Ian McKay Posted March 24, 2016 Report Posted March 24, 2016 The Joe Murphy Column I pride myself in my observation skills especially with the birds however this past week I have been about off my head with eggs being found out of the nest and a couple of youngsters also found dead out of the nest. I stopped giving the birds nesting material a couple of weeks ago as I felt the nests were getting too big. I have never had this problem before and it was starting to get me down then I realised that this year I had used new nest pans that I purchased 2 years ago. These were hard plastic and smaller than the clay pots I normally used and I have gone round each box and transferred the birds into the old clay nest pans. (See photograph of the size in difference between the pans) hopefully this will eliminate my problem I will keep you informed of any improvement. However I would be interested to know if other fanciers have experienced this same problem with these smaller next pans? Get Well Soon Had a phone call the end of last week from Linda Tyerman wife of BICC president John, she informed me that John had been taken into hospital for some tests and observations. They changed some of his medication and I'm happy to say he is now back home with Linda however the changes have knocked him for six and he is not feeling ‘brilliant’ at this time. I know everyone who knows John will wish him all the very best at this time and he is in our prayers and thoughts at this time. Young Bird Sickness Received an email from Keith Clarkson of Silsden West Yorkshire as follows, ‘Hi Joe, it is coming up that time of year again and I have been wondering whether there is a link between Young Bird Sickness and Ivermectin: as you know one drop kills all fleas on the birds, clears the gut of worms. This has to be a bit toxic BUT what goes out with the worms and does it affect the immune system of the birds? Like all pigeon men I’m killing time while the eggs hatch. I welcome you or other fanciers comments to kpclarkson@blueyonder.co.uk Please keep the Jokes coming we need something to put a smile on our faces, yours Keith’. Cry for help Received a call and email from Peggy Donachie who lives in Dundee and she is working on her family tree and wonder’s if any pigeon fancier in the Tayside area can supply some news of her late Granddad. He was named William Hill Donachie who with his son William and Tam Courtney flew as Donachie Senior & Son racing with Dundee federation. My Grandfather sadly passed away in 1965 but the pigeon ‘bug’ carried on in his honour as my uncle William still races the birds as W Donachie and Son and does well with them. I'm searching for any history or pictures of my Grandfather who lived at No 6 Blacklock Crescent Linlathen Dundee. I would be overwhelmed to obtain any information however small so I can add the little information I have on him just now. Some fanciers may have some old News Paper or old Pigeon magazine clippings that might highlight the Tayside area and you never know they may even mention him in these reports. I only wished I had looked into this many years ago, but sadly I did not. My email address is peggy5@hotmail.com or my mobile number is 07950759663. Thanking you once again Joe for all your help yours Peggy’. Good SNFC Birds This week I report on ONE loft who have been very consistent over the years none other than A S Thompson & son of Port Seaton I discovered while looking at the national results for 2015 that they have 5 pigeons who have all won from 2 diplomas up to a 5 times winner. I start with chequer pied cock SU12P 6400 he won 45th section B 59th open Maidstone flying 359 miles in 2014 he was then entered into the Ypres national and won 19th section B 29th open flying 428 miles. Then in 2015 he won 3 times in SNFC races being 18th section B 24th open Billericay a distance of 332 miles. He was then sent to Portsmouth and won 117th section B 197th open from a distance of 363 miles. He was then entered into the last old bird race from Clermont and won 34th section B 95th open flying 509 miles. This chequer pied cock only requires one more section victory from a national inland race to collect a Meritorious Inland Bronze Award. Their second pigeon I highlight requires 2 more prizes to gain this award as he has won 3 times from inland races plus a good win from Ypres. This chequer cock SU12P 6404 first win was achieved in 2014 from Maidstone when he won 43rd section B 57th open flying 359 miles. He was then sent to Ypres a distance of 428 miles and won 34th section B 59th open not bad going winning twice in the top 60 in 2 nationals. Then in 2015 he won 22nd section B 31st open from Billericay a distance of 332 miles and a few weeks later he was entered into the Portsmouth race a distance of 363 miles and he won 100th section B 167th open and is a 4 times SNFC winner with 3 from the 4 wins in the top 60 open places, a top quality pigeon. The next pigeon highlighted is a blue bar cock SU14P 5640 he won 3 times from inland races in 2015 being 45th section B 71st open from Billericay. He then won 9th section B 9th open from Portsmouth and was then 33rd section B 44th open from Eastbourne again 3 times in the top 75 in 3 nationals good going. Nest we have another pigeon who won 3 open prizes in 2015 this chequer pied cock SU14P 5618 won 64th section B 127th open Billericay he then won 110th section B 188th open from Portsmouth and then scored 206th open no section prize from Eastbourne. Finally we come to another chequer cock SU14P 5617 who won 132nd section B 219th open Portsmouth and also won 48th section B 70th open Eastbourne. I think you will agree that the A S Thompson and Son from Port Seaton deserve this profile-raising pat on the back for a wonderful team achievement with their birds and we wish them well for the new season. This week’s photographs This week’s pictures continue on Sheldon Leonard’s trip to Belgium when the group visited Christel and Thijs Peters of Maasmechelen. This partnership yearly win 20 x 1st prizes, they have also won 4th & 7th Provincial National winners and also won a car in 2013 from the Orleans race. The pictures are of Christel & Thijs Peters with Owen Kirwin, the other pictures are of Gregory Brothers of Co Wicklow and the last photo is of the group of fanciers having a meal with Christel and Thijs. Sheldon and the lads would like to thank Christel & Thijs Peters for their hospitality and wish them well for the 2016 season. Joe’s Joke A jockey has a fatal accident in the first race at Newbury, after throwing the jockey to the ground the horse kicks out and catches the rider full in the face. He had such nasty facial damage they required his wife to go to the local mortuary and identify him. She arrived at the mortuary and was shown inside. The attendant pulled out the first tray and his wife took a peep and said ‘No, that’s not him’. She looked at the second body and again said ‘No, that’s not him’. The mortician stated that they only have got one more body so this must be him. She took a look and said ‘No, that’s not him’. The mortician said ‘Are you sure madam’ ‘Positive’ said the wife ‘He’s never been in the first 3 in his life’. Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk and www.pigeon-chat.co.uk also www.pigeonbasics.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland. © Compiled by Joe Murphy
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