REDCHEQHEN

We don't have much luck with young bird races - its used as an education for them. This particular one returned home on the day after each race - and raced the full programme The votes that have been cast are all for a cock - yet it has shown no inclination as one - quite the opposite, and is in with all the hens currently

You get this dilemma every year - is this a cock or hen Sire blue marcellis cock (the one that scored from 320 miles and looked knackered ;D see post distance or sprint !!)) Dam - mealie marcellis hen Forget the colour theories - cos they can't apply to this - the blue cock came from 2 red chequers It - to me looks like a cock - but has been tread by most of the young cocks in the loft :o but has not laid any eggs If a hen, she is on the big side - compared to all the other dainty ones we've got ;D What do you reckon guys and gals?

Thanks TAMMY_1 :K) You're right, not all youngsters paired up - but atleast from those who did - and laid, you could positively identify whether cocks or hens - whereas this one showed no inclination of either sex - so can't be sure if she is a hen

She does have a delve in her back from the injury

This 07 bird was injured early on - but fully recovered and flew the full young bird programme. I think it is a hen - but she hasn't paired up - her nest mate is a hen - who did pair up ( just to give you some background) parents are both quite small If it is a hen - although we won't be breeding from her - do you think 'she' may have done damage -so egg laying would be difficult - it wouldn't bother me if she never produced or laid any eggs - it would bother me if she had difficulty in trying to lay ( if you get my drift)

The two were brothers - but one is 04 - the other 05, the 320 miles race was in a SW wind, the 400 mile race in a West wind - the races were the same year (2006) - 2 weeks apart, the latter 05 bird went to both, the 04 bird just the shorter one cos he looked so tired when he got home to date - the 400 mile race (which is actually 392) is the furthest we have sent - but we do have two longer race points of 450 miles and 545 miles - which we have not yet had the bottle to send to - next year we will though ( we said that this year - but definately will send next year :B 8) watch this space 8))

Do you 'pigeon hole' your pigeons? If the breed or strain is supposedly sprint based - do you stick to that - or test them out over a longer distance? Would you send an older pigeon from a sprint-based line to longer races Do you think that its a load of tosh - and use your gut feeling when it comes to how you think a bird will perform at the longer distances regardless of breed or strain ? One of the reasons I ask - is that we have some Marcellis, one scored at 320 miles - but looked knackered, another one flew 400 miles and was as fresh as a daisy when he got home

I'm going to have to get my typing up to speed !! :B :B

Don't worry George ;) ;) the offer has been made :K) ;D

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

raffle tickets - 2 birds - 1 ;D

The only luck I have with raffles is 'no luck' not only did I get outbid but one of the raffle prizes was number 175 and I had 174 The loft was won by Lamb Bros

I agree with you there Wasn't one of the ones you bought was it ;)

It was a charity sale - proceeds in aid of St Cuthberts Hospice

You bu**ers from Durham were outbidding little ol' me and I'd gone all that way was that Dave Buttle who got lot no. 1 for next to nought - an Adrie van de Rhee and J Bamling has got too much money ;D

Thats a rarity - a man on here with hair ;D Getting bak to the hormoform - I didn't know it was wheat based - and use that, we were lucky to have won 3 large bags of it for topping the section in May - it will last us until its out of date I should think - normally buy one large bag per season (20 or 25kg) so will be OK until 2009. However our local store sells it for £29 a large bag ( not £36)

A friend bred us a youngster from two blacks - guess what we got ( cos he used our ring) - an ordinary chequer - not even dark still got her though ;D

Don't use wheat - out of interest - I read on one of these threads that you paid £3.99 for barley Tammy_1 - only bought one bag of barley - mid season, which was £8.99 - cheaper to buy depurative - how come you got such cheap barley? Was it from a farm?

51401– 52000 NW224 WEST SKELMERSDALE H S Mrs M Bolton, 57 School Lane, Old Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8EN. Tel: 01695 720626

I have an NA number - and that is used to transfer GB pigeons, report strays etc., as not a member of RPRA ( am an NEHU member )

It was on the news last night - looked awful for the animals - amonst other things, joints affected - which just 'burst' open from the inside out over - it was rather graphic on TV showing this :-/

Pleased to see the youngsters are getting home despite the rain - heres hoping a lot more get through for you all

A telephone number ring can be replaced - its race ring cannot - look at the positive side, I have had birds return minus their telephone number rings - and weeks later, and just grateful to get the birds back. Atleast they have still had their race rings intact, which is much more important

Fingers crossed for you all - its a long race for the youngsters

Good Luck to all who have sent - hope the weather is fine and that you have good returns :K)