T_T

Has anybody got any ideas on how to make a proper box in which to put your pigeon for a photograph. Size and materials also reqd. If racing is not possible, we're going to need another outlet and I thought this would do me as a bit of a project, along with painting, wallpapering, gardening, plumbing, SHOPPING. God I hope we race !!! LOL.

I'm having a pair delivered today with no problems.

Can't disagree with you there Jimmy. I also think pedigrees are essential if you want to follow the line of a particular family. Nothing can be left to memory.

Collected in a rain barrel. Beneficial for the birds ?

I just KNEW you would have to show that one. Wheres the chips ?

Read in the paper this morning of people taking their pet parrots to bird centers because they don't want to catch bird flu from them. Some of these parrots are worth £3000. Hope all Canary breeders, Budgie breeders don't do the same.!! We have GOT to get some information across to the general public. It might be worthwhile reading up on it so that if anyone knocks on your door you can be exact with your information.

Neccessary ?

I think whatever suits your pattern of working life has to be adapted to your birds. For instance I used to work 7am to 7pm and my pigeons saw the scraper every three days when my change of shift pattern allowed. I wouldn't scrape out before 7am because of the neighbours or after 7pm because of the young children being in bed. Things are different now of course because I've retired and all the time I feel OK they will be done daily. I read Bert Brasspennings writings and I'm sure it said somewhere that he dosn't clean his youngsters out from the day they are weaned over, untill racing ends and gets excellent results.

I have a very large water tower 500yds from me and sat on top of this tower must be at least 16 masts the tallest being some 30-40' high with the shortest being 20'. Don't really know if it's effecting my pigeons performances because they have never been without it.

Widowmaker, I can certainly relate to that !!!

Seeing my good Chequer Busschaert Cock a mile high in the sky coming over the loft leading two others. I screamed at him and he dropped like a stone without flapping until he entered the loft door. Absolutely awesome. my brother couldn't believe what he had seen. The cock took second club 213mls but I think the way he trapped won him that. I shall always keep that memory wherever they take me. Our wonderful feathered friends.

Racing from Exmouth. I sent 13 got 12 lost one. He was the cock that had won Le Ferte Bernard twice in three weeks the only pigeon I sent. He didn't make it this day and I was talked into sending him by my brothers. Still miss him.

Let us know your saddest memory in losing one of your pigeons.

Let us know the biggest thrill you've had watching your pigeons come on a race day, whether you won the race or not.

I remember when I was a boy of 15yrs of age my dad flying North Road and that was the last year our club flew North. Reason ? Lost too many pigeons. I put it to our club that in view of the bird flu scenario, we should suggest the Fed flying North to get the distance, ( if we fly at all. ) This fell on deaf ears and now it looks as though we'll be stuck. One thing I do think, is that in the summer months with the winds, in the main, being Southerly, South Westerly, there would be a lot of stiff racing. I know we don't keep pigeons just to look at but I feel it would be a different challenge for a lot of us. On the other hand, they do say that once you get pigeons coming from the North Road, it's difficult to lose em'.

Still well supported ? How many attend ? Thing of the past ?

I would say my most SATISFYING result was lifting an old hen ( the size of a sparrow ) off her eggs five days after her cock had failed to home and sending her 454mls and getting pipped into 2nd club by a decimal with a chap who had sent thirteen. She was the only one I sent. Also 2nd Combine Le ferte Bernard only pigeon sent and he won at the same race point two weeks later only pigeon I sent. Last year topping the Fed with a Rapido Busschaert cock. I must add as well, also a lot of disappointments.

Mine made from chipboard and creosoted thoroughly. The reason I didn't get ply is that if your scraper catches a loose piece of ply, it will tear it, making it very difficult to scrape thereafter.

Andy, Maybe I smell like a piece of dead meat.!!!

Tony C, Would that Easibed stick to your shoe bottoms like most other floor dressings ?

I've been letting my pigeons out on a regular basis. Maybe I'm being a bit short sited but if we can't trust our own vetinary bodies, then who can we trust.? I intend to carry on as normal.

As I understand it, pigeons are not classed as fowl and more than enough evidence has been given and shown, stating that pigeons can't carry or catch the disease. I understand from the readings I've done that pigeons have been injected with the flu virus and showed no ill effect. I only hope the powers that be are right.

Does anyone else have trouble with these in the summer.? Any Cure ?

Schouwman, I wished I could have brought the photographs home of the pigeons that were on his dining room wall. I can still see them vividly in my mind. Speight, Still an awful lot of these Busschaerts around but I'm not so sure about the right ones. Tony C, No he couldn't have what I've got. LOL

My lemon juice is for using on my Prawn Cocktail with a bit of brown bread and butter on the side.