jupiter_19630

I,ll have a hunt round see what I can find.

Just took delivery of of a second hand basket which is basically sound but just needs sprucing up a little. It needs 2 new straps for the lid and release flap. Anyone know where I can purchase these. The willow is sound enough, just a little dull. Any one got any ideas how to bring it up to scratch?

I usually break my birds in about a month. I have built a viewing cage that fits over the landing board. I leave the trap open so that they can fly onto the landing board. About a week before i want to release them I start shutting the tbird in the cage, and then opening the trap door to teach them to trap. When I,m ready to release the bird I place it in the cage for an hour then remove the cage right before I give the afternoon feed. The next day I remove the cage 15 mins before the afternoon feed. I gradually increase the length of the afternoon release. Once they,ve been coming and going ok in the evenings for a few days I start letting out as normal with the other birds. Lost 3 before I started this method. Lost none since.

Got him back! Two nights out including new years with all the fireworks swung it i think. Was back first thing new years day. Still missing 2 06 rung birds recently posted on here plus GB 05 R 37906 if you come across them give me a shout. Ta

Lost in the Rochford, Essex area. White Cock GB 06 F 35674. If found please phone number stamped on wing or email adrian_english@talktalk.net. Thanks.

I did persevere with this poor bird and she was coming on nicely thanks to some of the suggestions from this forum. Sadly she was taken from the loft landing board by a cat. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

Where do you get one of those scarecrow thingies that blast the cats? I,ve got a cat scarer that keeps them from hanging around too long, but still lost a bird the other day and a fox came in the garden last night. Tripped a flood light and the scarer and scarpered, but might be more desperate and hungry next time.

Thanks for all your input especially clockman who helped me with plenty of info. As for ETS.....Well the first time round of keeping pigeons In the seventies I absolutely loved the buzz of working out when my birds were due home, then waiting by the loft scanning the skies for my first arrival, trapping it and removing the rubber etc. My birds were always tame as it was crucial to trap and catch the bird as quick as possible with the least amount of fuss. It was even more of a buzz clocking in a bird early sunday morning from a long distance or extremely hard race. Surely the same buzz is absent with ETS as the birds effectively clock their selves. Even a bad trapper could score well. And would you bother to get up at 5am after a long haul as you would using a manual clock? I'm sure this debate will run and run.

Nice one. Got my clock wound courtesy of clockman. Its ticking so thats a start. Need to set the time now. Would that just be a simple matter of turning the minute hand untill I reach the correct time or is there some other method? There are 2 small dials set behind the main dial face. Anyone know what these are? Still none the wiser about changing the ink ribbon or paper roll.

Nice one. Got my clock wound courtesy of clockman. Its ticking so thats a start. Need to set the time now. Would that just be a simple matter of turning the minute hand untill I reach the correct time or is there some other method? There are 2 small dials set behind the main dial face. Anyone know what these are? Still none the wiser about changing the ink ribbon or paper roll.

Ok thanks. But I have it now so I have to give it a go. Thats why I need find out how to wind it up and change the ribbon now so that I can check its reliability while theres still time to get sorted before the season starts.

Right got myself an STB windup for christmas. Seems ok but I need some info. The print out is very faint, especially for the minutes. I,m guessing it needs a new ribbon. Can I fit this myself and if so how? or do the clock people at the club that I,ll be joining do it? or does it have to be sent away? The same question applies to the paper roll. Also does any one know how to wind it up as I want to check it works ok now, rather than leave it untill the season starts and then find it needs cleaning or adjusting etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Glad to be of help. If you get stuck give me a shout and I,ll see if I can help further.

Now we got ya. Thats easy enough to knock up. Size and dimensions really don't matter but I would suggest a height of around 12 inches. One I made as a kid had a plywood base and roof, four batten uprights at the corners and a batten frame around the edge of the floor and roof. All four sides were covered with chicken wire stapled to the batten frames. The entrance can be on any side, offset to the left or right and about 5 inches wide. Its just a simple matter of bending a length of stoutish wire into a 'U' shape. Staple the top of the 'U' to the roof batten, making sure that the 2 prongs are long enough to fit inside the floor batten. You just need to add one batten upright the other side of the trap to fix the end of the chicken wire to. Now just bait it with corn. the pigeons can enter by pushing against the wire, but when they push the wire to try and get out the floor batten stops the wire from being pushed outwards. Hope this helps.

Hmm I was wondering about that. Not very clear whether its a loft trap your after or a trap to catch pigeons away from the loft. Both can be made very simply and cheapy. If you can be more precise about your requirements I,m sure we'll be able to help.

I agree. Keep checking on ebay. I bought my 6x12 for £102. Just had to dismantle it and collect it. Also the "racing Pigeon" weekly sometimes have ads for second hand lofts.

Have picked the peas and beans out and added some cod liver oil to the smaller seeds. She seems to be alright on those so I,ll keep her on that till the scabs clear up, when hopefuly she,ll be able to manage her normal diet.

This evening I found one of my young birds on the floor instead of her perch which is most unusual. On picking her up I noticed that she was light. I then noticed a build up of beans and peas in the top of her oesaphagus. Me and the missus managed to manipulate most of the food out through the beak. The bird was attacked by a cat a while ago and while her wounds are healing nicely, I think that perhaps the scabs on her neck have been causing her difficulty in swallowing peas and beans, and I am unable to feel if there is a blockage in the scabbed area. Has any one got any ideas to ease the blockage?

Thanks guys. I think Tony's advice makes the most economical sense so i,m gonna look for a cheap stb or later benzing. Cheers.

Thanks Tony. That seems like good advice. I,ll keep an eye out for an stb or benzing then. Thanks

My loft is based on latebreds which i,m in the process of breaking in. I intend to race them next year and as long as they are not pushed too far and too hard I cant see as there should be any problems. I,ve got coloureds too. They will be treated exactly the same as the blues and chequers. If they are no good then I,ll have a few empty perches, though again I can see any problems as many good racers either are or come from coloured birds.

Can any one suggest any uk websites for purchasing loft supplies? I,ve found petron lofts, boddy & Ridewood and Murray and Mills, but I,m sre there must be more.

ok thanks Wiley

Thanks mate I,ll bear that in mind

choose birds that are alert and taking an interest in whats going on. Avoid anything that remains hunched up, or has watery eyes. There is no real easy way to sex a pigeon once it leaves the nest. The cock birds are generally bigger than hens, but not always. Observation is the only sure way. The cock birds start acting laddish and puffing up their chest and picking the odd fight. Grit is essential at all times. If you fail to provide it your birds will search for it in the nearest field. Hope this helps