Mealy Cock

Hi All As usual I spend time looking on the net at birds for sale just out of interest. What I have come across was there is a lot of pigeons over the last few months bred off "Red Barcelona" children and grand children, and I wondered why so many off a cracking racing pigeon up for sale. Any idea's or comments.

On looking up a strain that Roy Mundy used to race I came across your thread The strain was "Bosacks" of which I was trying to find more about but to know avail.

Hi all. Has anyone ever had I similar experience as me, I had a phone call a week or so after I sold all my birds and loft. It was a fancier who had purchased a number of birds from me including some stock bird, he told me vandals had broken into his loft and a number of birds got away and had any come back to my home address, one such bird was in its first year of breeding for me as I had purchased the said bird from the late Eddie Wright so it had been in an aviary at his lofts. I told him I had no loft and the bird had never been out due to it being a stock bird, as the fancier lived some 14 miles away the chances of getting the bird back was 0. A day later I could not believe my eyes when a pigeon was sat on a small wall facing my patio doors, as I opened the door the bird flew past me and landed on the cooker in the back of the kitchen it was the young stock cock that I had received a phone call for, I caught the bird and contacted the fancier who owned it and told him the story luck or what. What I don't understand is, the bird was not bred at my loft nor had it been out, yet it found it's why to my home address and flew into my home that's nothing like a loft. Any body else had the similar experience. I

Hi all I noticed when watching videos of European pigeons lofts and birds arriving from race the Field Antenna Pad is either under the landing board or inside the sputnik trap which is not within the confines of the loft. I understand Europe could have different rules but in a International race the position of the pad could make the difference of winning and losing a race, any views on this.

Hi all. I have noticed comments of fanciers leaving the sport even selling their lofts during the summer months What I have notice is that there are 2 main reasons that seem to be prominent, firstly the hawk problem which the RSPB still remain their stance that a Peregrine is a rare bird and promote that fact, to the extent Ladies and Gentlemen a written comment was made by a supervisor of the RSPB saying there was no time for sentiment with regards to what racing pigeons did during the War and the men that trained and looked after the birds. Why are the RPRA not acting sooner and not just relying on hawk watch and writing to the RSPB for a up to date report of BOP numbers, the last one was 1995. Secondly, the price of corn, equipment, medication, ridiculous pricing, again I was looking up prices I could not believe the difference from different suppliers for the same product, i.e. a boxed item of meds £19.95 the same meds from a well know company 29.95 who is ripping off who hear. Do these people not realise they are pricing people out of racing.

Not quite sure where you are coming from, if you are saying was I a good club member, I would go straight from work, take my birds down to the club and help with marking, on average 450 birds per race, I would wait till the transporter had come load the birds and head off home around 21.00hrs. I was also a Fed delegate. After I could not race for Fed honours I quit and sold up. One pleasing thing was, I had 2 phone calls from fanciers who had purchased my birds, one had topped the Fed in Yorkshire, and the other in Lancashire, on the same day from the same race point.

Hi all Some year ago before I left the sport I had some bad experiences at my club and Fed and wondered has other fanciers had similar problems or are they gone in the sport. One example is I was a new starter in a club and ended up 2nd highest prize winner and OB inland average winner. The following year was even better, I was 1st 2nd Fed wind against me, I had 5 birds all that could have taken 1st place but only clocked 2 as I thought I was late. I told a club member what a good day I had even though I lost 3 other positions in club and Fed due to me not bothering to time in. for some strange reason he took exception to this and the following week I was given a false lib time by 2 hours, I came home from shopping only to find 1 of my race birds on the fence, no loft keys no clock to hand, minutes further ticked away, but guest what I was still 1st club 14th Fed I phoned the person responsible for the false information no reasonable excuse was given. Towards the end of inland racing, news had filtered back I was in the running for Fed averages with 2 come back races to go, the last race I took the 1st 4 positions what happened next stunned fellow club members, the person responsible to send the necessary paper work to the Fed did not bother and subsequently void me from Fed honors due to me classed as not competing in all races.One club member gave the person responsible the length of his tongue, his response was "I did not know It was a Fed race. This man had been racing pigeons for over 30 years. The best was yet to come when I received I phone call that I could no longer race for Fed honors to due me being a guess member of my club even though I was well in the Fed radius. Years later after I left the sport by chance I met a respected club member and he told me who had reported me to the Fed, it was not a club member but a person well know for selling pigeons in my Fed, why? in my view it looked bad, selling very expensive pigeons to the fancy sending 20+ birds per race to my 8-12 and could not beat me in the Fed, speaks volumes.

Hi all. I may be restarting in the sport having taken early retirement, I thought I would look at the price of new lofts I found them very expensive, example; pent roof 18ft x 6ft nothing fancy £1,700, what I did find quite a few lofts for sale on eBay that were a fraction of there initial cost. Is wood so expensive to buy or is it just loft manufactures making large profits.

I have had pigeon lung many year ago, the medical symptoms are and can given flu like condition, coughing a lot, very difficult to breath in a situation like having a shower or taking a walk in cold damp conditions, weight loss is another factor. I had all the Xrays and lung function tests, loads of very strong anti bio-tics to no avail, the answer was a blood test sent to the labs at Liverpool arranged by the Hospital. I was then given inhalers one was Ventolin the other can't remember only it was a red spray bottle, cured my symptoms. It's a most horrible condition, you will know if you have it.

Hi Owen I got the same answer when I wrote to the RSPB about Eagle Owls, only the real reason is the Eagle Owl will attack and kill Peregrines. But here one for you, did you get the reply about Peregrines only eat sick and injured birds- i.e racing pigeons and did you ever read the letter in the fancy press many years ago when the RSPB said that Peregrines don't kill and eat racing pigeons a fancier wrote back with a list of 300 ring numbers found at the bottom a Peregrines nest, the RSPB did not reply to that one! Any way keep up the good work.

Yes you can ask why the BOP situation is that they are now living in urban areas, the reason is that their own habitat is over crowded and have had to move else where, ask why we no longer see all the colorful birds in our gardens and why the RSPB are not doing anything about that, there is no such thing as an "urban Peregrine Falcon" this is a word the RSPB made up to justify why they are now living in towns and city's, the real habitat for Peregrines are cliff faces and the like. One more question you can ask! why have they not done a further survey on BOP since 1995, and the last one ask why they won't introduce Eagle Owls back into the UK- their answer to that is a pearl-er.

I see on this forum that BOP are playing havoc yet again. Why do fanciers not do something about it them selves as a group. I have wrote and spoken to the RSPB many times they simply fob you off, I have caught them out with their own data, they then have a strop and won't reply. I once spoke to a RSPB team with a stall touting for money in my Town center with a telescope on the Town Hall where a pair of Peregrines live. A soon as a challenged them about what they was doing the first words out of their mouth was "quote" are you a pigeon fancier! I replied I was and an ex RSPB member, the lady would not answer my questions, just ignored me, that says it all. What annoys me the most you have wild live programs saying that Peregrines are rare, what a joke, they are now becoming a pest along with Sparrow Hawks. There was in 1995 1400 pairs of Peregrines in the UK. 120,00 Sparrow Hawks what are the true number to date. There is only one solution to this problem of which I have said many times, the RPRA need to bring the problem to the public eye and the media with what is really going on, challenge the RSPB to prove these bird are rare, they won't be able to. They give you stock answers then contradict them selves when you keep at them, they are not as bright as they make out! Hit them where it hurts in the pocket, the general public have not a clue what is really going on, they just keep coughing up money to the RSPB who only care about BOP and no other species of bird, ask them when did they last released blue tits or finches or wagtails back into the wild the answer is never.

Yes you can under the "Freedom of Information Act"

I had some in the 70s, do you remember Moss side moneyspinner. hard as nails the black pieds

Very nice birds, out of interest what strain are they.

I once along time ago had the same problem and thought a red cock I had was a hen, it turned out to be the best breeding cock I ever owned.

I have written to the RSPB many times over the population of BOP’S in the UK they simply quote unchallenged facts and figures, which by the way are 15 years out of date. Of which when you point that out they have a strop and don’t write back. When ever I am out and about I see the RSPB collecting money and there is an audience I raise the question about BOP’S and the declining bird population, guess what their answers is? I take it you’re a Pigeon fancier and won’t answer my questions. Until such times the RPRA get involved with nation wide evidence from all pigeon fanciers you simply don’t stand a chance, the RSPB will maintain their stance that BOP’S are rare and need protecting.

And guess what? I wrote to RSPB about BOP and gave them a history lesson of Cher Ami And they wrote back and said there is no room for sentiment. Needless to say they got the length of my pen for their insults.

I read Dave Allens book did me no good, pair up 1st January breed one youngster, when on second round remove hen, let cocks sit out eggs till they leave them start on widowhood. proof in the pudding is I won 7 out of 9 inland races with yearlings and 5 seconds 4 thirds 2 4ths up to 500 club birds per week.

Hi All Not been on for a while, I have read alot about BOP strikes all over the UK. There is a petition that people can sign, “Face book" or http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveoursongbirds, however considering how many members this site has the percentage is small that have signed. I am now in the process of writing to the Chief Executive of the RSPB. If that fails then it will be the BBC and ITV to see if they will probe into the workings of the RSPB It is clear when I have wrote to the RSPB they won't answer facts, they simply throw their dummy out and get stroppy. The RSPB make a lot of money out of BOP you only have to read their own web site, so you see why they don't care about Racing pigeons and the RSPB are quite happy to see put in jail if you protect your birds against BOP. Just society we live in

The only person I know to bring the best of Harthogs to the UK including Harthogs Champions was Brian Clayburn

Brave person, I never let my y/bs out till evening.

I got my book today ready for my hols and quick look through revealed that one top Dutch Flyer has his ETS boards outside as a landing board traps, so as soon as they land they are clocked Here in the UK the ETS board has to be inside, there for in an international race Europe has an advantage Over GB birds.

Is this not now a Police matter

Today I was looking for a book to take on holiday, I found a book on a stud site I liked, price £29.50 Plus carriage, I thought that is expensive, I searched the internet and found the same book for £15.00 + carriage That is a whopping 97% mark up on the stud price. I also purchased a booklet by a well known fancier, cost £10.00 it contains 8 pages of information and 7 pages Of pigeons and his results, on poorly printed paper, disappointed to say the least. I would advise novices and any new starter to the game is to check and research what they are buying as there are some people who are out to make big bucks at your expense. The other thing I have found whilst I am on my soap box, some studs and fanciers are selling y/bs for £50-£60 each To race, who on earth can afford those prices when y/b losses are so high, also I found fanciers selling y/bs That have purchased stock and then sold y/bs that are the same price as from the original source. Then we want young people to be interest in the sport!