always learning

[Guest Vic]

                Something has been irking me since our final o.b. channel race. If any one of our members can  offer some sort of advice after I have explained what happened, I would be most grateful.                                    Right here goes!  On Wednesday 5th July 2006 I finished conditioning my final team of  eight W/H cocks for the final channel race from Messac  391 miles. As we know, it was not a normal channel programme of six consecutive channel races, but a short makeshift one of three. As per norm for the final race, I gave them their  hens on Tuesday morning 4th July through to the following Wednesday afternoon. Everything was rosy, and I took the peanuts away at 1300hrs Wednesday. Their condition  at marking was immaculate, with one or two members, saying so.  After a one day holdover, the birds were released on Sunday 9th July, in a S.W. wind,  at a somewhat late time of 1030hrs.   The winning birds in most clubs recorded winning velocities between 1300 and 1380. My first birds returned in a very poor condition, almost two hours aback, showing signs that all was not well, by their feet alone. To make matters worse, I had only three on the day, and lost two good pigeons to boot, one had previously won from Niort (over 500 miles) taking a high NW Combine position.    

                                                                        From elation to deflation In FOUR DAYS!  I personally think it was a poor batch of peanuts, MOULD maybe? How can we make sure that peanuts are 100% beforehand?  Nothing hurts me more to think I have sent handicapped pigeons to the distance. God forgive me,If I have! After over 50 years of racing experience, I still look for advice, from novice or oldhand alike, as I would like to think, we all do. All replies most welcome. Vic

 

[mO]

Scold them vic with boiling water

 

I have also previusly after scolding them put them in the mincer and chopped em up and fed em in galley pots, one other point always ensure they are sold fit for human consumption.

hope the above helps mO.

[mO]

oh sorry vic I think I read somewhere about microwave but no idea for how long .

[Tony C]

I buy my peanuts (redskins) from Asda, human grade 40p for around 6oz

[pigeonscout]

looks like you sent your cocks driving to nest and I don't think that is good way to send cock birds for 3 days in basket. If the nut where off I don't think they would have been showing such good form on the wed. I think 4 days in the basket for driving cocks would be far to long and they would have been burnt out before the flaps were opened.

[NANCYVIEWLOFTS]

i know how you felt VIC we had a similar experence some years ago and we also put it down to the Peanuts

since then we have never used them we use homoform instead  i dont actually know if it is the same oils but it works for us and their is no worrying about the Peanuts

[Guest Vic]

Mine last year, were Chinese, (dark skinned) sold in 25kg bags around £20.

Vic.  p.s.  So easy to plummit in this game, if you're not careful, aint it?  

[Guest Vic]

Pigeonscout, Good reply, BUT, I like many others have excelled in previous years by exactly this method. I have always been a distance man, and I can assure you, that I normally don't meddle about with 'em, in July of all months. But I can tell by your own tone, that you are a successful flyer, so thanks for your opinion. Appreciated indeed! Vic.  

[sapper756]

Always feed peanuts sold for human consumption only, also be aware not to overfeed too many peanuts, as if overfed can be very damaging to the bird.

[Roland]

Mould yes ... but with Peanuts Vic, as you very well know, very few are wanted or needed. I'd say toxin poison if too many allowed to be eatan.

Just two or three on RETURN of race and the next day they are back to good condition. I believe  one can't over fill any cup ... the wastes is just that etc. but too many peanuts  may mean that the system was given too much protein which they can't handle. More thoughts any way.

[mO]

Question, how would Safflour compare to peanuts as I think it is a safer option.

mO.

[Larry Lucas]

Vic, I haven't posted much here, but on this one I am in sympathy with you. Although it is hard to know for sure, I would suspect the peanuts. Most of the fanciers who have difficulty from peanuts use the ones they have purchased in large bulk. If you can get one of those "black lights" (ultraviolet) the kids use with posters on their walls and shine it on the peanuts in a dark room, you will see the moulds and fungi if they are there. I also learned the hard way that it is better to purchase the small packets of raw peanuts for human consumption and put them in the freezer section of the refridgerator until needed. Raw peanuts go bad quickly when not roasted -- especially those large bags. The country of origin is also a consideration as some countries standards for these things will not be the same as the UK.

[blackjack]

Victor you said you sent them driving im not a widowhood man had they had every channel race?.If so look at stress it has the effects you mention in condition and faeces and performance. I have always been taught that the elimination of stress leads to success read Des Coulters article in 1993 squills its the best i have read .

[Guest Vic]

Blackjack, I am grateful for all replies, thank you. Your comments regarding  stress etc?  One of my mentors in the widowhood game , over the years, has been Geoff Kirkland, and his peformances, using these methods have been second to none. I'm actually surprised at your remarks. Perhaps, you have not turned over the next page. Unlike myself, who has read the book on countless occasions, but cannot grasp the sheer simplicity of it all. Vic  

[Tony C]

Vic do you also feed hulled sunflower seeds in their build up ?

[Guest Vic]

Thanks Larry! nice to hear your  points of wisdom popping up again, as on the pipa show, throughout the years.  Incidentally I am an avid fan of the USA "Forensic Files" programme. So if I should require  a similiar "luminol" type machine. I,ll ask the kids over the weekend, Cheers, Vic,

[Guest Vic]

Tony C,  Hulled sunflower seeds? Yes indeed! Why?

[pigeonscout]

Why not just soak some seed in nutmeg / peanut oil. they will get all the fat they need from that.

[pigeonscout]

Vic did your birds share a basket with other birds if so the problem may lay there.

[pigeonscout]

It does not take long for a bird to be come sick if infected by eating the corn a sick bird has just brought up onto the floor of the basket.

[Tony C]

Tony C,  Hulled sunflower seeds? Yes indeed! Why?

 

Vic this could perhaps be something else to take a closer look at, once the air gets to them (hulled) they begin to turn very quickly.

[pigeonscout]

I think if it had been the pea nuts you would have seen a change for the worse in the first two days of feeding. Did you feed theses same pea nuts to any other birds in the loft?

[Guest Vic]

Pigeonscout, before the advent of peanuts into the pigeon game, over 20 years ago or  maybe more, my  main source of oils and controllment came mainly from hempseed, which done my birds proud. I sometimes wonder, in modern day racing, whether I should have tried to fix something that was not, nor nowhere near broken. Vic.

[Guest Vic]

Pigeonscout, How can there not be other birds in at least four panniers, during a  club channel race? In my mind it was poor feeding, before or after marking. I have no doubt whatsoever! Cheers, Vic.

[Guest]

Vic, I think it is always helpful to look back at a bad day and ask what I did wrong. You have beelined on the peanuts, not sure why, but from our younger Guy Fawks days you'll know there's peanut and peanuts. Some don't look right brown rather than red, and taste kinda sour. You might have one but no more. Would reckon a pigeon's taste would make it act much the same.

 

When I used to feed peanuts, yes they were human consumption ones, kept in a jar, but they went off pretty quick. Fed one week and useless the next. Reckon the small 30p pack from Asda is best, open and feed right away, anything left, eat yourself.

 

But you make only passing mention of your birds' condition on return from 3 days in the basket, and their feet. Any more detail on that?