The Joe Murphy Column

[Ian McKay]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

Received an email from fellow scribe Mike Smith who wrote ‘Hi Joe, I feel it’s important to ask Chris what was stored in these plastic boxes before he was given them and what he actually put in them after he was given them. I’ve used four plastic boxes for over twenty years, for water fittings, electrical fittings, plant pots etc. for putting in seeds and potting up plants, the fourth for odds and ends. These crates were under my bench, in the summer the temperatures in the 90s, but I never had a problem with toxic smell coming from the plastic crate. Re your own plastic nest bowls; you said you washed these out before using them, as some cleaning products later give off toxic fumes, could it have been the fumes of the cleaning product you used or ammonia from their droppings that killed them. Think back to when nest felts were first introduced, fanciers were falling over each other to buy them. Then fanciers had youngsters dying in the nest. Although fanciers argued about the different colours of the felts, they didn’t think the nest felt blocking the hole at the bottom may be responsible, and the smell of the nest felts and the toxic smell from their ammonia droppings may be killing them?, I mentioned this at the time. But it still happens today, because fanciers have accepted youngsters dying in the nest as part of the norm in breeding season. When I was using Algy water I put the water bowl in the sun to get Algy at the bottom of the bowl, and one fancier actually picked the bowl up and drank the water, and said it tasted nice. Thinking about the plastic crates they use in the transporters, with the immense heat inside the transporter, if plastic was responsible and gave off fumes, all the pigeons would be dead, so I don’t think you need to worry about the plastic water bowls and the drinkers on the transporter giving off toxic fumes, the only danger is, if these are stood in the direct sun all day they will go brittle and break, yours Mike’.

 

 

Young Bird Sickness

 

Received a phone call from a fellow fancier Colin who informed me that a few years ago he went to purchase medication for young bird sickness and while waiting to be served he heard the man in front of him ask the assistance for treatment for young bird sickness. The assistance told him to save his money and put ‘Cider Vinegar’ in his drinkers. Colin has done this ever since and has not had young bird sickness since. He thought that this might be of interest to other fanciers hence this mention in the column. Colin also told me a unique way of catching mice if you have them in the loft. If you get a piece of plywood 2 foot long by 15 inches wide, stick a piece of sponge in each corner. Then put at the inside entrance of your loft door with some small seed’s underneath it. Once the mice know that there is feeding they will go underneath the board. When you come into the loft first thing in the morning if you stand on the board the sponges will go down and you will kill the mice with your body weight. This may not seem a nice way to do away with vermin but Colin says it works and it is better than having them crawling all about your loft. I have to say that I keep traps under my nest boxes and if you have mice then you can smell them when you go into the loft (Well I do if I have them)

 

Giving up the Sport

 

I spoke to Margaret Campbell of Aberdeen wife of Larry who has not been keeping well of late. The family have decided to call it a day regarding the pigeons as Larry will never be able to go out to attend to the birds again. Plus the fact that Margaret does not keep the best of health either and is registered disabled therefore it has fallen on their children to look after the birds. With having their own lives to lead and work commitments they are finding it hard to deal with the birds as well. So you can understand the need for parting with the birds and you will have seen the advert in last week’s 2nd September issue. Larry was without doubt one of the top fanciers in the North section for many years and achieved some ‘great’ results in the SNFC. I know for a fact that he used to meet up with Andrew Lees of Eyemouth when he docked at Aberdeen harbour (Andrew had his own fishing trawler) to offload his catch. Larry would give him some pigeons and when Andrew was still out in the North Sea heading for Eyemouth he would single up Larry’s birds and he made individual pigeons of them. These birds were not afraid to fly over the sea and on race days would go up the coast to Aberdeen especially from the national races. I wish the family all the best for the future and Larry will be remembered as one of the impressive fanciers of the North Section

 

Results

 

Up to going to press I have not received the Angus federation result however I will continue with the people who have forwarded their results.

 

Central Federation

 

News from Bernie Britton whose result came on Thursday after my article was away, The Broxburn club result for Ripon 2 were 4 member’s sent 130 bird’s liberated at 08-00 am into a North West Wind. Taking the 1st x 3 places in the club and federation is Gordon Makenzie with a chequer hen on darkness she is a granddaughter of M & D Evan’s Benetton. 2nd club 2nd federation is a dark chequer hen on darkness this hen won 1st club 2nd fed last week. The 3rd club & federation winner is a chequer cock from his good friend’s the Macaloney’s and Gordon would like to thank Willie for all his help and advice on his many visits to their loft. As a matter of interest Joe Gordon was also 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th & 15th federation Great Flying. John McNeill won 7th, 13th & 14th federation, with Pat Rafferty & son’s in 16th & 19th open. Well done to one and all that is it for another week Joe it is coming to the end of another season yours Bernie’.

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from John Baillie of Tranent who sends in the result for the federation Wakefield race flown again on Friday 26th of August the birds were released at 10-00 into a West South West Wind and the birds were falling in this week. It gave the young birds a bit off confidence after last week’s hard race. On with the result and topping the federation this week again is Tom Hunnam from Port Seton with a blue hen, she was previously won 9th federation from Tow Law. Having another good race is John Bird of Prestonpans who took 2nd & 8th open positions. Up the hill to Tranent for 3rd open to yours truly John Baillie and staying in Tranent we have Jim McNeil who had a good race winning 4th, 9th & 10th positions. In 5th open we have Mr & Mrs March from Prestonpans and last week’s federation topper Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton takes the 6th position and Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone are in 7th place.

Prestonpans HC. Winning the club this week for the 4th young bird race we have Tom Hunnam this young hen is again bred by the loft manager Corker Thomson from a Sheader Soontjens bred from stock from Jim Able up in Banff. The 2nd spot is filled with John Bird with a Vandenabeele from Woodside lofts. In 3rd position is John Baillie with a Border Lofts bred Frans Zwolle that’s it for this week Joe many thanks John B’.

 

Fife Federation

 

Dunfermline LRPC news from David Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe, from the Ripon young bird race 6 member’s sent 106 birds and this week’s result was a very close run affair. However taking the red card is Walker & David Kennedy Loft No 2 with a velocity of 1262.8 ypm. We timed a darkness young cock bred from a Louella Jan Aarden crossed with a Van De Rhee hen bred by George Atkinson of Market Weighton. This is the first year flying young birds to the No 2 Loft which is up at my house. Second this week is Frank Mitchell with a velocity of 1262.5 ypm Frank timed a young darkness hen bred by Andrew Langley of Elson from his M & D Evans stock. Readers of your column will have noticed how well these young birds have flown this year for Frank who also takes 3rd spot with velocity of 1252.4 ypm. This darkness young cock was home bred down from Jocky Kings national winning pigeons. The club nomination and 2 bird comp were both won by Walker & David Kennedy Loft 2 that’s it for this week Joe best regards David’.

 

North of Scotland Federation

 

The 49 federation members sent 874 birds to Arniston liberated with No wind at the race point. Taking 1st open & 1st east section is R McKenzie of Inverurie with a velocity of 1439. Jim & Ann Donaldson of Peterhead & District take the nest 3 places in the section and open. With Walter Masson of Fraserburgh & District winning 5th 6th & 8th section and open. C & M Williams of Peterhead & District are 7th section and open with Ian Gibb of Fraserburgh & District taking the last 2 places in the top 10 in both section and open

 

West Section

Had 26 members sending 422 birds taking the 1st place in the section and 17th open is A Wilson of Devern Valley club he is also 4th & 10th section and 20th & 42nd open. A Milne of Devern Valley is 2nd 3rd & 5th section 18th 19th & 21st open with Fulton & Ritchie of the same club in 6th section 35th federation place. G R Duncan of Keith is 7th 8th & 9th section winning 38th 39th & 40th open federation.

Clubs First Bird

R McKenzie of Inverurie: J & A Donaldson of Peterhead & District: W Masson of Fraserburgh & District: A Wilson of Devern Valley: R Higgins of Fraserburgh West End: G R Duncan of Keith: N Christine of Buckie & District: A Flett of Elgin & District: R Murray of Forres, Nairn & Inverurie.

Buckie RPC news from Gavin Russell who sends news of the Thornton 2 race were 6 members sent 113 birds. Taking the 1st x 3 positions is Mr Ian Coull with the winner a mealy cock doing 1211 his sire was bred by Davy Burns of Fife while the dam is from John Proctor also of Fife. His 2nd bird is a blue chequer cock his sire & dam are from Paul Woolliss of Grimsby. Ian’s 3rd bird was a mealy cock nest mate to the winner; returns were gappy from this race. From Arniston flown on Monday 22nd of August 2 members sent 20 birds. Taking the 1st x 3 positions is John Cumming with is winner a blue chequer cock on 1204 his sire is from Stuart Maskame of Peterhead while the dam is from Gilmour Brothers of Leven. His 2nd bird is a blue bar cock sire & dam Johnnie Strachan of Inverbervie the 3rd bird is a blue chequer cock the nest mate to the winner, the returns were good. From the Arniston race flown on 27th August 5 members sent 85 birds and taking the 1st x 2 places is Mr Neil Christie with the winner a dark chequer cock on 1230 he is from Macaulay Ferguson & Curran from Forfar. His 2nd bird was a blue bar cock and is from the same breeding as the winner. 3rd is Mr Ian Coull with a blue chequer cock his sire is Davy Burns of Fife while his dam is from Paul Woolliss of Grimsby. Once again the returns were good so that’s me up to date with results Joe and we only have 2 more club races left plus the young bird national where has the year went? Thanks once again for all your help yours Gavin Russell’.

Pentland Hill’s Federation

News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation were at Wakefield on Friday the 26th of August with the convoy of 1556 birds sent by 14 clubs liberated at 10-00 into a west to south west wind. Taking the first 2 places are Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall with Woodburn’s Brown & Black are 3rd with Willie Kinnear & son of Danderhall in 4th place the remainder of the top ten places are won by T Nolan & son of Danderhall club with all 6 birds being spit by decimals, great flying.

Club Winners are as follows;

Danderhall 399 birds; 1st & 2nd Aitken 3rd Kinnear

Woodburn 99 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Brown & Black

Gilmerton 89 birds; 1st & 2nd Linton 3rd Robertson

Castlebrae 68 birds; 1st McCormack & Fraser 2nd & 3rd L Mitchell

Edinburgh Premier 72 birds; 1st & 2nd Gilchrist 3rd Affleck

Bonnyrigg 106 birds; 1st Neill, 2nd Winters 3rd Russell

Sighthill 52 birds; 1st Miller 2nd & 3rd Keenan

Easthouses 129 birds; 1st Blackhurst 2nd W Pryde & Son 3rd Milne

Edinburgh West 69 birds; 1st I Bennett 2nd McLaughlan 3rd Lamb

Arniston 26 birds; 1st Ray 2nd Mercer

New Lothian 16 birds;

Peebles 85 birds;

Rosewell 58 birds; 1st McCormack 2nd W Tytler 3rd G Tytler

Traprain 277 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Thomson

Others 10 birds

New Lothian RPC from the Wakefield race on Friday the 26th of August with the convoy of 955 birds entered by 46 members liberated at 10-00 into a west to south west wind. Taking the first 2 places are Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall with the winner lifting nearly £120. Brown & Black of Woodburn are 3rd with Willie Kinnear & son of Danderhall in 4th place with T Nolan & son of Danderhall winning the remaining places with all 6 birds all on the same yard.

 

Joe Murphy with Mark Gilbert

 

Joe Murphy with Nigel Langstaff

 

Joe’s Joke

 

There was an elderly couple who in their old age noticed that they were getting a lot more forgetful, so they decided to go to the doctor. The doctor told them that they should start writing things down so they don't forget. They went home and the old lady told her husband to get her a bowl of ice cream. "You might want to write it down," she said. The husband said, "No, I can remember that you want a bowl of ice cream." She then told her husband she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream. "Write it down," she told him, and again he said, "No, no, I can remember: you want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream." Then the old lady said she wants a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top. "Write it down," she told her husband and again he said, "No, I got it. You want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top." So he goes to get the ice cream and spends an unusually long time in the kitchen, over 30 minutes. He comes out to his wife and hands her a plate of eggs and bacon. The old wife stares at the plate for a moment, then looks at her husband and asks, "Where's the toast?"

 

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