
av8or
Members-
Posts
19 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Everything posted by av8or
-
I report strays almost every week. I reported two last week, one of which from Southern Ireland, which was collected from the South coast of England and I have litereally reported 2 birds today. Now, I have only been in the sport for 3 years now and in that time, despite losing my fair share of birds, I have NEVER had a bird reported to me by another fancier. I don't believe for one second that ALL my birds are hitting wires or being Hawked. I believe that fanciers out there (and you know who you are) are either keeping birds as prisoners or worse still! I play fair, I don't expect anything for nothing and I would never destroy anything that didn't belong to me. There are some unscrupulous fanciers out there!
-
Solent Fed, Kingdown, slight headwind; club winner 67 miles 1696 yards 1390.884, my first bird 66 miles 668 yards, 1313.904
-
8 Training tosses, 21 cocks, up to 16 miles, no losses. In Shallah! Training record at www.pilotdirect.co.uk/trainingrecord.pdf
-
I have my Aviary around 18 inches off the ground and I purchases plastic floor grills for the loft. However, I didn't like them in the loft so used them in my aviary, which makes life so much easier. I haven't needed to clean the Aviary for over 12 months, as there isn't any need. If you can't use floor grills, I would use a heavy mesh and if you need to walk on it, temporarily place a plank of wood over the mesh to offer support. Photo's attached. And no jokes about it looking like a prison cell. It gets the sun all day (when it rarely shines in this country) and the birds love it!
-
Last year I had a bird (ironically my favourite bird) arrive back the next day after hitting a wire. My jubilation after his arrival was soon thwarted by the realisation that he had a large gash along his underside. In fact, it looked horrific. I'm not sure how he managed to fly, as the poor thing could hardly walk. Anyway, I will cut to the chase, I applied some horse wound antiseptic powder, which acts both as an antiseptic and coagulant to stop bleeding. I locked him up in next box and darkened it. He now has no residual effects, although still bares the marks of his plight and has subsequently sired 3 rounds of babies this year. Obviously I don't race him. As regard to your bird Denny, the wound is very minor, if I can use my birds injury as a basis for comparison and as it's dried up, I would be inclined to leave it and confine the bird only if you feel it would benefit from rest.
-
I lost a Blue chequered pied cock around 6 weeks ago out of my stock loft. I realise that this is a stab in the dark but it's always worth a try. His ring number is NWHU 08 N 4208 Many thanks. Vince
-
Sorry for my belated reply. I purchased the floor grills from Boddy and Ridewood. They're heavy duty plastic, which I did have in the main loft but took them out as they really need to sit 6 inches off the floor and these sit about 2 inches off. I then lay them out on the grass to serve as kind of stepping stones until a colleague suggested I could use them in the aviary. Personally, if I was paying out good money for floor grills, I wouldn't use these one but the wooden slatted type. However, I have pasted the link below for your interest. http://www.everythingforpets.com/plastic_heavy_duty_floor_grills.pet/use.id.5.item_id.940.dept.208/ Regards Vince
-
Here on the south coast it's overcast. Cloud base 1500ft with light rain and light winds. But that's okay, as the majority of my birds are from the north
-
In a word, outstanding!
-
Yes, I built it myself and will be extending it in the same style. The only elements I didn't build were the doors. Roof and floor are 4 x 2 and framing is 3 x 2. I used ship-lap for the outside but in hindsight, would have favoured 18 mm exterior ply, which is what I used on the roof and floor.
-
I must say, I have never had any problems with sparrows. My only concern with having dowelled fronts to any loft is giving access to rats. Personally I haven't had a problem with rats, as the loft is 18 inches above ground and my dog often scurries under the loft and I never leave food in the loft. However, at night, when all the birds have retired to their perches, I close the loft up, so they don't have access to the aviary and have a wireless alarm sensor in the corridor, which alerts me in side the house if there is an intrusion, human or vermin. But it's a valid point and one I did consider, especially at £1.25 per 6 ft dowel. If cosmetics wasn't a consideration, then it would have been mesh and square, which is undoubtedly the better option.
-
Yes, the structure could lend itself to a whole host of other applications. Although in fairness, it doesn't have such a 'prison cell' look about it. It's only the close up photos that make it look like my birds are doing porridge
-
Two more close ups. I appreciate a square aviary is more space-efficient than a semi-circular front but I'm trying to get away from your conventional 'pigeon loft' look and give it a more of a summer house look, especially in light of the fact that it will eventually be 42 ft by 10ft overall. Not that any architectural element to a loft means they race home faster. But everyone to their own.
-
Here is a couple more, with aviary roof. I intend to extend the loft out by another 24 ft, out past my son's caravan. He doesn't know it yet ;-)
-
I very nearly pissed myself!
-
Strapper! I needed a laugh today, believe me. I read your narrative and then scrolled down with the greatest of interest to see your innovative loft. Nice one!
-
I know that a couple of my birds learned to climb out of the most outer entrances to the sputnik, as they manage to clamber up the sides. To prevent this, I simply bought some gaffer tape (I'm not sure of the actual name of it) and taped up both outer entrances.
-
Whilst I understand emotions are running high and equally share your sentiments whole heartily, we should take a moment to appreciate efforts by other parties to secure a conviction and that this culprit (and I use the word in it's most broadest sense) has been given a custodial sentence. Irrespective of whether we consider his sentence to mirror the gravity of his offence and personally I don't, we should reap some satisfaction that any custodial sentence will affect him for the rest of his whole life. That isn't to say, however, that I wouldn't much rather seem him hung up by his b*lls!
-
This is the beginnings of my loft with aviary still under construction. I intend to extend the loft out to the left by another 24 feet to accommodate another widowhood section, a utility room and a hen section. The shed on the right with aviary is a temporary measure housing my young birds. A modest set up but very encompassing and satisfying nonetheless.