Tips for new starters........?

as some of our members are aware we have a couple of new members who are also new to pigeon keeping, so could our more experienced fanciers post some advise/info to help them eg loft and equipement, ventilation, feeding, settling birds, or the best place in their area to buy corn/suppliments etc.........

any help or advise would be very helpful to them im sure. thanks.

As a newcomer (or at least as good as) for me the health and well being of the birds is my priority as I believe that logically everything else will flow from that. To that end I've made a conscious decision to spend 18 months learning to properly understand how to look after a modest number of birds before taking on more and ultimately racing hopefully in 2012 - basically learning to walk before........ Anyway, for me any tips or advice you could give about keeping birds healthy or signs to look for that all might not be well would be very appreciated.

So far I've tried to take into consideration keeping good ventilation - the loft has a large, open panel. Hopefully overcrowding won't be an issue as the pen is 6x6x5 for 4 birds (before I get more I will get a substantially bigger loft) and I've bought a substantial amount of good quality food, minerals, an anti-canker treatment feeders and drinkers.

What else do you think I should invest in to maintain/promote good health?

What are your thoughts on feeds with a high oil content - should I look to add linseed or rape seed oil (or other type) to the food I already have.

The birds are youngsters, 2 of which are from David, thanks again David cna't wait for their arrival tomorrow.

6 inch air vent along back of loft under roof, to let used air out, fresh grit daily, i light spray all loft once a week with pigeon disinfectant, nest boxes perches walls floor all edges/corners, more members will keeping adding mate

Thanks Steve. Is pigeon disinfectant particularly different from Dettol or other 'domestic' disinfectants? I'm assuming Jeyes Fluid would be too strong?

I have ventilation at the front through a large meshed window but I'll now be adding additional vents at the top rear to encourage a through flow.

hi steve, from what i have been told, the main points to consider in a loft is firstly it must be dry, secondly it must have adequate ventilation but not draughty........in my loft i have a gap front and back just below the roof approx 3 inch and in future i will be fitting vents to the front of the loft approx 1ft up from the flloor possibly in the sliding doors.

plenty of people on here to help new starters...just ask

re feeding steve, the corn im feeding my ybs does have linseed already in it which i have read is very good for them.......also another point i would make re your loft/ventilation is that if possible an aviary would be very good or failing this maybe a secondry internal wire door so that during the day you could open the main door and this will allow air circulation and also allow the birds to see their surrounds..........

peel bros wrote:

plenty of people on here to help new starters...just ask

excellent, good man ray..........if it wasnt for the help and advise i had received from members of this site i wouldnt have a clue now......altho with this being my first year back racing ive realised its harder than i thought but at least ill have learned from my mistakes.......

http://pigeons.taylorschoice.co.uk
anything you need these deliver health/hygiene

if you know selby dracks power station just after church in dracks village turn right, till you get to concrete wall at side of river, turn left go as far as you can go youre at farm shop to right will b 2 12ft lofts, warehouse to left they sshow you all different corn/seeds

Cheers Steve - Taylors websit now saved in favourites.

something i have done this season which our members told me about is the use of honey in the drinkers, tue, thurs and saturdays i add honey and cider vinegar to the water at a rate of 5ml each per litre.

good luck with the new birds steve mate.

mick.

only went in this morning and two more hatched out............ been concentrating on my ybs so neglected making sure they were all on plastic eggs.........