Wiley

Personally, no. In my findings if PMV vaccine caused young bird sickness, it would do me a favour as then I would get it in April each year, and come young bird racing my birds would be able to race the whole programme. But unfortunately it doesn't, and after the first or second race young bird sickness rears it's ugly head.

For me it's two races, Both with the London North Road Combine. The first being Old Bird Berwick and whatever race point they choose for young bird combine. These are my favourites as I feel you compete against everyone's best.

What are the best grains available?

General question, do you use Brewers yeast on the grain, or have you in the past in your feeder? A local loft came to me with a similar problem, and his problem was he fed a lot of brewers yeast, the slugs could smell it and would enter for that reason. Leave a bucket half filled with beer outside and see how many slugs you'll find in the morning real eye opener.

Just put in the DVD player, probably the first pigeon based film I ever saw 23 or so years ago. 'Marathons in the sky'. Haven't watched it for many a year, but always enjoyed it.

Dirk of the Fran's Maris partnership is very welcoming and speaks very good English, I should be seeing them over the winter months.

Whose birds are you looking to bring in next season to try?

How did they do for you Ovy?

Lol I knew about Dirk few years back Ovy, after his 1st Belgian National young birds. But I had no idea he sold on the market. I was watching his results unfortunately how many birds he sends is what put me of for making contact with him must be about 3-4 years ago now.

Very good fancier with Schellens based birds. Some great info your putting up Ovy

Isn't his name Dirk Wouters? But his married to Fabieen Peters and is who is the name he races under?

And they say he was a small team man?

Supposedly

I Didn't win cos....... I didn't send

Having good pigeons is essential

As Tony said, Vic sadly passed this year. His input to the site is greatly missed.

I think if there not raced they must be well trained. I think they may struggle at first with the programme also if not raced

Sorry to hear this, but you must always follow your heart.

Never entered a show apart from online, old boy gave me two tips years ago. Use a baby wipe clean feet toes and ring. And bring the birds into the house for at least 48 hours, can't remember why but sure he said the warmth of the house had an effect on the feathering, but don't quote me on the 2nd part.

Ad swears by Sedachol though, for the moult and all year round?

Do fanciers over complicate the moult? Giving additives, and purchasing high priced so called moulting mixes? Reason why I asked a few years back a great national flyer told me he fed 100 barley through the moult, nothing else. Recently I read something from a legend in the sport that through the moult hell feed upto. 75% Barley, and 25% conditioning mix( red band type full of fatty seeds) , yet again with no additives only time he'll change the feed is before he pairs. What are your thoughts, have you tried something similar? How was the feather quality? Did you notice anything different in the moult ?

Well done Harky, a nice pot to take home! Ian could you please put up the result or results of the winning pigeon, and any other claiments please.

If space was so limited, I'd forget having stock pigeons, they aren't needed when you can purchase young bird teams so cheap these days from good fanciers. We used to keep widowhood hens as Andy says in a set of widowhood hen boxes with louvered doors on

Has anyone used these? What are your opinions on them?

"Jules Severi from Halen wins with the old pigeons with fathers rase, who for years did inbreeding in freedom.Jules Severi, 67 years, pensioned worker from Halen, has a 2 years old cock who got named "Bourges Raket" after his victory of Bourges with the old pigeons. The week before was the same cock - ring 5056983-00 - the first from Orléans in Tienen with 8 minutes ahead. The national winner was played this season, 4 times and won 4 times a headprize.Severi doesn't know de pedigree of his "Bourges Raket". He's a real amateur, who doesn't collect pedigrees with big names on it or his results.As a fact, Jules Severi has loved more his horses as his pigeons. He's breeding with his son Geert "Friese" horses His 5 years old stalien "James" is a well-known international hors.His father was a very good fancier in his time, who won headprizes untill AngoulÂme.After his dead in 1979, his son took over the pigeons, but they have for 6 years flew for free and did on inbreeding.In 1984 he ringed his first youngsters. He know that the best pigeons of his father all were black and he only ringed the black pigeons and trained later. It was a succes immediately.Jules Severi doesn't know wherefrom the black pigeon came from, but older fanciers remember themselves that their was the war a brewer in Diest with black pigeons who was unbeatable. And Halen is not far from Diest... The father of the Bourges-winner is a black cock, who won 5 times a 1th prize and 3 times a 2nd prize.The grand-father along mothers side was also a black pigeon, who last year on 15 years of age died, he was unbeateble on Soissons and Momignies. Over the Bourges-winner, Jules can say that he as young bird won 6 prizes, wherefrom 37/6615 on Orléans and as yearling 6 prizes, wherefrom out of Orléans: 30/209, 23/181 and 10/154. This year he won as a 2 years old pigeon his first victory from Orléans the week before his national victory.Jules Severi has for the races 18 widowers, all black pigeons, who he only recognize in his hands.He always loved horses, but he always nursed his pigeons well, also when he was not playing, the years after his fathers dead.The loft become cleaned 2 times a day, and he's not visiting the vet often.They get a good grainmixture and 2 times a day fresh water. And when there's a problem, he gives "Tricho Plus" to his pigeons."