samantha

Hi peckedhen Im interested in seeing the advice you are given, as I too started with 2 bird a few months ago and I put them in an old lean too shed attached to an outbuilding, it has mesh down one side against a hedge and a mesh window at the front, on the mesh I cut a hole and put 4 of those wire trap things on and put a landing platform on the otherside, I used that white coated chipboard to make a rectangular box (with a little help) for the nest box, I was advised that they are really tough birds and they dont mind the draft but I keep thinking I should cover the mesh up at night in the winter?

yes its me jimmy, I have an older dog too, I socialised them with the birds as chicks and now if one of my birds comes onto the ground and my dogs are out they know not to chase them (well most of the time, the puppy looks like butter wouldnt melt but she can be naugty!)

don't get me wrong, It doest really bother me, the whole pigeon image, I was just really demonstrating that things have changed since pigeon racing was a more common sport, how my friends prefer to talk about which bmw to get, or laura ashleys new range in curtains, than the simple pleasures in life, I dont have a problem with that, I can talk curtains as well as the next girl, but not many see what I get from pigeons. I think it is partly because there is more money around and younger people have more opportunitys open to them, whereas in my grandparents day it was an affordable pastime, I duno, but I certainly dont give a monkeys about people taking the mick, I give as much as I recieve What I dont like is people who call pigeons vermin and complain about them for no good reason, an older lady across the road from me was trying to persuade me to stop feeding them, (not my birds, wild garden fantails) complained that she was fed up of having to see them copulating!! I dont know how I stopped myself from falling about hysterically!! :D

have you checked ebay sometimes you can get used lofts from people upgrading, Ive seen it before, keep checking one may come up.

Hi does anyone who uses this forum show their birds? if so, what do you show and with which club?

theres nothing wrong with a bit of flattery Jimmy, you keep it up!! :K) speaking of which Ive seen the photo of you in your kilt!! very smart!

ok mr shadow I promise to keep it polite and formal... see I just cant help it!! ;D

I do sense that there is history? and maybe some bridgebuilding going on? but I do agree Ive had loads of welcome messages and almost instant replies when Ive asked for help, and Im not even a pigeon racer just a girl with 3-4 west of england tumblers!

its a nice site martin, you should check it out and sign his guest book http://www.freewebs.com/homingpigeonsbirmingham

hi Rose, do you mean that if the bird is soaked it cant fly away?? also If I get new bird what sort of age should they be so that I dont have this problem again. Henpecked I could give it a go but my loft is under the canopy of a 200 year old copper beach and sycamore he would only see her if he was on the garden anyway, I havent seen anything of him since I let him out mon night! thanks guys

mind you I'd look gook in a flat cap! they would have a field day!! I mix concrete in my workshop next to my loft and I was having a reaction on my hands, the first thing my friends said was, have you caught that from the pigeons! I suppose we are all guilty of being ignorant of things we dont yet understand! (if that makes any sense)

nice one hyacinth, you did make me smile thanks

YES YES YES my hen is back, I cant believe it, Ive just gone outside and she was on the landing board (shes never used the trap) so I steped back and she flew on to the roof of my house so I ran to the loft to shake the food and she was flying down behind me and as I opened to door she flew in over my head, I am soooo pleased thank you for all your advice guys, I hope the cock comes back too

I hope they go for it snowy, I think it would work well if they were already homed, it would be nice for everyone to see the progress over the 13 weeks, especially if they were settled enough to breed. yes I agree I dont race my birds I just have them as pets, but it is a materialistic world. and when I tell people about my birds they usually laugh, especially with me being a yorkshire girl, they ask if I have a whippet aswell (which I have) but I dont race her either!!

yes Im really glad I have found this forum I feel like I have been in the dark up to now guessing what to do for the best, it is a little serious though, little in the way of banter!! dont you think? ( not a criticism just my first impression!)

Im new, I didnt see the old forum what scottish politics?? what knifes?? what backs?? Just kiddin!! It sounds like its best I dont know!

are you showing off with that loft pic? I daren't put one of mine on now! the fith picture down with the rainbow and the birds in focus is stunning!

Ive let them out bout 7.30pm, hungry, now its going dark Ive shook the food tin! and they are no where to be seen.......oh dear! would they fend for themselves if they never come back?

Im new to pigeons, so Im likely to be wrong Ive looked at the site do you mean the four pictures in a row? the third one is a lahore (not sure of spelling) (they remind me of a penguin,) they are quite docile and friendly, it is black and white very large bird, I know a man who breeds them. hope Im looking at the right bird! Samantha

I know the feeling!! thanks Terry

Hi ella, Im new to pigeons too, only got 4 I had a similar situation a tiny runt the parents wouldnt feed and I found it on the floor twice in one day, so I watched from a distance, it was desperately trying to get a parent to feed it and falling off the edge in the struggle, so I nailed on a small piece of ply to act as a safety rail, and tried to feed the bird myself, It was before I had found this forum so I was at a loss as to what to feed, I soaked some food in water and put it in its mouth, it was well feathered and its sibling was having a bit to food, but it died later that day, too little too late! glad your bird made it, did you get the formula from a pigeon supplier, what is it called? thanks Samantha

Hi Im new to pigeons I only have 4 west of England, one on this years young shakes pretty much most of the time, is this just a young bird thing or is something wrong with him? thanks

I will have a go, not tonight unless is brightens up a bit, plus they have been fed! I will let them all out together, I dont think calling them will help as the adult birds want to get as far away from me as possible! but they know that I am feeding them because I shake it in a tin. thanks guys I will let you know how I get on.

thank you shadow, that was quick, they are sat on dummy eggs now probably under a week, should I let them out together or one at a time, will they be afraid to use the trap? very scary!!

Hi this is my first post, I bought my pair of west of England tumblers a few months ago (I have never had any pigeons before) they are about 3yrs old and have never flown out, they layed only one egg and I took the baby out onto the garden and put him on the landing board to show him how to get home, I now let him out everyday no matter how far I go he flies straight back to the shed roof and within 30 mins goes back in! The second set of eggs had a beautiful yellow, and a tiny runt who didnt make it, Im teaching the yellow about getting home, Im hoping that as a pair they will encourage each other to fly. Am I going about this the right way? will I loose the parents if I ever let them out? (remember I am new to this and you may have to explain any pigeon terminology) thank you for anyone who can help.