birdman55678

15 to 30 minutes without any nest bowls or as long as it takes to basket. Ed

Electronic is by far the best and can be used with most any entryway as long as the birds go over the pad. Ed

I believe from the way you are describing it that you plan to inbreed, (related birds), it is my thoughts that line breeding is better (Stud Cock to daughter/g-daughter etc) As far as inbreeding is concerned you will notice the birds getting smaller as time goes on, at first sign of this you will need to outcross. Hope this helps. Ed

more training for me also, and hopefully smarter and/or better birds.

I would say if you have finished in the top 10% in every race and this is actually only your 2nd season then you have or have had some very, very good advice and help along the way. If I might ask, where did your birds come from, not names or anything like that but what area compared to the one your in. Not many flyers are as fortunate as you seem to have been, it takes lots of work to be as sucessful as you are. Well done and my most harty of congratulations to you. Ed P.S. As Linda says you need to join the help a beginner program, but not as a beginner but as a mentor and I will be your first beginner.. LOL. Hows that going to work Linda.. LOL. Ed

Yep I still have one cock and 2 hens that came from Calif, and several more that I have raised.. Ed

My exact thoughts Linda. I now wish I had taped them but my VCR is on the fritz and I just got a new one today. I will watch for it to come on again. Ed

I believe you are definately on the right track. Good luck to you. Ed

Linda I will try to take a pix of my loft floor tomorrow and send it to ya, since the rains have started my lofts also have the wood pellets on the floors. I remembered your advice on that one, and looks like it was indeed good advice. Ed

Well Linda I do agree with you but by his own words he is a new flyer and undoubtedly doesn't have any proven breeders because he hasn't flown that long, when I said winners to winners I meant from his own birds, he has no other choice that I can see anyway. Isn't it wonderful to agree and disagree with no harsh words exchanged. Huggers gal. Ed

Tim, one of these days I will also get down there and meet you. later guys and gals. Ed 8)

Well Linda I will definately do that, is the barley your buying barbed or is it polished? six bucks a bag is very inexpensive and I have never seen it priced that low, anyway hopefully will see ya at the Oregon state race at the latest. I might even show up at dinner time some time this summer, those steaks you fed us last year still brings wonderful dreams.. LOL. Later gal and thanks. Ed

All concourse reading must be taken with the same GPS unit, if that is the case then you have a problem. Ed

I believe most people that own janssens do think they are only sprint birds as that is the overall feeling about them. They do not bother to send the birds on the longer races because who wants to send a bird that can't win, and thats what I believe most think. There are very few true Janssens around here, most have been crossed and then recrossed again. What has been crossed into them will determine if they can go the distance. I think Lindas janssens are some of the better long distance janssens around. Ed

It was on channel 184 (dishnetwork) last week followed by another one call war pigeons, it showed several times during the day. Both were outstanding. I especially like where they moved the loft on the water and the birds in most cases found it.. Later. Ed

I think here is the real question that should be answered. "What is Cold weather?".. When I lived in Nevada our cold weather was 30-40 below zero, here in washington our coldest weather has been 25 degrees in the two winters that I have lived here. Now in Nevada I did close down the loft because when the weather get below zero and with a little wind you have trouble. But here in washington state its another ballgame, only changes I make is in order to keep the rain from blowing in the loft.. Fire away guys and gals. Ed

Its my opinion that line breeding is much better than in breeding and then as has been said flying is a must. Breeding from unflown birds is a disaster waiting to happen, and I believe its what is causing many of our bad returns. Good day. Ed

In my opinion its not a good enough pix to tell much from.. other than its a white eye.....

One question on removing the hen from the babies, do you ever have a problem with the cock bird deserting the nest and neglecting the squabs? Thanks. Ed

I have never heard of this throat theory for mating up the pairs, how long has this been used and does anyone have any results from the person using it compared to how the flyer did before he used it.. Only wondering but with some lingering doubt.. LOL

Lots of good comments on this topic, I agree that health is a key, but also I believe that good feed promotes good health. Main thing with barley is that the birds do not overeat as they don't like it. They won't get fat from no excercise in the winter.

As has been said, flicking a squab is absolutely wrong and I believe could even make the bird shy and/or cowardly when older. The only real control you have with ybs is with the feed, they will always come to it.. Get them use to you having feed when they are young and you will always have tame and gentle birds. Just my thoughts anyway.

First thing would be sure the birds are fertile, I would never just let the birds mate up how they like for the simple reason IF you do happen to get a good one there is no way to insure you can raise another from the same parents. Winners to winners seems to be the best but not everyone has winners.

One thing I forgot to add, grit is fine except when medicating the birds. Most beginners also try to pick out colored birds of any kind, the different colors draw them like magnets. I would suggest with everything being equal to always take the Blue Bar or Blue check bird. Ed

Lance where are you located. I would recommend not buying late hatchs, if they haven't had the first molt and trained out the first year then things get weird with them, usually not worth bringing home. Its very easy to sex the pigeons.. The hens always lay the egg... LOL. Just kidding, one way you can tell with a mature pigeon is the eye of the cock birds will almost always be very round and hens seem to be sort of pinched or squinty on the sides. Hope this helps a little. Ed