybe the shorter ones come to think of it if can get to the club etc. This is what my dad and nigh all fanciers in the club / fed did in the 50's / early 60's did, Admitted it was 65 miles then to Workshop. Hardly enough money to support the family, let alone put it on their birds. Mind if my health starts to deteriate I shall be packed up any intentions of keeping my birds. Very soul destroying to have them looking so grand and not racing.

Because ?

Many have done that ... Must be a rusty nail though. Personally I think that is as useless as bubbling the water. If an air bubble / oxalating. If any air / bubble or got into the blood stream it would block it. End of pigeon. Then then again 'John', if one boo-hoos any thing, then they should summit as to why it wouldn't, couldn't work. Indeed any proven reference even! But to sit on side and spout something they have never tried / or even understand, is spouting garbage at the highest level of ignorance lol. No need for an I.Q. test, it is already been shown lol.

Aye... and works like magic too. A very famous National winner had twelve in a circle on poles etc. Open loft, but able to trap etc. This was before the 'Rabbit Hutch' designed lofts, where they are stacked. Of course this also became prevalent in regards 'Pigeon Lunge. This was prior to Keith Mott too. I smile, often, when folks boo - hoo such ideas with great merit that have proven it works. Most great things in this supposed sport are 'FREE' at that. Fresh air, clean water etc. Mind neither I, or any one else has been able to stop the pigeon drinking from Puddle, old pots or gutters etc. Even seen some scrape the GREEN algae of such and put into the birds drinkers.

Done

Many use Rabbit Hutches with great success. Left outside to the elements as prisoners. Never have myself though.

Just Ask Me I agree with you. Though the 'Drugs Committee' have now waved as such and much. Was he a cheat! Of course! Because he took those 'Prescription' With the intention to gain an advantage. So his intention was to cheat. The point(s) I am making is like, say, the 'M.P. allowances'! Shame on them. The 'Chameleon' sorted that! How? By making them legal now. Yet some old cases are and were still brought up and some punished because they swindled before they became legal fiddles. Now the, laws to be, have a problem.... who and how to bring to justice and who not to. Now in the same vein what of those that in this, and other so called sports, via bringing in unnatural stimulants to a betterment of their birds racing powers are intentionally cheating? P.s. I'm not judge or jury, or an advocator. But where is the line drawn? JMO

No John. He admitted taking E PO. which isn't and Enhancer' drug. Now taken off the list as such. Mind as he stated time after time, I'll go along with him in saying 'Drug usage' is / was rife in that field... back to the 50's or more. Indeed before. In the interview, broadcast on the Discovery Channel in the UK, Armstrong then admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs Erythropoietin (EPO), as well as having blood transfusions. (Blood Packing). Which is used in Horses officially and even Pigeon Racing. Testosterone. http://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/natural-boosters human growth hormone: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=human+growth+hormone&tag=mh0a9-21&index=aps&hvadid=3170807323&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8i4ikc38c1_e cortisone: which THE Belgium government HAD TO, (twice) with the Pigeon Fraternity brig charges again fancier! Why? Because the sport was rife with cheats and Charleston's selling calls. Cortisone is used to keep the Bird / Ailment in same mode. ://www.reference.com/web?qsrc=999&qo=semQuery&ad=semD&o=38039&l=sem&askid=e43d5279-46e1-49bd-8c66-9ffe7e118fba-0- rf_msb&q=cortisone%20injections%20for%20pain&dqi=&am=broad&an=msn_s Indeed done many, even on here give and get subscribe much in trying to gain a march, or betterment of their birds?

Lance Armstrong got banned and his 7 Tour Titles took away. He contested etc. but admitted takin E L O. But said that they shouldn't classed as an enhancer. Now that so - called enhancer has been taken of the list and confirmed it isn't / wasn't an enhancer! have they apologised? No! Have they restored his titles? No! Will they? He is still waiting! ... More chance of Carl Lewis and Joiner Flo Jo losing their' drug cheat cheating titles and records. Will never happen!

None ... feeds have all the oils in them that they need. When a cup is brim full you can't add any thing. Mind some take a picture looking better I guess. Indeed with supplements one can make a crock look good... even a so call cull. So I guess it boils down to if you want to sale or take pictures lol.

Well done AGAIN Steve. Will have to start calling you 'Big Steve'. Also congratulation the father. Well done.

Will never change as long as the powers to be feather their own nests and defend their location regards Race Points. When decent persons get voted in and try for sanity to have a say, they find themselves bashing their heads against the wall. So they give and leave the sport often. Like wise with the grass roots. Just money fodder to bolster their chests. Many good ideas - ones they would help immensely, reach deaf ears and fears of change. They / too many are comfortable with the habits. On top of that, without any doubt whatsoever the biggest problem is the fanciers themselves. Often for the above reasons and following the glib tongues of those with self interests. Too often the Blane excuse 'Well I won't be around much longer ... Golly Gosh dread to think what the sport will be then'! Little do they understand, let alone accept, that they ARE the reason and culprits! Incest breeding to the greatest detriment to the pigeons. But hey, who care, we hear every so often of one that did it and they had great success. Sadly one swallow doesn't make a summer.

Come on Laura. A gold will have the English touting for a sports Personality of the year. 2 medals will make you a well deserved legend! Maybe Mo for the Mens.

True DJWA and many more in many Nations. East Germany in the late 60's and 70's...China? Wang and co devastated athletics in the 80's. Mind the truth was terrible the regime they set up. The Girls ran a marathon EVERY DAY! (SIX ACTUALL A WEEK.) Last back got beaten with a stick. Also if their time wasn't up to parr. Remember when the first three in the 1500 metres all broke the world record! Indeed it was broken 5 - 7 times then.

Sorry 'Cheats' do win. Sadly! Carl Lewis 5 times failed the drug tests. In both Olympics and World Games'!Even in 1988 Olympics - after they disqualified Ben Johnson - he too fail the drug test ... like 7 of them did apparently. When questioned as to why Johnson banned and Lewis given the gold the limp answer was 'Ben Johnson is good for the sport ... Lewis is the face of the sport'. Many, many more too. Google 'Carl Lewis Drug Cheat' etc.

Self intrests, sadly, too often abound.

Tenacious was the by word of the Scots. - Great individualists, but seldom a team. Laura Muir is such a case. Fantastic! Yes I'm glad for Mo.... But my two tops are Laura and Judd. Bottle galore. Judd - back after 3 years away - has the Bull Dog spirit. Don't we just love any one who wears their' heart on their sleeves! Still a tender age and time on her side. But Laura is my Hero! If she picks up a medal I will be the happiest English man around ... A gold! Will need some tablets to calm me down! For me that would be the high light of these world Championships. One thing for sure you will see on her face the grit and thunder in endeavouring to be first! It takes 'Bottle' to rise to the top in any sport, regardless of natural ability! Laura oozes it! That alone merits reward. Regardless of where she finishes. - Oft, sadly, many time in life, in sport, one through no fault of their own, don't acclaim their potential and standing. Lets hope for Laura this is attainable. Talent is never enough. Feel sorry for KJT. If her bests were obtained she would have had 2 good (Gold / Olympic) medals and be lead the board now at the W/C. But alas alack the occasions over wrought her, and will always - I'm afraid - have bad days at the office. Come on Laura, I, and I hope all are rooting for you.

I don't know of course ... But it would be a good thing to look at WHERE the location is of the people who decide. Also those with glib tongues that lead many away of sensible and more realistic thinking and beliefs. JMO of what and why this has so often proven to be the case.