stevebelbin

Good post

http://www.pigeoncote.com/vet/formulary/formulary.html#medications

Could I have one aswell ;D ;D???

Can this be used as a preventative for cocci, ecoli etc, or is it purely a cure??

If the old loft is still there, then it is simply a case of pairing the birds up, letting them bring a round of ybs up and then when there driving for the next set of eggs, start to let them out. Cocks first with the hens locked in the box so theres an incentive to stay at the new loft. Keep them really hungry as well. They will go straight back to the old loft, where you should retrieve them straight away and never feed them there. Take them straight back to the new loft and do the same again. If theres any awkward cocks, leave them at the old loft for a day or two with no corn or water and they will return to the new loft pretty sharpish . Its best to do this with hens when there sitting about 5-10 days as their normally pretty kean at this time. It will also help to allow the birds into a temporary aviary while their on their first brood, so they can have a good look around and get plenty of fresh air ;D. Fly them on widowhood and they will fly there bollocks of for you as they will go to and fro from the new to the old loft .

Is that the cheq cock Rose that was in last years stud book??

Nice - I like that Cheq cock - what breed is he??

Yep they are just as good - these daylight bulbs are what they say they are!! Daylight Robbery ;D ;D

Looks like the North East escaped the worst of it then ;D ;D. Just a lot of rain for us, as the wind had weakened for us.

I know the owner of the cat so I cant do anything illegal with it anyhow LOL!! Cant really complain to him either as Ive two of my own (house cats - dont ask LOL)!! So ill have to purchase the same as you from B & R ;D ;D. Know what id rather do with it but such is life ;D ;D

LOL I bet you look like the bird-women in HomeAlone ;D ;D

As for training I work 15miles away and can take them every day - Old birds that is ;D

Cheers Darren and Bruno, ive just printed this topic out ;D. Great idea with the blue bucket and peanuts ;D. How have you cat proofed your loft Bruno. Im making an opening in my loft as high as possible and taking my sputnik off in the hope a cat wont be able to get that high. And im fitting a trellis to stop any attack over the roof and fitting a cat-deterent to the fence pointing at the trap to the loft. I do have a cat that comes in now again and did attack last years YBs, but that was because Id left the loft door wide open!!

How do you feed them on your system, do you hopper feed them and feed tit-bits to get them to come etc. Cant wait to get them on open hole now

Cheers Darren Thats exactly what I was thinking, get them bunching and then just leave them to do what kids do best - roam and gain there own life experience, surely it must have a massive benefit on the birds over having them stuck in the loft all day long . Steve

Do you tend not to lose many YBs racing this way?? Or do you suffer the same losses as we all seem to??

£31

Do you have any of the above left. Do they work??

Cheers Wiley - Will give it ago :B

Interesting point!! I am going to use open hole for my Ybs to get them street wise and save time for me. I was thinking of using open hole up until 2 weeks b4 racing and then splitting the sexes and racing them back to eachother. This should hopefully make them kean to trap . One question: - When putting YBs on open hole do you settle them first then leave them on open hole. Or just leave the trap open from day one??

Going to try natural and only race mainly channel races . And YBs natural light and on open hole!

Just found a good link :- http://www.finchaviary.com/Maintenance/FecalSmear.htm

I got one of those microscopes from Lidl over xmas - Will definately need someone to show me what im looking for!! i.e. for a throat swab, using a cotton bud - how far down their throat do I need to go etc. And whats the best time of day to test for cocci??

Also I think that with Darkness YBs they are expected to mature so quick, that early training is must!!