birdman55678

Les, I forgot to add, even the birds with the frills are flying ok, but haven't breed them any further. Any thoughts? Ed

Les, in reference to your post to keep an eye on their offspring. Once I see a frill come on the breast I then make an outcross and then the frills go away. I maybe wrong but this seems to happen around the 5 mating (father to 5th granddaughter). Am I wrong here or is this a natural thing. I have 2 different strains I am flying and it is holding true for them. Thanks. Ed

Hope so Martin. I've done two funerals and a school opening but these were for friends - I've yet to make a penny!! ;D ;D Make a ad with your pc and post them at all the local wedding chappels, churchs, community bulletin boards, laundermats, etc. I have tried the wedding/special event thing in the past and actually did well, the one main problem for me was seems like all the weddings were on friday or saturday and interfered with the racing. after 3 years I quit doing it because of the weekend calls. Good luck. Ed

The question that actually needs to be asked is to define in-breeding and line breeding. There are many that do not understand one from the other. I am probably one of them. My defination would be Line Breeding is one cock on related hens where as in breeding would be between any related bird, i.e. brother/sister/aunt, etc. This is my thinking anyway. What does everyone else think. Ed

My stock birds will never see any medication. If they get sick then they are no longer stock birds. Ed

Robert.sutherland, This part of the USA (west coast) doesn't use any kind of backup with the countermarks. However most everyone of the older flyers still have there old clocks for use in case anything ever happens to their electric one. After the last 5 years with no problems I probably will be getting rid of both my windups. As far as the unfairness in the racing it definately is faster, if you use clocking limits then it probably wouldn't matter a lot either way, but you can clock 30 birds while only getting one with a counter mark. I know a matter of a few seconds is sometimes critical so guess it would depend on how close all the birds were. Good luck whichever way you guys and gals go. Ed

They should be fine but if you are worried then take them 1/2 way and see what the returns are. Base your next if any training on that toss. Depending on when the wedding is suppose to be you should do well. Ed

Try putting less in the water. I use one capfull per gallon of water and it doesn't seem to bother them or slow the drinking down. I have tasted it myself and you can taste the vinegar but it isn't unpleasant. Ed

come on you gotta admit no matter who ya are that it was funny.. Your just wishing it was you that posted it.. Ed ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I have raised pigeons since 1957 and only in the last 10 years or so have I ever bothered to wear a mask and only then when cleaning the lofts out. I have known 3 others that have had to wear them whenever they enter the lofts because of pigeon lung. Its not a good deal for them. So I guess its always best to wear one. The one I use has the replaceable cartridges on it and looks like the old gas masks. Its uncomfortable to wear but beats breathing the dust. Ed

Ronnie calf manna is a pellet that is designed to be given to a weanling calf, full of protein and vits. Only bad thing with it is it seems to loosen the stools up right at first. Keep up the ACV and your good fortune should continue, in my opinion anyway. thanks. Ed

Although I voted for pair 5 I really liked 9 also, and if pair 15 would have had a blue bar hen instead of the check I would have voted for it. Ed

OK I understand and I will try to explain as best I can but please understand I by no means speak for all the NW flyers. I believe the main problem is we live on the coast. At our release points can be clear with little or no rain and before the birds get 1/2 way home they can enter wind, rain, sleet, snow and or fog along with everything else. Put all that together with dense mountain forests everywhere and it makes it tough. Some years are not bad but some are. I would say an overall average for ybs would be somewhere around 60 to 70 ybs raised each year. Seems like 30% or so never make it.. Old birds are rarely around longer than 3 years. Hope this helps. Ed

Jesus I wish all the flyers here could have read this one, I will have to pass it on to them, I bet not one of them realizes that our pigeons are junk compared to yours. I will immediately get on the phone and have them all check their breeders, we will certainly have to do something. I am going to suggest we shorten our races to equal yours and then only fly on the good days. After rereading this I will be able to suggest that after all as we wouldn't have any races. Good Day. Ed

Did not mean to start a hollaring match here, if you will notice in my post what I said was "Thats bull crap here in the northwest. ", meaning where I live and not anything about you or your area. That is also why I wrote "To me and others its very valuable information concerning our area.". Please understand I was talking about my specific area. Thanks. Ed

slugmonkey. I see you mentioned calf manna, I also use it, many of the oldtimers use to use it but now I think its one of those things that many are forgetting about. The manna will make the ybs unbelievable. Ed

Stateside the AU rings are white.... Ed

Unfortunately they have totally quit racing pigeons in scotland, it seems non can find their way home.. Ed... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Maybe the noose............LOL. Ed ;D ;D ;D

Its my understanding that when the ph is stabilized (below 11.0, I believe thats the number) than the bacteria can't live. That is how the ACV controls the cocci and other bad stuff. Thanks. Ed

Pigeonscout thats a great post and its all true. Everyone would benefit if they copy that down and post it in their lofts and study what is written every day. Good Day. Ed

The hens only have a certain amount of eggs, as long as the hen is still laying the eggs are ok, if not fertile then the cock is at fault. Hens that have only 3 rounds per year and less taken from them will sometimes last until the 14th or 15 year. I would suggest always seperating sexes and the hens will sometimes mate up and lay 4 eggs per nest, let em sit them it won't hurt, but if they continue to leave the eggs and lay more than let them sit wooden eggs. Good luck. Ed

Craig. Apple cider vinegar is one of natures best products. What it does is maintain the PH level in the gut and helps prevent ecoli salmonella. I use it twice per week with no ill effects, 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. You will have no more loose stools. Hope this helps. Ed

Hey Ben lighten up on Craig, he isn't posting things that are manditory reads, if you don't like it just go on to another thread, don't critize things that others may enjoy reading, just because it doesn't fit your needs or ideas doesn't mean it won't work for others. Hey even better yet start another thread with some meaningful tip or idea and let others read some good or productive things that you would recommend. Good day all. Ed

Symbro. In the first picture you have ybs that your calling two dominate opal redash bars, what exactyly are they and what did you breed together to get them, not sure if I have ever saw one with a white bar like that. Thanks. Ed