Barny's

[Roland]

Just look at the barn pigeons, and feral feeders! They eat the good and ripe feed and live of three foot high droppings, and the youngster are always in first class condition. Lice  keep their feathering in tip top condition!

Never say that feral pigeons are inferior in their resistence to disease to any other pigeon. I think that they are the hardiest breed we have and this comes from cross-breeding and selecting only by their ability to survive - that is Nature's way - not by the kind of feather curls and the like that are completely inconsequential to ther survival. Some scientists tested feral pigeons as well as racing pigeons a few years back as to the presence of Salmonella antibodies. It was found that while 30 % of racing pigeons in Munich had experienced Salmonella exposure, the same could be said of only 5 % of the feral pigeon population.

It would appear that we have too many "doctors" who like to use antibiotics on our pigeons that Mother Nature would have considered unfit for life - and then we breed more like them.  

 

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Are you saying we should keep feral pigeons now Roland ? ;D ;D but that is not as funny as it seems as I do know somebody who does keep two feral pigeons along with their birds   ;) and have never had any health problems what so ever

[Guest]

Ferrals are the toughest most inteligent breed and the ones I have seen were certainly very healthy.The only pigeons I have seen with lice have been stray racing pigeons.

[Tony C]

And the average lifespan for a feral pigeon is?

[Guest TAMMY_1]

And the average lifespan for a feral pigeon is?

 

till u shoot them

[DOVEScot]

And the average lifespan for a feral pigeon is?

 

What then????

[Ronnie]

Aye feral pigeons are hardier and more disease resistant but can they home from a race .Its like saying fantails have more tail feathers.Dont get me wrong i agree with what you are saying but feral pigeons are just that, they are not racing pigeons.Well at least thats what i think.

[DOVEScot]

40 years ago a lot of young boys started off with ferel pigeons, they have all the ailments but build up antibodies or they don't survive, the strong become stronger.

racing/show strains are being genetically reproduced and kept alive unaturally therefore more susceptable to illness

[Roland]

Will have to get some photo's of a Dove cote near me, and try to get someone to showme how to put them up on here.  It's walls are 3 feet thick at least. 30 foot high and about 50 x 30 sqare. With another exact same adjacent. Made in stone s pretude outwards about 9 inches square. Underneath hole like left about the same. This was to enable the 'Man in Charge to climb and collect egs, or whatever. The hole go back inwards and the round to the right where there is a about an 8 inch square nest box.

Of course there would be no light at all, which is similar to aWidowerhood set up - There is only one little door in a corner to get in, about 2 feet square. And three slits on each wall about 18 inches high and 4 inches wide. There is a brook, close by, but no means whatsoever for the youngster to drink at all till they leave the nest. Must house at least 350 pairs in each side. Yes ther are a few fantails there now etc. but when you get them, they also are in absolute spot on condition.

[Guest jason]

a mate of mine a few years back (when he first started) rung 6 youngsters in an old mill and then went back for them at the time of weaning......they did better for him than the ones he gave £50 each for. He didn't win anything but they were always his first birds back! and boy did we laugh when he rung them but goes to show.

 

Jason

[Roland]

Aye feral pigeons are hardier and more disease resistant but can they home from a race .Its like saying fantails have more tail feathers.Dont get me wrong i agree with what you are saying but feral pigeons are just that, they are not racing pigeons.Well at least thats what i think.

 

Ronnie next time you get a feral baby in … keep it, and learn.

One when it traps for feed like yours, toss it with your  youngster - or old ones - and I'd wager they beat yours home every time up to 60 miles at least.

Two, as soon a falcon / hawk / rapture is about he'll lead yours to safety a darn site quicker than yours.

George Wills, collected al the blacks he could off the Gas Silos. Within two years he was riding high at both club and fed level... In deed Frankie George’s ferals (they were adjacent to his big concerns loft) were clanging his and most others week in and week out.... till a very well known stud bought him out.

Birds 1,2,3, generations from the races are fine, and soon return look the part.

Now if one looks at it realistically with all the 'GREAT pedigree birds lost every year the church has a great breed stud farm lol. But the Pedigree birds that are lost today are too much inbred and produce crap. Obviously, otherwise as they would hom!. And where do they go?! to find as many others as possible and to become crowded and happy.

Sorry Ron, didn't mean this sarcastic like, or having a pop at you personally.