Roland

Ask Mutterly on here if he has a time available. You know it would be built great, and at the right price, plus he knows what is what regards pigeons and lofts. Put him up for the week - end...

Congratulations George and your good lady well done.

Personally I believe seriously yourselves. Or a local tradesman. Any one with a bit of savvy regards being able to cut a bit of timer and able to screw in a screw or bolt. Personally I think it is far better then to build a good frame and cover in Plastic cladding. Use any board for the inside. Measure and draw up the plans with the person, or for yourself. Many seem to have a bad name. Plus after service. Pay for the goods up front and then after job completion ... when the roof etc. has proven to be adequate and not letting in the rain etc. I'm useless at such ... but have built 5 now. Local demolition site were very good sauce too.

Kyleakin, I didn't say I removed rings mate. Just that if SOMEONE remove one of mine, it is a small price to pay. I haven't had a stray in for 2- 3 seasons and very seldom before that actually. Mostly, regards strays, it has been when collecting from a non - fancier. Or doing a club mate a favour. Think being under trees helps in that score. Like I say how many time do we wonder where our bird is or has been. Put a bit of tape around the ring ...

Looking good Andy. Well done. Love the chimney extractor... I hope it's a chimney extractor. That will keep it fresh and airy.

Think the Address ring being removed would suffice to say it had entered another loft ... But then I'm all for that ring, or ET ring being removed. A small price, in my opinion to let the owner know it has entered another loft and been fed and watered etc. But then that's me. I wager a very last %tage of fancier have often wonder in this regards when a bird has arrive later on. £1 or so is a price that they would gladly pay for that info in the main. I used to put a little sellotape around the ring. This told the owner such.

Not near the sea. Released in fog when training. After asking an old buy, He said it would be clear above the ground fog and no problem. He was right. Stopped being and doing as I once did ... due mainly because I'd bought in new stock etc. Going back to the old ways.

Always been well satisfied with them too ... But then I'm pleased to be able to say I have never ever had any problems with any courier. Even with Amtrak which I found superb.

I used to let mine out all day winter rain or shine. Snow or light fog and mist. Been swapping and changing a mite over past few years. Have the well closed in for 2 - 4 days in the warm and dry regards help with moult etc. Now out in aviary every day and out flying at least every second day. Why? Because that was when the birds were hopper fed and turned out the best performances race days ... especially at the distance. Tried and thought otherwise.... but having taken a good stock of past... It is as it is now and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Am going back to training in all weather too.

They will be there soon. That's a cert.

Many, very many doing well, and oft times dominating, with natural pigeons at all levels.

Well done Walter. Am very pleased for you.... How much the young lol

So is it worms then? Seems one says and all go down that line. Cocci, Ecoli etc. etc. Plus a dozen other lesser things could be the reason. Is it mental having a physical show. Fighting an ailment? Just plain up set and stressed.... Y/b sickness? I know one thing, droppings through out the day and night are going to be different. Weather too makes a difference. Gosh our droppings are as such and we take no notice lol.

As I said Wales would HAVE to beat Australia. Think they would beat the Argentina's quite comfortably... and a smoother one too after most probably. Mind no game is easy from now on.

I looked at a rankings ... probably an English hope one lol. Saw England one above wales. Wrong: So Delboy you are correct. Rankings Country 1 Argentina 2 Germany 3 Belgium 4 Portugal 5 Colombia 6 Spain 7 Brazil 8 Wales 9 Chile 10 England When wrong one must accept, and so I publically say so, as I was publically was wrong. As for their' Rugby side being above ours I presume this would so. Make the most of it Wales, and well done. The Rugby rankings I've now looked up and your right mate.(Again lol) 1 (1) New Zealand NZL 92.89 2 (2) Australia AUS 90.93 3 (5) Ireland IRE 85.74 4 (3) Wales WAL 85.71 5 (4) South Africa RSA 84.58 6 (7) Argentina ARG 80.49 7 (6) France FRA 79.77 8 (8) England ENG 79.77 9 (9) Scotland SCO 77.94 10 (11) Japan Read more at http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings#ptqudSJFHlxsJd2r.99

'... Is it true Wales are now ahead of England in the world rankings in both football and rugby? Was, but not now. England - believe it or not, for beat a few small time part timers for Euro qualifications shot up to 7th. Which is the same as Rooney holding the record for most goals scored for England. Interesting facts here Rooney's goals for England: Goals against very poor mediocre sides MACEDONIA 1, LIECHESTEIN 2, ICELAND 3, ESTONIA 2, KAZAKHSTAN 4, BELARUS 3, SLOVAKIA 4, ANDORRA 3, BULGARIA 3, (UKRAINE 1 BORDER LINE ?) SAN MARINO 6!!! MONTENGRO 2 , ECUADOR 2, LIOTHUANIA 2, 40 of Rooney's 51 goals. THAT'S WITHOUT COUNTING THE PENALTIES EH! Hardly enterprise or of any calibre surely. Country's smaller than a large town often etc. One searches for the goals against Spain, Germany, Italy, France, etc. etc. Keep looking they aren't there. Bobby Charlton never had the luxury of such team to play against ... Likewise Greaves and Lofthouse etc. Nor has Rooney any where near the ration of goals to games played! Lofthouse 30 from 33 starts for example, let alone Greaves! EVEN Peter Crouch who many times score as a sub and yet has a far better ratio even! Same as in the premier, seldom scores against the top half teams … Top Man they spout lol. Top scorer? That's a joke

Wiley quite rightly states '.... is all done by the hours of light'. It is 100% correct. Like the trees they note the lessening of day light to drop leaves etc. (Autumn). Hours of light, not darkness is the deciding factor. But I feel one must be careful when tampering with nature personally.

Well. Well Wales have done well. Am more than pleased for you all. But one shouldn't get carried away as mud on the face can happen. Yes first time ever getting there is a momentum achievement to say the least, and should be celebrated. Well done, but ... Wishing them all the best for the future. Indeed ALL the home sides have done well for a change.

Went, last Thursday, and got 2 25K Barley @ £4 2 25 K Wheat @ £4 and 3 25K Tic Beans @ £6 25 that's £34 75p and a 25K bag of Wilja potatoes for her in doors (£7 50p)... All good and stood the test of time lol. Local, where used to go now want £16 50 for the Tic beans and £8 75 for wheat and barley. Only price that thay can compete with is Groats with a slight saving.

Was going to offers ... But I knew, just knew, good fanciers nearer and more able, would make some great offers. I'm pleased and not at all surprise. Well done you all, it is the good side of the sport. So sad to hear of the terrible loss though. Take up the offer(s)mate.

I think regards mice and that we all have then, which I believe 100%, and cobs being worse.... well We have to remain vigilant whatever is down. Food left around etc. poor storage will always be an attraction for mice and rats.

Good post, about sums it up.

Had the same problem when I moved here in 97. Have to be completely under the trees. I built 3 different lofts. No good. As soon as the damp or wet was in the trees the birds lost form very quickly ... and trees are nigh always damp. So last but one I had a wire mesh cover over the compartments with a false roof a foot over. This had a good 12 inches overlap. Wire meshed all around the top between THE ROOFS meant that the wind / breeze coursed through a treat nigh all the time ... but the damp being heavier meant dropping down ... so loss of form. I built a brick one, two years back. A tiled roof boarded out underneath. Three main compartments with two adjacent. Just a 22 inch trap, that can be either open hole or bob wires, with a trap door that shuts inside to completely block it in. Only AIR in is then through the air bricks ... 9 by 6 air bricks in each compartment. No other air into the loft. Always same temperature, feels cool in summer and warm in winter. Have an aviary that they can use during the day. Wet or damp nights completely closed up. Great for the moult too. So they can sit out in the rain, or go in, whatever they choose. BUT I control the damp and wet from the trees getting in. Yes I agree that one of the most important things ids free. Fresh air... Provided it is dry. Yes I know, and have been repeated advised, and warned, that the tiles need to be a bit ajar to let it breathe and air in etc. etc. BUT they aren't under damp trees, or leaves dropping water every where. This last one is great. Birds always in good condition. Maybe I toy with the idea still of a 12 inch tube as such and two car fans each side of the loft with slots that can be covered to draw the air through ... But then wake up and say 'Get sharp, that is why you built this loft... to get away from damp and wet air of the trees'! I use deep litter system now. I change the whole lot whilst just leaving some droppings in the loft. I mix white with garden lime and rub in and spread well the loft before laying the new easy bed down. Probably costs £76 a year.... Looked at Broken Cobbs, but can't seem to find a local stockist. Water is changed every day and placed in potting trays with NO holes in bottom. If and when I am going to ask the birds to do something different I take a handful of Garden lime and mx well in the drinkers, this is allowed to settle and to be used next day. Yes sometime I have a false board over a small water butt like bucket to draw out the chlorine as this will kill much good gut bacteria. Frank Bristow does a good price on heating panels if any one is interested.

Not sending 80 one week and 12 the next etc. I'm now lead to believe large aviaries go a long way to preventing ybs and speeding up it's recovery. After all it's harder to trap viruses etc. in an aviary than in the loft. Well said. Also proves that no such thing as 'Over Crowding the more the better. Likewise Fly away... Had two in all the years I've had pigeons. Both recently when restarting with new birds and stock birds ... Not enough in the loft. Unsocial event eh! YBS is a virus, for a start nystatin anti-fungal cures it in a couple of days. I don't, didn't know that leslie24williams49 Icon. Which would suggest a yeast infection, or too much in the system. A little canker is of benefit because it will stop the spread and they need 0.3 in their system. NOW I was told via John Bellerby and Frank Tasker that most ailments now are through a deep rooted Canker. A. used too much in cleaning them out and they hence come back stronger etc. B. the use of the same one. There are over 30 different strains. Only cure was a full dose of Baytril and a Full dose on Rondis for 5 full days... In a conversation with the late great Frank Dooman, he stated that Ron (R.P. Scribe) told him the same. So is a canker passed on fro parents? I don't, and seldom have treated for canker as nature takes care of that. I have - again now a 'Over Crowded loft' so stress free and content, with a soothing effect of lime in drinkers oft times. Food for thought that!

Do you have a 100 years spare then lol