Edinburgh Premiere

[pigeon359]

6 MEMBERS SENT 105 BIRDS

 

1. R.SMART ..............1447.552

2. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1439.050

3. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1429.054

4. S.GLILCHRIST..........1418.741

5. S.GILCHRIST...........1416.209

6. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1405.792

7. S.GILCHRIST...........1364.539

8. A.McLAUGHLAN..........1360.144

9. G.SUMMERS.............1354.295

10. S.GILCHRIST..........1328.503

[eric owenson]

well done to all

[Guest homestead]

well done all

[Guest stb-]

wel done

[Pigeon Thos]

Good result. Could well top the Fed.

Good race today with good returns. Well done Midlothian Fed committee.

[b.massey]

Good result. Could well top the Fed.

Good race today with good returns. Well done Midlothian Fed committee.

 

Yeah my money was on this club when I seen where the early birds came out of, Very good racing lads

[MIK]

well done all

[pigeon359]

Yeah my money was on this club when I seen where the early birds came out of, Very good racing lads

 

In fairness though, how long does it take to liberate 1000+ pigeons? We are not talking about a convoy of wagons liberating here, and our birds are flying 10 miles further than some lofts so I wouldnt think being the early ones out would make much of a difference time wise

 

The winning pigeon was an August bred 2012 latebred cock, racing on the natural system, to a large youngster and sitting 8 days on dummy eggs. Its already at a disadvantage against experienced widowhood doos so fair play to it

 

My second bird which was right at his back, was a 2 year old hen that I got in as a stray last year and racing on the natural system still sitting on 20 day old dummy eggs. Unfortunately she had to be put through as a trainer last night as there was a problem getting her new ets ring registered in time

 

A good race and good returns. Well done Peter and Midlothian Fed

[b.massey]

In fairness though, how long does it take to liberate 1000+ pigeons? We are not talking about a convoy of wagons liberating here, and our birds are flying 10 miles further than some lofts so I wouldnt think being the early ones out would make much of a difference time wise

 

The winning pigeon was an August bred 2012 latebred cock, racing on the natural system, to a large youngster and sitting 8 days on dummy eggs. Its already at a disadvantage against experienced widowhood doos so fair play to it

 

My second bird which was right at his back, was a 2 year old hen that I got in as a stray last year and racing on the natural system still sitting on 20 day old dummy eggs. Unfortunately she had to be put through as a trainer last night as there was a problem getting her new ets ring registered in time

 

A good race and good returns. Well done Peter and Midlothian Fed

 

 

Yeah I'll second good returns and credit Peter as he takes flack when bad race so well done Peter. Also well done yourself on great flying

 

 

 

[blaz]

In fairness though, how long does it take to liberate 1000+ pigeons? We are not talking about a convoy of wagons liberating here, and our birds are flying 10 miles further than some lofts so I wouldnt think being the early ones out would make much of a difference time wise

 

The winning pigeon was an August bred 2012 latebred cock, racing on the natural system, to a large youngster and sitting 8 days on dummy eggs. Its already at a disadvantage against experienced widowhood doos so fair play to it

 

My second bird which was right at his back, was a 2 year old hen that I got in as a stray last year and racing on the natural system still sitting on 20 day old dummy eggs. Unfortunately she had to be put through as a trainer last night as there was a problem getting her new ets ring registered in time

 

A good race and good returns. Well done Peter and Midlothian Fed

 

well done think you will top fed .did you do much training in prep for 1st race?

[highwings]

well done

[pigeon359]

well done think you will top fed .did you do much training in prep for 1st race?

Thanks for the nice comments lads and fingers crossed it has topped the Fed????

Our club, including myself, were against the race going ahead until next week because of lack of training due to the bad weather we have been getting lately. I don’t think anyone could have prepared their birds enough really, especially the latebreds, and mine were only trained up to the 17 mile mark. I had a few shorter tosses earlier in march just for educational purposes from 7 and 12 mile before the weather turned and then tried to squeeze in what little training I could between the cold winds. Most of the clubmates didn’t manage to get as many tosses in as I did and some didn’t get any tosses in at all or it may have been a different outcome for me.????

My last toss that I could have squeezed in before the first race would have been a week prior to it but Friday being such a nice day and the race being so short, I put in a 17 miler just for education and a stretch of the wings and it seems to have paid off

All in all I would like to have been able to prepare more, but like so many, had to make do with what I could. Flying natural also halved the amount of training done for each bird because of the nesting situation but well pleased with the outcome and looking forward to next week

[blaz]

Thanks for the nice comments lads and fingers crossed it has topped the Fed????

Our club, including myself, were against the race going ahead until next week because of lack of training due to the bad weather we have been getting lately. I don’t think anyone could have prepared their birds enough really, especially the latebreds, and mine were only trained up to the 17 mile mark. I had a few shorter tosses earlier in march just for educational purposes from 7 and 12 mile before the weather turned and then tried to squeeze in what little training I could between the cold winds. Most of the clubmates didn’t manage to get as many tosses in as I did and some didn’t get any tosses in at all or it may have been a different outcome for me.????

My last toss that I could have squeezed in before the first race would have been a week prior to it but Friday being such a nice day and the race being so short, I put in a 17 miler just for education and a stretch of the wings and it seems to have paid off

All in all I would like to have been able to prepare more, but like so many, had to make do with what I could. Flying natural also halved the amount of training done for each bird because of the nesting situation but well pleased with the outcome and looking forward to next week

 

don,t think you can,t be very competitive when flying natural against them on widowhood.i have always flew natural and hold my own in fed.latebreeds can surprise you my 1st bird yesterday was a latebreed 1st time in basket 2nd club and think will be in top 10 of fed.i can,t see their being a bird to beat yours in fed i hope so well done

[pigeon359]

don,t think you can,t be very competitive when flying natural against them on widowhood.i have always flew natural and hold my own in fed.latebreeds can surprise you my 1st bird yesterday was a latebreed 1st time in basket 2nd club and think will be in top 10 of fed.i can,t see their being a bird to beat yours in fed i hope so well done

I know mate, or I would be flying widowhood myself

A good natural pigeon with the correct motivation will hold its own against any widowhood cocks but for the shorter distances I would have to say widowhood would have the edge.You will see a lot of doomen changing from natural to widowhood but how many do you see reverting back to natural after trying widowhood? Not many I expect and there has to be a reason? Im sure all the widowhood guys would have plenty to say about that lol.

 

As for latebreds, good ones are few and far between. I have had the odd ones myself in the past and like you say, some of them can surprise you.Law of averages though would say a good experienced widowhood cock would have the edge over any unraced latebred but like everything else in doos there are always exceptions to the rule and our first birds back prove that

 

I am happier flying natural and would have to say my birds are happier too so for the time being it will do for me. There are good and bad pigeons in both natural and widowhood but good pigeons with good motivation will win regardless if they are flown on natural or widowhood.

[pigeon359]

I see you got a 6th Fed Gary so good result. My trainer would have been there at about that mark too but the way it goes eh. Am happy I got 1st Fed and that will doo for me

[blaz]

I see you got a 6th Fed Gary so good result. My trainer would have been there at about that mark too but the way it goes eh. Am happy I got 1st Fed and that will doo for me

 

 

well done on 1st fed 6th fed will do me with no training .will be a bit harder this week with north in the wind.

[pigeon359]

well done on 1st fed 6th fed will do me with no training .will be a bit harder this week with north in the wind.

Ta mate you too. Only had one toss so far this week so hopefully get another couple in before friday? My wee stray is out the game for this week as her cock is driving her to nest again now. Shame as I thought she would do me ok this week

 

My latebred cock is looking good though so I know where my pools will be going lol. Be a bit harder like you say so just need to wait and see. Fingers crossed eh. Good luck on saturday.

[b.massey]

Well done and good luck for this weekend

[blaz]

Ta mate you too. Only had one toss so far this week so hopefully get another couple in before friday? My wee stray is out the game for this week as her cock is driving her to nest again now. Shame as I thought she would do me ok this week

 

My latebred cock is looking good though so I know where my pools will be going lol. Be a bit harder like you say so just need to wait and see. Fingers crossed eh. Good luck on saturday.

 

if i was picking a bird for pools i would be thinking on the cock that is driving his hen more so if she lays and he pushing for 2nd.just my thought.

all the best to all this weekend

[pigeon359]

if i was picking a bird for pools i would be thinking on the cock that is driving his hen more so if she lays and he pushing for 2nd.just my thought.

all the best to all this weekend

I would agree with you in the ideal circumstances mate but no can do in this hens case. She is paired to Frank, my indian fantail cock lol. Wasn’t planning to breed from her so left them to get on with it. Wasn’t planning to race Frank either……….. even while driving her to nest:)

I know what you mean though mate and just a bit of banter:)

Be ready for a read mate as it will give you a much clearer picture re my thoughts or actions as cant explain it in a few words lol.

The Latebred I choose to pool for Saturday has more motivation than any of the others in the loft. I haven’t mentioned it though and its an important factor as it probably won him the 1st race. The motivation I am talking about is Territory disputes. The story goes………….

The nestbox that the latebred is using used to belong to the cock in the nestbox next to it. The older cock didn’t care about that box until the day I moved the latebred and his hen into it. All hell would break loose on a daily basis in the box and I was forever separating them. They were driving me demented lol. I tried locking one pair in at a time and vice versa but the minute they were coming in from exercise or whatever then all hell would break loose again. The latebred would end up chased out of the box and the old cock would stand guard in the box the whole night and the latebred would spend the night on an empty perch. Night after night when it had turned dark I would lift the old cock out and put him back in his own box and put the latebred into his. Sometimes I would close the 2 widowhood fronts together and the old cock would be hanging from it trying to get in to get to the occupants. Sometimes I would leave just the gate on it up and the old cock would be straight in causing havoc. This behaviour went on for weeks every single day and even when the latebreds hen had laid the old cock chased the latebred out and stood guard on the open side of the box while the latebreds hen was sitting her eggs! The old cock never went inside to the nesting half of the box even when it was the latebreds turn to sit. If the latebreds hen was on the opposite side to the nest then she would be shoved off by the old cock and he would stand guard while the latebred was on the nest. Other times when there was a fight the latebred would rush inside the nest space and both of them would be in there for a while and the old cock still stood guarding the other half of the box. The old cock was relentless in his attacks and I would watch him come off his own eggs and rush out his box straight into next door. The attacks lasted till the latebreds youngster was about 10 days old which was 5 weeks or so later. I thought the old cock would never give up! I don’t know if the latebred finally found the balls to oust him completely or if the old cock just got fed up of me lifting him out of the box all the time. It was madness, I used to watch through the gap on the loft sliding door as soon as I shut up for the day/night and the old cock was at it again as soon as I shut the door. He thought he was being fly but I was being flyer haha. On the odd occasion now I have saw the old cock try to get into the box but both the latebred and his hen roost there together now so they chase him off together without much effort:)

It had been bliss for a week leading up to the first race but I know that at the back of the latebreds mind he was thinking how safe his box was whilst he was gone for the night? The motivation to race back lies in the latebreds mind and you can only surmise what its thoughts were. It wasn’t a motivation I created for him but one that came about of its own accord. Not only was he racing back to his hen, a youngster, and his second clutch off eggs but also the anxiety of is his box still how he left it? ( I like to take a youngster off a latebred before it races as not only would he be racing back to the place he was born but also to the place where he can procreate and pass on his genes successfully. It may not be a big deal in itself but the fish/animal/bird kingdom is strong on instincts like that)

He has got to be thinking has his hen been ousted? Has there been a fight in the box and the hen and youngster injured or eggs broken? Will the old cock have taken over his box while he has been away and will he have the ability to oust him again? There are many thoughts he could have and each and every one could be that little extra push in his getting back to claim whats his and as soon as is possible!

This is my theory anyway mate and cant be far from the truth? A widower couldn’t have this kind of motivation because of its circumstances and they will have other motivations that perhaps mine wont, but it must be a strong one to give him the will to get home in the fastest possible time and to do it in a time to win:)

Hopefully he will have the same thoughts in his head this week as I doubt very much if this experience will have been forgotten yet and he knows that territory can be lost in an absence of occupier. The latebred isnt a scary or nervous kind of bird but he is pretty laid back and would rather do without the hassle. He is now FULLY in charge of his box and he is not about to give that up now for anything and stands his ground! He is capable of winning a race from this racepoint and has proved that so I would be mad not to make him my full pooler

I only started back racing last year after quite a few years abscence in the game so as yet the birds have to prove themselves before I go throwing good money away on pools.

If I drop the latebred this week then its back to the drawing board lol.

Only had two 17 mile tosses this week and going to be a harder race so it’s a case of fingers crossed all goes well tomorrow. Good racing for all I hope and best of luck.

[blaz]

nicely explained the reason i suggested the cock that was driving his hen (before i knew it was a fantail) was i have had good results from cocks sent guarding 1st egg and pushing for 2nd the best of which would be 1st fed Marlborough 2nd sec 19th open plus other good results same way. had my lot training 1st time this year with 2 from sutra hill 10 miles to me. i don,t do much for the early races but up it when we get near the newark race with the aim this year to pick up fed gold cup again .it will be a lot slower race tomorrow with the north wind. all the best for the race.if i had have had an old cock fighting like that his legs would have had a wee bit string tied to both legs . it sorts them out as can,t get purchase to fight so soon stops.

[pigeon359]

nicely explained the reason i suggested the cock that was driving his hen (before i knew it was a fantail) was i have had good results from cocks sent guarding 1st egg and pushing for 2nd the best of which would be 1st fed Marlborough 2nd sec 19th open plus other good results same way. had my lot training 1st time this year with 2 from sutra hill 10 miles to me. i don,t do much for the early races but up it when we get near the newark race with the aim this year to pick up fed gold cup again .it will be a lot slower race tomorrow with the north wind. all the best for the race.if i had have had an old cock fighting like that his legs would have had a wee bit string tied to both legs . it sorts them out as can,t get purchase to fight so soon stops.

Yes I understand where you are coming from mate. Sorry about the BOOK but no other way to explain things without giving the FULL picture:)

[pigeon359]

if i was picking a bird for pools i would be thinking on the cock that is driving his hen more so if she lays and he pushing for 2nd.just my thought.

all the best to all this weekend

Well mate I was right in making my latebred cock my full pooler as I won the club pools:)

 

Have just read the Fed result too and see he was 17th Fed from 2047 birds. A good result but could have been even better as it was a very bad trap and cost me a good 4 minutes in the clock:(

 

No sense going there though as we have all had it at some point and its what is on the clock that counts:)

Am still proud of him for his efforts and he did win my pools so will let him off lol.

 

Gave him a couple of drops of nazaline earlier today and a we kiss on his heed at the same time so we are still pals:)

 

I have no hesitation in making him my full pooler again for Thirsk so fingers crossed.He will be sitting on dummy eggs that are overdue but doubt very much if the eggs will be deserted in time for the race? A bit of a pity as I would love to see what he does while he is driving his hen on top of any other motivation? All being well he will be driving his hen by Wetherby and if he is still here then he will put by till next year after that. ( Had one back next day from Otterburn 2 with the typical puncture and gash wounds )

 

Congratulations to Steve on 1st and 2nd Otterburn 2 and also the other lads who made the result. Well done:)