Natural

[Wiley]

It would appear "NOT" that my last posts have disappeared so will try again.. Martin aka "AYE READY" had me thinking about my Eltex drinkers which were nearly as old as myself which had cracked enamel and had started leaking on the bottom, I replaced with plastic drinkers and noticed they were a "tad" wary of them which surprised me as they were in the same spot on the veranda but a different colour,, It played on my mind for a couple of days so I responded with a little experiment.. Day ONE I removed the drinker and screwed 2 eye hooks onto the wall hooking basket drinkers on, Filled to overflowing the birds were fed and I retired to the greenhouse to watch which was a waste of time as the birds would not go within six inches of them, Day TWO no water had been taken so they were fed again and although some approached the drinkers NONE drank. THIRD day some water had been taken so birds fed drinkers topped up and they all went for a drink although I could sense they were apprehensive.. Day FOUR I cut up nest fronts to resemble basket conditions and fitted onto the wall so now they had to put their heads through to get a drink, No water taken. Day FIVE birds fed and all drinking although still apprehensive. Day NINE and no problem with them drinking now.

Will conclude later..

 

I have something similar made up for my young birds peter its the only way they can drink.

[peter pandy]

To conclude whether right or wrong..

Can birds smell water ?? I don't think so, or are they just creatures of habit ?.

Why !!! When they can see Water wont they go near it until thirst forces them to ??.

Are they fearful of a different object in the loft !! If that is the case they wont be drinking in a basket.

If they don't drink in a Race Basket dehydration is the killer not the Bassa's in the sky.

Animals including humans can go weeks without Food "Tiger excluded" but only days without Water even much less in high Temperatures where its probably hours before dehydration.

I don't expect many of us have experienced dehydration !!, I have and it is an experience I never wish to go through again where your body wont do what the brain instructs it too.

[peter pandy]

All the birds vaccinated this week and inspected for "beasties" with some having hosts under the wings, All were dusted and the following day on inspection were still there, I had Wee Mary hold them and tried removing them but to no avail so had her try as she has nails but still could not be pried off. Closer looking and what I thought was Feather lice turned out to be dark marking on the feathers !!. ( must go to specsavers ).

Wiley with his 3 I's is a refreshing Post and much needed to compare differing ideas on Basics and I wish him all the success in his endeavours. I know when I started one year ago I never imagined that it would be read by over half a million views yet the longer it goes repetition tends to creep in and perhaps if I return to a Daily report the reader would perhaps find there is little but subtle differences between us.

To-day for instance my Cocks exercised for just over the hour mark and at our Saturday afternoon meeting the mates were saying they wish theirs were as capable and as fast as mine.

I restarted Hormoform again at 2 Grams per bird mixing in Matrix to powder the feeding which is 30 Grams in total per bird and they are only fed once per day after exercise. Three Litres of Water has 30 Mls of Cider Vinegar added which is their Daily intake at this time of year.

[peter pandy]

Blue and White skies and temps between 8-10C this week had the birds coming into condition with masses of down feathers and appetites reduced so knocked back feed to 25 Grams per bird. Cocks and hens out on alternate days has seen them burning up the skies although I have them on a low Energy feed every alternate day too, Makes you wonder what they will be like later on in the year but only time will tell.

I have at the moment pencilled in March 18th as a possible pairing date with the First race 4 weeks later !!. The reason being weather permitting they will have 12 Hours Sunshine daily and move onto a racing regime.

[peter pandy]

The weather the past couple of days has seen the Barometer fall below 1000 millibars so pointless putting the birds out.

To-day, and the garden is under 2ins of water apart from my raised flower bed which has 5/600 Daffodils up through about 6ins and should be blooming next week some time !! Spring is just around the corner, All the local guys who paired early have nothing to show for their impatience, with a couple splitting again to repair next month.

[dal2]

The weather the past couple of days has seen the Barometer fall below 1000 millibars so pointless putting the birds out.

To-day, and the garden is under 2ins of water apart from my raised flower bed which has 5/600 Daffodils up through about 6ins and should be blooming next week some time !! Spring is just around the corner, All the local guys who paired early have nothing to show for their impatience, with a couple splitting again to repair next month.

Them guys birds must be in poor nick mate cos the weather been smashin

[Dave barrie]

hi peter, your thread is about natural, i havnt raced for around three year because of work and transporter duties thro the season so the birds were basicly left to there own life with no routine, like retired, open hole and fed once a day, i feed straight barley with mollasses mixed thro once a week,basic grid is given on the slabs outside the loft and they take if the y want, water is topped up once a week, i go out to work at six in the morning and they are their pevking about in the dark, come three i am back and there mobbing me for food , fed and in by four but no hatch closed, they stay in and thats them till six next day,on the way into estate i saw them fling and thought ill watch cause if i go in theyll see me and be down, twenty mins i got fed up and went in, down like a shot an in for feed, i know barley isnt all they need but with the mollasses they are in tremodous nick, if i can get my lad to taske photos ill put them up, i have been throwing eggs away since jan, we get a visit roughly twice a day by the local perry/sparra but have only noticed three gone in three year, whene they get a start its like a bluddy gunshot,i hoped to race again this year but with work and comitments its impossible .hopefully i will race again in 2018 and itll be natural laying aroun ist april, keep your writings going peter as i know a lot of lads enjoy them.

[peter pandy]

To-day and the loft veranda and half the floor was given a good wash down through the night with the strong South Westerly and heavy rain blowing into the loft which had me scraping crap from the floor which I would have eaten my dinner off yesterday, so the first decent day the spray will be out and the floor will have a good soak with the ingrained crap scraped off, I would power wash it but there is nowhere for the water to go.

At our Saturday coffee meeting size of bird compared to feed was given a good going over and three lofts which feed differently with inmates not all being of a standard size will compare notes at the end of the season. I will have to keep my personal view to myself at this time due to giving an old feeding plan a trial for a year which if it works I will detail it for the readers of the column. It may be 50 years old but the guy won Barcelona International on it and I believe it will suit the type of bird I now have left in the loft for racing.

I am sure we all know feed plays a part with the emphasis being that without the quality of bird we will win nothing.

[peter pandy]

I have had a really good look round the loft for a different type of insect, fly or mite that is unbeknown to me which has evolved those past couple of years which when bites "young birds only" will pass on YBS.

Cannae find oany..

I noticed their are still no leaf on the surrounding trees nor are the wild birds nest building so I wish the Million or so young pigeons bred so far the very best of luck.

Woke up this morning and pulled back the curtains to find visibility about 30 yards in thick fog. Naw the windaes had not steamed up so the loft remained closed till mid-day for it clearing before the Hens went out for their usual burst of energy lasting 45 minutes before landing and entering for the single feed of the day and Cocks out for another repeat performance lasting the same time before having their single feed of the day.

They are still on 28 grams per bird with a small amount of Hormoform mixed in along with 1 teaspoon per 10 birds of Columbovine minerals and grit, No waste here, all are handling light, buoyant and alert so am very pleased at their development.

This week the workers in the Club ( Eddie, Uncle Albert and Myself ), power washed all the baskets, repaired them, varnished them, removed the windows from the building and bricked them up which only leaves internal painting next week after scraping the peeling paint from the walls. Retired !! that's a joke word..

[dal2]

Mine are doing good.....4mins yesterday....hoping to be at the front start of the season....they all feel fat and getting fed tooo much

[aye ready]

Mine are doing good.....4mins yesterday....hoping to be at the front start of the season....they all feel fat and getting fed tooo much

Lol mine anaw Stevie and whits better they widnae hae flew at all if they hidnae got a fright,plenty time for exercise when I split them

[peter pandy]

Put the Hens out first today as usual and after an hour had passed I had the whistle out every time they crossed over the loft and had to admit defeat when they kept going. Two hours flying before they dropped onto the loft and all in in ten seconds. Ideas on how to cut their exercise period to a reasonable time would be appreciated !!. By the way not paired up yet. Cocks out after all Hens were being fed and they turned in 80 minutes before dropping.

Now they were not out yesterday with the inclement weather so perhaps they just wanted to put in a double shift to make up for lost flying time.. eat your heart out Stevie.

[dal2]

Put the Hens out first today as usual and after an hour had passed I had the whistle out every time they crossed over the loft and had to admit defeat when they kept going. Two hours flying before they dropped onto the loft and all in in ten seconds. Ideas on how to cut their exercise period to a reasonable time would be appreciated !!. By the way not paired up yet. Cocks out after all Hens were being fed and they turned in 80 minutes before dropping.

Now they were not out yesterday with the inclement weather so perhaps they just wanted to put in a double shift to make up for lost flying time.. eat your heart out Stevie.

I canny compete wae that......winter form lol

[tommy bhoys]

Put the Hens out first today as usual and after an hour had passed I had the whistle out every time they crossed over the loft and had to admit defeat when they kept going. Two hours flying before they dropped onto the loft and all in in ten seconds. Ideas on how to cut their exercise period to a reasonable time would be appreciated !!. By the way not paired up yet. Cocks out after all Hens were being fed and they turned in 80 minutes before dropping.

Now they were not out yesterday with the inclement weather so perhaps they just wanted to put in a double shift to make up for lost flying time.. eat your heart out Stevie.

stop feeding them barley peter :drinking-coffee-200:

[peter pandy]

Aye Tommy, On this trial feed mixture they have 30% Barley all year..

[peter pandy]

The only time I blind treat is round about this time of year when I dose them with "Levacide" 1ml = 1 ltr Water three days on two days off and three days on.. This will remove all Worms including Lung Worm and other internal Parasites.

Birds flying the same as yesterday and have to admit its a treat to watch them burning up the sky leaving vapour trails in their wake. :rolleyes:

[Big Davie]

Peter' what are you feeding them that's making them fly so well?

[Potter29]

Peter , which levacide you use mate in the drinker ? The injection or the pour on one?? Atb cheers

[peter pandy]

Peter' what are you feeding them that's making them fly so well?

5 Star Petrol LOL,

Beans, Peas, Tares, Maize, Wheat, Dari, Barley, Sunflower, Linseed. One feed Daily 28 Grams per Bird.

[peter pandy]

Peter , which levacide you use mate in the drinker ? The injection or the pour on one?? Atb cheers

My Vet gave me Levacide injection 7.5 % Which he then worked out average bodyweight per bird at 1 Ml to 1 Litre Water in the drinker. It has to be withdrawn and measured by hypodermic needle.

[Potter29]

My Vet gave me Levacide injection 7.5 % Which he then worked out average bodyweight per bird at 1 Ml to 1 Litre Water in the drinker. It has to be withdrawn and measured by hypodermic needle.

 

Cheers

[peter pandy]

Gales here in the Metropolis kept the birds in yesterday and with a beautiful sky to-day Hens went out at 10.00 and returned to the loft at 12.15, checked them out to see if they were fielding but nothing on the feet or beaks to suggest anything other than away exercising. Cocks out at 13.00 and they too are offsky. Now I know that I have mentioned in past posts that wild birds don't appear to fly eagerly in the afternoon but these birds are making a mug out of me, Then again it could be the routine I have instilled into them as I have changed much in my thoughts and carrying out ideas which I have never tried before.

[Delboy]

Your birds are flying well Peter, mine haven't been out yet but ill start getting them out in a fortnight, 2 or 3 weks before the first race. Slowly does it Pedro

[tommy bhoys]

Gales here in the Metropolis kept the birds in yesterday and with a beautiful sky to-day Hens went out at 10.00 and returned to the loft at 12.15, checked them out to see if they were fielding but nothing on the feet or beaks to suggest anything other than away exercising. Cocks out at 13.00 and they too are offsky. Now I know that I have mentioned in past posts that wild birds don't appear to fly eagerly in the afternoon but these birds are making a mug out of me, Then again it could be the routine I have instilled into them as I have changed much in my thoughts and carrying out ideas which I have never tried before.

peter check the roofs round the corner they will be sunning themselves there :emoticon-0136-giggle:

[peter pandy]

peter check the roofs round the corner they will be sunning themselves there :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Tommy,, You stick tae winding up yir mates (if ony) in Lanarkshire LOL