Kyleakin Lofts

It is normally only late-breds that I breed. Very few earlier ones, if any. It takes a little longer and some more patience, but they seem to be coming on well. I have less losses now than when I was breeding earlier YB's. I bred 09 and 10 yb's as normal, but since then it has been late-breds in the main. 2011 was a bad year for me, 2012, a little better, 2013 and 2014, I think I have it sussed now on how to deal with them. The earlier years, 2011 and 2012, I pushed them too hard and was too impatient. Very often they have more nest flights than new ones. The nest flights hold more water and deteriorate as the season progresses, so you have to be careful with weather and keep an eye on their moult. Dropping three flights in the one week is their way of catching up. Growing feathers takes energy as well, so if you give them care and time, they will reward you.

The rings are available from 1st January 2016. The SHU has to distribute them to the Federation Secretaries to allow them time to sort them into batches for the Clubs. The Federation Secretary has to distribute them to the Club Secretaries to allow them time to sort them into batches for the fanciers. The Club Secretary has to distribute them to the fanciers from 1st January onwards. Fanciers should therefore not receive 2016 rings during 2015 because you are quite correct, it is incorrect for it to happen any other way.

Misty, damp and cold here in East Ayrshire.

Good morning all.

Happy birthday.

She was busy at the time and I asked Ian Noble about them. Obviously a bum steer, but then again, Ian had been busy all day as well.

How do you know that Davie? I was at the show yesterday and Linda didn't have the rings yet.

I have never raced my YB's. Some have had a few chucks, the late-bred ones none. I race them all out to 165 miles the following year, albeit because of the moult, dropping three flights at once, some only reached 130 miles. The yearlings that had been tossed went to 180 or 280 miles.

The SHU have quite a few of them. They are awaiting a reply from the Scottish Education Department regarding their distribution to schools.

You are correct Seonna!!! I caught Andy looking at some birds. Feathered ones. :D

Roly, survival dictates that they also have to eat, but even if we are able to confuse them for a short time it may assist our feathered charges.

I exhibited and judged Boxer dogs for over 20 years. There was always someone unhappy with a show result. There was a written and accepted breed standard, but there were many interpretations or opinions of what that written standard meant. Most attempted to treat it as a blueprint and judged in accordance with the written plan, but human nature dictated that others disagreed. With our canine friends there were many other types of exhibition, obedience, working trials, agility and schutzhund trials. These disciplines were practical and therefore in most cases you could see what the dog had done, so there was less opportunity for disagreement. Pigeons are no different in many respects!!! In exhibitions of any specie there will always be disagreement. Basic human nature is a selfish one, we are all experts, let's say, so we are never satisfied with the opinion of others. If a show pigeon has been crossed with a racer and then flown a short distance, it is eligible to compete in a flown up to 200 mile class. We then come to the beauty part. Some have taken knocks and are no longer beautiful in the accepted sense, albeit to their owner these "battle scars" are accepted as emblems of beauty. The judge must complete his task by measuring against the standard for beauty. This is the whole ethos of Shows. Club shows should hold little or no interest for serious "show men". They do not lead to qualification for the more important shows, but are meant to provide an opportunity for "racing men" to continue to meet on a social basis throughout the winter months. At these shows, the "battle scarred" warriors of the sky should be given their place. Their intrinsic beauty of guts and determination should be accepted not as flaws, but as signs of that valour. Now we reach the fundamental difference between opinions. Some "out and out racing men" will never accept or understand the beauty part of exhibitions, always wishing to favour the "racer", whilst those who appreciate the beauty shows will always favour the requirements outlined by the standard.

Good morning all.

Coming from the west, we know your type of music now Pat. I'm sure you look good in your sequined suit and Stetson, cowboy. :D

Hope you have good news regarding your health Jamie.

How did you fix the sequins?

I think it is a pigeon derived from a show racer x racer mating then flown at short distances, thus dipped in the race? Thanks Stevie, I nearly had it correct or do they race them as well?

Not the photographer that Seonna is, I don't know how to work the phone, but some of Liam Byrne collecting his trophy.

Young Hen Racing Through Wires.

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/topic/84709-shu-show-today/page__pid__1019919__st__0entry1019919

Good to meet you today Andy, I also met Alf. Obviously I met a few other people whom I already knew as well.

I'll be leaving around 12.00.

Good morning all.

I never knew it was that easy Stevie!!! I'll split all mine now and they'll be ready for basketing in May. :D

I use my own mix like matrix as and when I remember to give them it. They often enjoy it, but if it is there all the time they lose interest. If you really want them to eat it with fervour only give it occasionally, but they may gorge themselves. If you believe they require it, give it daily and they will soon limit themselves.