Roland

To Tony's thread regards Peregrines?

Of course maybe .... But definitely learn where and when birds are released. They sit around waiting.

Oh how we long for the days when youngsters were coming into the sport eh! Personally, I feel, that a local person, preferably a youngster starting up, but any way some one near that can be asked from time to time 'How they doing' etc. Secondarily I think the offer to new starters, or younger folks, advertised in the BHW under the 'Novice' page would be well worth the effort. Many would take them and try them .... But they will be stock birds. So a couple of pairs here and there would be good both to Sid / you and the novices. JMO

Loylds

Jim is an absolute gem. OK maybe his hands are tied sometimes but one knows he is - and will be doing his utmost 100% ... Unlike Unikon where after sales etc. are none existent.

Good. The nicotine is a deterrent for nasty's to boot. Yes price is bad .... but cut to 4 inch lengths are superb material.

Ok. So we have a Dark, and A light system ... which ever one decides suits them best. But who's to say that the youngster have to be born early for that system. Surely it is the same principle regardless of month of year! No? Likewise one can fly old birds on the Dark System too.

Well has some homing basic that's for sure. Racing merit? One has to decide if it the fanciers' fault or not. But I also like to see them back to ...like most I'd wager.

Any Photo's?

The RSPB illegally go out and cull Eagle Owls. Spouting their usual bias untruths. Like the Percy are monitored, so should any and every Eagle Owl. They won't tolerate other predators in their domain, and at night will go and sort them out. According to DAFRA, once they are in the wilds, they are classed as a Native BIRDS of our shores and are entitled to the same rights and protection as the Peregrine etc.

a good read to add to Favourites Tony. Well done.

I've said it before, one weekend could sort it if everybody played the game Spot bon Delboy. Too much bleating and no helping ones self. There weren't never ever Knights in white shiney armour that Helped any damsel in distress ... like wise our pigeons. Down to each other and keeping stum.

all sniffing animals are liable to get ticks. The actually breathe through their back sides. So like Gulkie says, or smear Vaseline on them. Can't breathe and have to come out. Tweezers etc. and pulling them can mean leaving the head in, and hence all sorts of problems can arise.

Have signed it before.

Brought back the race point ... Now cancelled till Sunday, pending...

Condition? .. rest if needed. Fed and watered in a basket for a few days works wonders.

When the wind has east it is no good for man or beast. Da12 I have no problem with that scenario. Many will and do. Many now swim the channel ... all well prepare and fit and conditioned ... Many more don't. Everest claims 100's of life's since being conquered ... all able and tested etc. Though of course some have made it1 A fit and healthy pigeon, both mentally and physically condition will! Yes. Many more as the seasons prove every year Don't. Gosh fanciers for nigh a century know / knew that, and the 'Thinking Fancier' only sent the old stage for exactly the reason of losses and birds season being ruin. Plus they knew to start the seasons later! Late February was the earliest mating's. Last week in March / first week in April meant less losses through out the seasons and y/b's flying the program and being there to breed from next season. So more money is spent. More ideas and others systems read, plus more bred to be counteract losses. 24- 12 pairs was a big team in the 50's early 60's. THEN a simple reality is all too apparent. There was then 140,000 pigeon fanciers. Now just over 30,000 and yet twice as many birds sent each week even on a poor birdage! I have no problems sending / giving tried and test birds any test, as I have done, and used to always. Been there, done that and know of by heart all the cliques etc. Yearlings and especially late - breds can and have too ... Now I am conscious of losing and ruining good birds when building - as we all are trying to constantly - a team up for the future. Simple thing is that 'Late Breds are used to great effect in building up a new loft with great success, beside being very cost effective. However they don't come into their own for hard and worthwhile prepared races till 18 months or more. Patience is needed and then losses are very few. Rewards and merit can abound. JMO

DA12 sounds good 'Don't be posting unless you agree ... But that flies in the face of 'Welcomed to your opinions. Because 'others Do' doesn't make it A. better or B right and sensible. The fact is, and will remain the fact that any and every excuse will be blamed for losses and bad races ... Nary a mention of looking in the mirror. I, further, think that Peter Pandy has embraced the realism and truth personally. JMO

Da12 that is very true I did! All weathers Fog, snow and winds etc. Finished up with very reliable and hardy 'Homers'. Just an odd win here and there though ... Only did well in the odd very extreme hard races when others fared badly! (Though better than many of course) One swallow doesn't make a summer eh! So I got sharp. Now building a reliable team of 'Racers', and enough for rotating them. Still believe in few tosses though and sending 140 miles or so first race or chuck if mentally and physically fit. May, a couple of seasons down the line, have a few old stagers purely for the early races if decent weather permits and be silly enough to have ago at the averages lol.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/weather/topstories/uk-weather-severe-weather-warning-for-snow-and-torrential-rain-over-bank-holiday-weekend/ar-BBj51GH?ocid=mailsignoutmd Just what the birds need eh! Maybe we should start racing in January to get them use to it eh! I've had a couple or so light chucks ... will be watching the weather closely and bearing patience. Better to race first off 150 miler in good weather or so than ruin them via keeping sending them up in cold and easterly winds and systematically losing the,

Typical of just why so many losses and good birds ruined. If one has too race at all and any cost so be it eh! Racing and hence breeding starts way too early. Returns are naturally poor and Hawks, convoyer, race controller get the blame. In 0 degrees and cold East wind Lol. Time to look in the mirror. Far, far better to wait for better weather ... only sending one or two old pro's if one must. 7- 8 weeks TOPS super form for a pigeon to hold on too ... and threw away due to impatience etc. Ok if one is only interested in short races etc. I suppose. Certainly no good for any serious fancier that want to competer at the true races of distance and be there on haed days. Later racing starting in May would mean better youngsters being later. Wings holding up, and y/b's able to compete in the best weather of Late August and September. Incest and breeding to lose simply is working.... and Blame any one and everything to no avail. I have great respect for late - breds... The odd good weather chuck first year if must. June / July a couple of chucks and 100 - 150 miler races ... few losses and next season they will compete and hold their own against all.

Well that is good in it's self Harry. Be nicer to know it won't be back eh! Let's hope it's 'Gone' eh.

Pine Martin been caught Harry?

Maybe we ought to bombard our thoughts and feelings to the appropriate police and then the Prosecutors! Just need their Email addie putting up!

Yep many cases of Crows killing youngsters out on the roofs etc. A mate was wiped out a few years back by them. Another Fancier I know had them going into his loft and taking the squabs and eggs etc. As for being a deterrent to harassments for Hawks / B.O.P. etc. They won't go near them when the Raptures are hunting. Besides B.O.P make short thrift of Crows when of a mind and fancy a snack.