T_T

Any Ideas why it happens ? I've been told many times NOT to let my youngsters out BEFORE 10am in the morning, if I want to prevent a flyaway.

What is the best pigeon corn to use for BREEDING and RACING.

Iv'e always found that the pigeons " test " the bobhole wires before entering. On a race day I would think their shoulders are sore from the fly so anything that allows easy entry ( as hyacynths does ) would be a bonus. Just thinking about the stumbling block with fanciers at the present ( ETS ) I have 20 widowhood boxes and fly open door. Would I have to have a pad in each box ?

Hi Pigeon, Looks clean, neat and tidy, no one can complain about that. Hope Matthew times lots of good pigeons to it. Keep em' Healthy

40 for me and being very selective after I've moved them over. This year for me, it's Quality AND Quantity. We'll see.

My father and his four brothers kept them, me and my four brothers keep them and one nephew keeps them, competition or what ? My first own pigeons, I saw flying at dusk, I was fifteen at the time and saw these 3 pigeons land on the roof at the side of a house directly above a drain pipe. At nightfall, I climbed the drain pipe and netted all three but as I was dragging the net over the guttering, one escaped which left me with a German Bl C and a Belgium Grizze H. I paired these together and the very first race I flew with a young Bl W Ft hen from them, not only won the club but topped the Fed. I have been hooked ever since.

If you have paired them together as YOU want then it's just a matter of keeping an eye on them when you put them back together. Put them all in at once and watch how they take to each other again I'm sure then within 8--12 days most will be sitting.

Agree with Tony C. It should stop them getting the squirts and soaking the floor.

I think if you look at the human race as a comparison to pigeons, your Alan Wells, Lindford Christie both somewhat muscular for the sprint racing and then at Seb Coe, David Bedford and these African runners for distance racing. Look at Paula Radcliffe, Iv'e never seen a short stocky athelete win a distance race. On the whole I tend to view pigeons in that manner but of course I know there can be the odd exception.

Does it hinder a racing pigeon?

If we're talking about the test of time here, for me, it HAS to be Busschaerts.

The Rat needs some Happy Slapping treatment. If Clockman is willing, ( being the instigator of the message ) perhaps donations could be sent to him giving us a closing date for the donations. something like 8th Feb. Clockman, would you be willing to take this on, ? we could pm you for your private address/Tel No, if you wish, or are there any other suggestions ?

I agree with Slugmonkey. My brother was in a position where his loft was in the sunlight from morning to dusk but the sun couldn't get in, only ventilation. He won out of turn. He is now in a different loft position and for whatever reason, has made some alterations to bring light into the loft. Although you can see the birds, the results don't seem to have been the same. When he had a dark loft he used to keep it open long enough to excercise the birds and feed them, after that, total darkness. Rest.!!

Peckedhen, I know this may sound a backward step but I would part them out of site for three days, then introduce them again and watch the results.

Not an easy decision to make, must strongly consider family values/commitments and neighbours. If you have no problems with either of them, that's a start and I would say " go for it."!! Lots of nice people in our sport makes it all worthwhile.

Peckedhen, Maybe with giving them the sort the fishermen use, will help them SWIM the channel. LOL.

Hi Bewted, There are usually several organised Coach trips advertised in the weekly pigeon books Jan/Feb time to travel across the water to Belgium, to a place called Lier Market. It is a place where fanciers can buy themselves foreign pigeons and bring them back. I doubt whether any trips would be taking place at the moment with the threat of Avian Flu about but under normal circumstances there would be some 4/5 trips that would be going across. You would travel overnight on the Ferry and arrive at Lier Market in the very early hours of the following morning 3/4am and await the arrival of foreign fanciers ( unless they were already there ) fetching baskets of pigeons along, placing them on benches to sell under torch light because it would be so dark. The Coach usually stops on it's way back to visit a pigeon shop/factory where accessories can be bought to bring back also. You can of course make some lifelong friends in this way. All in all, a very tiring day but at the same time, enjoyable.

Anybody been and had success with their purchases. ? It's a good crack.

I jab for both p/m and pox. Every pigeon in my garden gets jabbed. Having seen both P/M and POX, it would hurt me so much if my birds went down with either disease. We can all be wise after the event.

V1JSL. Without doubt the best cure for watery droppings I know of is:- 1 teaspoon of CINNAMON to half a pint of hot water. Leave overnight then mix with 3 pints cold water and leave before the birds for 24hrs. BINGO!!! If they are drinking and passing excessive water after/when drinking, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be Coccidiosis. A fellow club mate asked me to pay him a visit two years ago to see his pigeons that had the systems I've explained. Coccidiosis was the cause. Of course we all know stress, loft change, food change etc can all lead to wet droppings. Wish you luck.

Hi All, I am thinking of putting my hand in my pocket to purchase a Cat Scarer at B/Pool. Before I do, has anybody had any experience with them.? Do they work,? Which ( if any ) is the best model.?

Shelbin, 33,000 last time, wonderful site and cleared in less than three minutes. We'll think of you this season as they get away.

Carl, Most, suppliers of horse supplements will have it or will be able to get you it.

Never used Red Cell but someone once told me it supplies extra oxygen to the blood and is used for horses. I remember one Saturday afternnoon a light Ch H dropped on my roof and the condition of this pigeon dazzled me. I have NEVER before then or since, seen a pigeon with so much colour on it's neck. She eventually came in and I contacted the owner asking him how he got his pigeons in such condition. His reply was MOLLASES, again used for horses and mixed with their feed. I personally took the hen back to him and found his pigeons were all the same. This guy just added it to the pigeons drinker. Do I use it ? NO ! Pigeon products for pigeons. Johnsons Pigeon Tonic.!! But then, I'm a bit old fashioned.

Hi All, I always thought, the pigeons racing home had to break a beam of light to register their time ie : open door, bob hole but of course with reading a little I now understand they have to hit a foot pad before registering. Absolute gold mine for our disabled fancier friends and one loft races. I still prefer to run ( whilst I can ) up the garden falling over the Jack Russell timing in my first one. I'm still not too sure about the security of such a sytem and if ever it is found to be flawed and we all have one, what then. My simple answer is, Don't know.