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.