stevebelbin

Well done Carl, glad to here the birds were up and a good race was had, amazing with all this bad weather about. Excellent racing from you both ;D

I had the same thing abt a month back with two YBs, i think it was YB sickness, and put them onto Probiotics for a weeks then back onto Cider vinegar. They havent shown anymore signs of it, and are coming well off training etc

Cheers dave, ill give them a ring and try to get the bird back to its owner.

Came in last night, blue pd cock. There was 4 strags on the roof yesterday, so someones had a bad chuck!!!

At Ian's defence, I think he no longer races and is the current secretary of the Teesside fed in the UNC, and he is simply showing people a link to some really good birds. Im guessing the likes of A.Mcloed will be a mate of Ians and he will simply be helping A.Mcloed get the best from his sale. Cant really see why there would be a problem with that.....................

I would say, if its been caught out in a thunderstorm and has flown itself out then the droppings would be watery, like when a bird returns from a hard race, the droppings are always watery. Just leave it in a section on its own and give it some electrolytes for a day or two and put some gemthepax on the corn for a day or two and it should return to normal. If the droppings are still watery then get them tested and treat accordingly.

Id be worried that it may have paratyphoid after being in the wild so long, and may be a carrier :-/

www.everythingforpets.com

UNC now racing from Eastbourne and not Brussels as DEFRA have stopped them leaving the country apparently!!! :-/

UNC due to got to Claremont today, and have been redirected to Brussels!!!!!!!!!!!

I would add some widowhood corn to their diet, later in the week once racing, like u would a widowhood cock. Even add some peanuts to their diet as the races get longer. Seen this on a american darkness system video and the bloke had 26 birds land together from 200+ miles. Only problem u will find is once u add more protein to their diet, the sooner they will drop to bits!! But if you think about logically (not saying your not) the more they exercise the lighter they will be, and yours are excercising well, so wont hold much weight. I think they are better off lighter, than too heavy anyway, as fat pigeons wont win any races.

Sounds like someone has stolen them and decided to Kill them. Years ago I had all my YBs stolen and the next day, I had 12 out of 25 return, and the others were found dumped in a corn bag in the next town from me, most were dead, but 5 were saved, JUST. Basta--s!!!!!

I have one and have used the Flying Vet book to refer back to etc, either my birds never have anything seriously wrong with them or im not using it right. Hopefully the former lol

Dont know where to get the spray, but you can get the drops from the Pigeon Pharmacy under the name of Easitox

The only problem would be is they attract hawks as their easy to pick out. Try and get some bonny pied pigeons, I have a Cheq Pd in my loft that people seem to pick when they look in. Basically any with a bit of white in and she will like them ;D ;D ;D

Ive heard the same of Craig Speight, theres going to be a vote I think!!

Loft Report as requested by Craig Speight. 1. How do you got involved in the sport a brief history about themselves Im Stephen Belbin, 28 year old and fly in Thornaby HS (Teesside), I got started in the sport in 1996. I had zebra finches in an aviary at first but soon got bored of them and after catching a few strays and streeties in my parents garden, somehow ended up with a 30ft loft on an allotment, with a team of racing pigeons and not a clue how to race them lol. In my first season i scored in a few races, and managed to get a bird back from bourges and ended up 2nd club. In my second year I should have won my first race with a 2year Cheq Pd cock (what a stunning pigeon he was), but when I went over to get the clock read off at the fed the clock had stopped (gutted). That same year I discovered the featherless bird and the birds had to go lol. In 2000 a lad was going on holiday and asked me to look after his birds for him, reluctantly I agreed and that 2weeks ended up being 5 years lol. We had some good results, mainly from the channel, but we had different views on them and I ended up putting lofts up in my garden and flying from there taking a few good birds with me. In 2005 my season started as normal, using the inland races as training and trying to get the birds in form for the channel, which worked well as I scored from Lilled 3rd and 7th club, then a fortnight later won Claremont also being second and ended up high up in the combine. The 2 weeks later nearly winning our bourges race (the bird was sat down the old loft!!!!). The birds seemed to go off form completely after that, which I think was due to me pissing about with the ventilation during the season!!!!. My Ybs were unraced that year due to me going on holiday. 2006 was a really bad year for me, as the girlfriend walked out due to the pigeons, I kept racing but couldnt find the motivation for them, they scored well in a few races, but the buzz had gone, and to this date I still cant get the buzz back for them!! 2. What origins of stock/bloodlines do you keep? Busshearts from my old partnership. Corbett bushaerts introduced last year + a few Van reets. Jansenns introduced from Craig Smith this year, plus a few more Bushaerts and finally a Bushaert/Herman Beverdam cross of Paulo. Have had some really good birds from Tommy Napper from Hetton. 3. When do you pair up? Normally first week in jan for widowhood, but not till Feb 14th this year for birds to be on natural. 4. What products and feed you use? V-Laga YB mix for Ybs up until the start of training, when they will be on gerry + and if I race them they will be built up using V-Laga super widowhood until 4-5 weeks into racing when they will be stopped. Old birds (this year) hopper fed V-laga Gerry + until Tuesday night then V-Laga best allround and loads of peanuts the week b4 each channel race. Too many products to mention, heres a few. DMG, electrolytes, garlic, cider vinegar, honey, Vit B12, Probiotics. 5. What methods do you used to fly old birds should include feed and watering system? In the past widowhood, but Ive got limited space and havent the time to feed hens individually, so this year kept them paired up and they get flagged 1hour morning and night and they know they have to fly and dont hit the roof anymore. Ybs flown natural and to the perch, but rarely raced and normally just trained hard. Will be racing them this year all being well. 6. What motivation techniques do you use? Widowhood, hens b4 basketing if they seem fired up. If not I put a mirror in the box, and play a few tricks on them. 7. There health programmes, When and How often do you treat? Worm 3weeks b4 pairing, canker while sitting and this year used Parastop on the OB's after the YBs were weaned away. I now use a microscope every week or so and treat for 2 days accordingly if anything shows up. After a hold-over I put milton in the water for a few days. 8. If you were to introduce new blood into the loft how would you go about it? If I was kean to win at sprinting I would go to the local man who was winning and has been at the top for years. Distance wise, I would look for a small team flyer who flys only a few birds per race and still gets them high up the combine sheet regularly. 9. Who would you go to to get the new blood? as above 10. How did you do performances over the last 2,3yr period? 2004, 5wins and scored in every old bird race. 2005, fairly well. Last year mediocre but not bad considering the time spent with the birds. This year, serious lack of interest in any race so far, and sick of holdovers on channel racers. 11. What is your size of loft and size of team? 12ft x 6ft for old birds (started with 10pair) + 4ft x 4ft aviary. 12ft x 6ft for ybs (25 YBs) 12. What is your dream to come true in the future? My dream for the future is to take a few years out, have a family and return to the sport when ive got more time. Buy a proper loft with state of the art equipment and get some really good birds, then to top the UNC from bourges. I dont feel its a dream more of just when ;D

Good decision I think ;D ;D, didnt fancy waiting around in the rain for the birds to come back lol!!! Stephen, how do we go abt getting the birds back at the marking station etc. I will be at work till 5 then got a job interview at 530. Will someone else be able to get my birds??? Or will they just release them from the marking station, if not collected?? :-/ :-/ :-/

Got to go, you know us draughies, early friday finish and all that lol!! Will chat over weekend about it if you like. Im in the lakes from tmrw ;D ;D. Birds are at Claremont and my mates clocking them for me, so keep your fingers crossed for them lol

I hope the bushaerts do the talking for you Paul lol!! Just carry on as normal and ignore him, stick a big fence up between the gardens and enjoy letting your birds out whenever you want. Have you got cramp from all that typing lol lol lol

Yep have the radio on in my loft all day, it relaxes them, no doubt about it. And it makes cleaning out a bit less tedious ;D ;D

Did it bo--ocks lol, he rarely got on the sheet. It was funny to watch though, poor little begger, used to just land on the house roofs ;D ;D ;D

They look like Rapido busshaerts to me. Nice birds

Thinking of Tyson keeping pigeons, has just reminded me of a funny thing a lad used to do in our pigeon club, he used to strap weights to his birds b4 exercise, to build up there muscles ;D ;D ;D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have seen the Queens name pop up a few times on thier combine sheet ;D, the queen doesnt actually do anything with them I dont think, and someone called Carlos ??????, does the day to day chores, there is a write up on the net somewhere!! And theres also a write up on Mike Tysons loft, with has a state of the art ventilation/heating system ;D ;D