Winter breeding.

fieldwalker wrote:

Got 1 solar panel for the clock but only the suit case type inside the loft I charge a battery at the start off the season and it lasts

What kind of clocks do you use? I've got to use the benzig system. I built my loft out of leftovers from work, but 1800 dollars for computer magic? Ouch

Romedius wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

Got 1 solar panel for the clock but only the suit case type inside the loft I charge a battery at the start off the season and it lasts

What kind of clocks do you use?  I've got to use the benzig system.  I built my loft out of leftovers from work, but 1800 dollars for computer magic?  Ouch

1800 Dont tell the missus/partner Rom . That being said, if your club uses Benzing all looking good etc. President of my club here flogs the Benzing brand & most rate them highly, especially those that save one the travelling side, where they just sent their clocking times in via computor as such, which I suggest will be your scenario hopefully. Just to let you know how far behind I'm Rom I still use, a 1958 STB special         .  

[quote="Knackered"]

Romedius wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

Got 1 solar panel for the clock but only the suit case type inside the loft I charge a battery at the start off the season and it lasts

What kind of clocks do you use?  I've got to use the benzig system.  I built my loft out of leftovers from work, but 1800 dollars for computer magic?  Ouch

1800 Dont tell the missus/partner Rom . That being said, if your club uses Benzing all looking good etc. President of my club here flogs the Benzing brand & most rate them highly, especially those that save one the travelling side, where they just sent their clocking times in via computor as such, which I suggest will be your scenario hopefully. Just to let you know how far behind I'm Rom I still use, a 1958 STB special         .  [/quote

Good for you! Truth be told............I don't know how to use a computer. I'm very nervous about spending that kind of money on any device. It will be fun though. I'm going to have to use it to tell me what pigeons to keep. I won't know otherwise! ]

Romedius wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

Got 1 solar panel for the clock but only the suit case type inside the loft I charge a battery at the start off the season and it lasts

What kind of clocks do you use?  I've got to use the benzig system.  I built my loft out of leftovers from work, but 1800 dollars for computer magic?  Ouch

Unikon I was against ETS in the begining but soon come round once i got used to it...
the club owns ours [members]

ETS not allowed in my club. Had one sold it. Use a Benzing.
New loft. Plastic and steel, wood floor. Stock birds in there. Too cold! 60 watt light bulb under waterer. Still froze. Wind chill is terrible. Old wooden lofts, same bulbs in biscuit tins, no problems. Anyway, young starting to hatch. Will not use this loft again for winter breeding. Doubt if I will winter breed again. Have 90 some pigeons. Too much feed, care and attention. In this weather anyway. So plan is to race every bird I can every race I can. The present stock loft holds 15 boxes. will race 12 pairs from there. 2019. 12 x6. Will use for young birds. 8 feet of it. Other 4 feet 6 pairs of stock birds with aviary. The 24 x 8 feet loft I will pull down and burn.
As you can see downsizing greatly. Performance has to count. Top few percent stay.

Yes sir, quite a down size. 90 pigeons is more than I want too. Don't know what to do with these whitebirds. A dude ranch found out through the grapevine, and wants me to let them have them for weddings. Lots of celebrities come out here. I'm not interested really, but they charge 1200$ a night to sleep in a tent with a fancy chamber pot. The opportunity is there. I don't wish to wear a suit again though.

Go for it!

My wife wants me too. It would only take a few hours to huild a couple fancy dowel baskets. She looked up a white bird release business and found they won't even consider releasing around here. Maybe she can do it. I will just keep the gravy

Romedius wrote:

My wife wants me too.  It would only take a few hours to huild a couple fancy dowel baskets.  She looked up a white bird release business and found they won't even consider releasing around here.  Maybe she can do it.  I will just keep the gravy

I say go for it etc
Rom in for a pennie in for a pound type of thing & besides a friend of mine (old club mate) is into the same caper with weddings with his white pigeons. Always can be a tax thing . One point you may like to consider, he never races his white ones even thou they are race pigeons. Found on average, they just don't cut the mustard type of thing in his view .

I will make some calls today. Talking with the wife last night. More interest than I thought . Sounds like she may want to handle them.

fieldwalker wrote:

Romedius wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

Got 1 solar panel for the clock but only the suit case type inside the loft I charge a battery at the start off the season and it lasts

What kind of clocks do you use?  I've got to use the benzig system.  I built my loft out of leftovers from work, but 1800 dollars for computer magic?  Ouch

Unikon I was against ETS in the begining but soon come round once i got used to it...
the club owns ours [members]

our club got £5,000 I think, it was off a local taxi firm.......club bought all members a bricon speedy (still owned by the club) for use if racing , ive never used one (never raced to use one) and thought I would stick with my t3, but got to move with the times I suppose and use the ets like everyone else.

that's if I get my loft up f/walker........

Our race secretary recently bought some gps system that allows you to track your birds. I think it sounds fun, but maybe not necessarily needed. I guess it will let him know which rivers/valleys the pigeons take on the way home.

Probably this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HzOoEMAdxY
Fed I am in uses this.
http://www.tillsonburgdrpc.com/tracking_N1our_pigeons.htm
Electronics stop new flyers joining. These innovations may help interest them.

Called round a club members home this afternoon to see his new loft very nice 30 ft long with an aluminium flight running the full length talking about breeding he told me that one chap in another club has double rung his young with this years rings and old rings so he can race them in the last 3 or 4 old bird races the cut the old ring off and race the as young birds what people will do to win a race

yes ive heard of this before mark, probably have to breed very early I would think,  supplying the 2018 life rings before January would make it easier for them to do this.

Romedius wrote:

I will make some calls today.  Talking with the wife last night.  More interest than I thought .  Sounds like she may want to handle them.  

I'm doing it. Money did all the talking. I had no idea white birds and weddings were such a profitable combination. I understand a monopoly helps. Thanks for the motivation Hal and knackered. Separate white bird loft....here we come!

Good for you!! Do not release in Area 51. But that is a ways from you.

halcanada wrote:

Good for you!! Do not release in Area 51. But that is a ways from you.

. I figure it would either make them sterile or file sexual harassment charges against my loft!

Mark. Nothing in the Fed rules here about NOT shipping young with old. years ago flew young birds in a 200 mile race with old birds. My old birds had done 400 some 500 some 600. They needed a break.  Had done enough. Club members laughed at me. No chance, they said, that you will be on the sheet,. Got a 3rd and a 5th. Fluke, they said. Won the 2nd and 4th position last OB race of the Season. 250 miles. The birds were ready.

Once trained ybs will beat old birds more often than not but if they hit a bad day more ybs will be missing.
Ray and myself know a fancier who raced ob races with ybs...double rung yb ting taped up at least 30 year ago.

Romedius wrote:

Romedius wrote:

I will make some calls today.  Talking with the wife last night.  More interest than I thought .  Sounds like she may want to handle them.  

I'm doing it.  Money did all the talking.  I had no idea white birds and weddings were such a profitable combination.  I understand a monopoly helps.  Thanks for the motivation Hal and knackered.  Separate white bird loft....here we come!

People can pay crazy money for a few white doves in a basket type of thing Rom Think funeral also double the work but double the profit etc . Suggest a few fancy type baskets there for your white birds, will pay off in the end also.

fieldwalker wrote:

Once trained ybs will beat old birds more often than not but if they hit a bad day more ybs will be missing.
Ray and myself know a fancier who raced ob races with ybs...double rung yb ting taped up at least 30 year ago.

I raced them like that here
FW       100 odd years ago etc .
*****

Bands arrived few days ago. Eggs hatching. young look good, ones I can see. Band on the 4th, all going well. Did not have a breeding mix handy. Feed store was all out.
Mix I have is 12.5 percent. So bought a bag of chicken grower. Crumbs. Half the price of pigeon feed. 16% protien Plus vit a,d,e etc, minerals.Give them half and half.  They ate the grains, slow on the crumbs. They will have to get used to them. Pigeons will adapt. No feed store open now for a few days. Hopefully by then the roads will be cleared somewhat.

Is that like a mash or a pellet Hal ?

Not a pellet. Mash? Crumbles here, probably same thing. Jut read this.
"When I bought my first four pairs of White Swiss Mondains, the breeder told me to buy a special feed. It was expensive and had to be special ordered. The same thing happened to me. The farm store "ran out" and didn't make my special order. My birds did O.K. on some game bird ration they had but I wasn't satisfied.

I ordered one two bags of each of the following and mixed my own:

1) Whole Corn
2) Whole Red Wheat
3) Chick Peas

I did not mix the grains, but fed each by itself in its own compartment in the cafeteria feeder. The birds eat different grains at different times of the day. This way, they develop their own ration. Of course, I also provide good grit and quality water at all times.

When chick peas are not available there is usually some other legume that is. I have alternated dry green and yellow peas, cow peas, even small white and red beans. All are relished by the birds. Whole corn is sometimes difficult to get and at those times I have alternated popcorn. Wheat is always available.

Now, this may seem complicated but it really isn't. Since that time, I have never fed commercial rations and I haven't had to worry about special ordering anything. This more natural approach creates a more healthy flock of birds, believe me."