Kyleakin Lofts

I had a similar warning today when I popped into Elimar, but when I checked my internet security it stated the site was ok. It still showed it with a red warning and the warning statement was still there so I left the Elimar site. This happened some time ago and when I contacted them they stated they had no virus on their site. I try to keep my computer clean, so avoided Elimar for a time.

Maybees lucky. Today's races were very strange and difficult. Birds were not clearing and returning in dribs and drabs.

Sickening. Post to Save the Songbirds on Facebook.

Welcome back everyone.

Where can I buy syringes and needles for vaccinating my birds?

East Calder - J M Young 01506-494144

I recently had to buy one for my measurements. I phoned Linda first to check which scales she could use. Depending on your area, the club may already have one, but if like me you are in a rural area so need a new one you have no other option, but to buy, I think. I bought a sitemap for £23-50. The scale was 1:1250. You can also get 1:2500 and 1:10000. I think there was one other scale she could use, but I'm sure she will keep you right.

I have joined facebook for this reason only. My friends have been trying to get me to join, but I hadn't bothered until now. Great work Rasbull and more strength to your arm. I have just checked and got onto the group no bother.

I have just had to pay £23-50 for mine, not cheap. If your club doesn't have one to cover your loft, I don't think you have any other option. I got mine from a place licenced by OS. Slightly cheaper than direct. Shop around your area. Prices vary, but I was told they have to charge £20 + VAT for the first one. The price is set by OS.

Thanks Dave

Quote I am a spark by trade and what the shop guy said is right. All electrical work in UK is now covered by the building regs "Part P", basically states that anyone doing work on your property needs to be part P qualified or has to be inspected by building control. If you dont and something goes wrong, you are liable and not your insurer. Call in a pro, i wont advise, (as much as i would like to), as little knowledge is worse than none! Quote

Ion Wind Air Purifier £25 + £3 p&p Steve Hole 9 Brookside Close Shifnal Shropshire TF11 8HN 01952-461588

I have seen my birds circle the buzzards. They fly above them and below them. I have seen them fly that close that I thought they were going to collide. they were flying similar to tumblers in as much as they seemed to be deliberately dropping onto the buzzards. Whether you would call it mobbing, I don't know, I wouldn't. They didn't seem bothered in any way, but neither did the buzzards. I have at least 4 pairs of buzzards very close to me. There are also loads of kestrels. I have seen a quite large "kestrel", but it were hovering, so didn't think it was a sparrowhawk. I had an attack at the loft and all I seen was what looked like a very large bop taking off and leaving the pigeon which died later. I thought it may have been the buzzard although I didn't think they were fast enough for the pigeons. I was told it may have been a peregrine. The pigeons have been in since cause I'm just starting and can't afford any more losses. They took all day to come back and 3 never returned plus the 1 that died.

If this happens and we also win in the club, fed national, obviously great koudos will come our way, along with the money. We have to ask ourselves, " Is this our hobby to give us pleasure, enjoyment and friendship, or is it solely to bring in the money." Oh for the days when eggs, young birds, knowledge, etc were given freely for the betterment of the sport. Sorry folks, end of rant, off the soapbox. Please tell me where I am wrong, apart from being an idealist, which I already know.

I am speaking from ignorance of the facts, but in Scotland we have the SNFC under the auspices of the SHU and the "breakaway" SNRPC under the auspices of the RPRA, I believe. Result, a feeling of devalued National Racing, bickering, smaller liberations, harder work for the pigeons. I stand to be corrected and am perhaps oversimplifying the situation, but my opinion, and it is likely to be worthless, given I am a new start with minimal knowledge from some 40 years ago, is that pigeon men seem to have lost the plot in many ways. I noticed in my previous hobby, dog breeding and showing, that because people wanted to win all the time, they took offence when you discussed there exhibit from ringside, not in a malicious way, but from an educational standpoint. As in dogs, we breed our birds to inprove our stock. In pigeons this is proved by results. We are not racing against fellow members, although it is pleasing to have the best result in the club, fed national, but we are racing against our previous results to prove our breeding plans are working and we are indeed having the desired effect on our stock.

2 stamps @ 35p aprox = 70p. 2 envelopes @ 5p approx = 10p 1 photocopy @ 7p approx 2 mins of time at £6 / hour = 20p approx Total = £1.07 approx £2-00 transfer gives 93p profit approx less overheads for lighting, heating insurance, etc, some of which must be allocated to work entailed in transfer costs. Probably some profit is being made, but not extortionate, so what you are talking about is a principle. You feel hard done by in some manner, but are you really. You may feel misrepresented in some manner, but are you really.

Thanks for replies, guys. I am aware of the dummy spitting technique, kids do it all the time. Adults are expected to understand "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you get what you need." My thought were with regards to the falling number of fanciers and the statements that small liberations were making it more difficult for the birds, we might see sense and conbine as the distance increases to alleviate the financial strain, increase the birdage and there would also be increased koudos for those who were successful. I accept the vagaries of weather, but we all should be able to do this. I also accept that the liberator often becomes the fall guy. This has been mentioned on this thread with regards to SNFC, but you can't please everyone all the time.

Bigda, if that is a reply to me, you are too cryptic. You need to spell it out to beginners. I meant if the north east feds could go together as a combine, why can't, say Ayrshire, Ballochmyle, Renfrew and Glasgow, in the west, I don't know the others, or the spread; likewise lanarkshire, midland, etc, in the central?

Bigda, if that is a reply to me, you are too cryptic. You need to spell it out to beginners. I meant if the north east feds could go together as a combine, why can't, say Ayrshire, Ballochmyle, Renfrew and Glasgow, in the west, I don't know the others, or the spread; likewise lanarkshire, midland, etc, in the central?

Quote from BLACK WF we had it before we also had the dundee birds and the other fed all up at same time coming one way should never have stopped get them altogether and all up early as possable great Is this not the way forward? Feds in the same general area pulling together as a combine. Cutd transport costs, all libbed at the same time gives bigger birdage, better drag, etc. Explain to a beginner why this is not the best way forward.

Excellent

I don't know about pigeons, but with dogs, white can be affected by environment, within and outwith the womb. This can result in white hairs on a newborn because of deficiencies whilst in the womb, but these white hairs change on casting whilst growing and due to a better environment, less deficiencies, change to the natural colour. This would seem the same in pigeons given the information that the base colour to the quill is dark, or the white flight is partly coloured and on moulting changes. Whether subsequent changes could be caused by feeding or other environmental changes is interesting. The main point will be whether it improves as a yearling and further develops into a better bird. If this is the case I am quite sure the flight will not be a consideration. Interesting to hear this though.

He has a practice in Cumbernauld and Falkirk. I have not used him, but did try to make contact with him since he had been recommended as a specialist by SAC Auchincruive. I used Auchincruive, through my local vet for dropping test. Haven't had the bill yet, but I know it will be more expensive than the test done for me by Gary Spavin. The cheapest method is to buy a microscope and learn how to use it, but I don't know of anyone who could give training for this.

What years did they cover?

Just starting and distance is my aim, but this is quite some time away for me. I only hope it is still there for me when and if I'm ready. I need the distance men to keep these races going and although the NFC will keep it going, we need to keep up the Scottish interest through sect M. Travelling to marking stations in England is a major bind, even though I know some Scottish boys fancy a shot at BICC Tarbes International. Good luck to all who are able to compete at the distance, especially those few who support extreme long distance. These birds are special, flying hundreds of miles on their own into Scotland after leaving the big English drag.