Damp under bowls..../

no ,when i clean my boxes out i lift the youn uns up and put them in the other side of the box when they are bigger, i stroke them to get them used to me as well. sounds daft but i think it helps you get a bond with your birds

I saw someones loft and also knew someone who has a pair of really old birds and just keeps them as pets these days... After that I was straight at the club putting the race rubbers on and striking the spare clock before I had hardly begun to keep them.

Yes David, got our 6 pairs of stock birds Will be well away with them once they start breeding....Intresting to see how the ybs perform All the stock birds we have have been raced and had some good positions, so I dont think we will have too much problems with the ybs

DAVID wrote:

the rpra go round schools and fairs alex, but to my way of thinking its a waste of time and money....................but then again what do you expect from the rpra.

They should David....You see, for someone whos never thought of racing pigeons before its just that....you dont think, not till you have seen them, or heard alot about them to be motivated enough to want to keep them.

ian wrote:

DAVID wrote:

the rpra go round schools and fairs alex, but to my way of thinking its a waste of time and money....................but then again what do you expect from the rpra.

why do you say its a waste of money

because they have paid for a massive big trailer which they take round the country in the hope of attracting young people/children to get interested in pigeons........what a waste,

Alex wrote:

DAVID wrote:

the rpra go round schools and fairs alex, but to my way of thinking its a waste of time and money....................but then again what do you expect from the rpra.

They should David....You see, for someone whos never thought of racing pigeons before its just that....you dont think, not till you have seen them, or heard alot about them to be motivated enough to want to keep them.

id like to see how mant kids take up pigeon keeping out of the ones they speal to.....

even if one or two out of a hundred then its worth while

ian wrote:

even if one or two out of a hundred then its worth while

no it isnt.....................

yes it is theres few enough coming into the sport as it is

Ray your on the right road thear I do that and have done it for a long time stroke your birds in the nest you tame them down they are not frightend of you and that stays with them so you dont have to chase them around just go in play with them then pick them up for a race

i was about 14 when i got intrested then when i got to the drinking age i got in to
a different kind of birds lost intrest for a few years now im married with kids the pigeons are my release
from every day stress once you have the bug it stays with you , enjoy while you can alex .

ian wrote:

yes it is theres few enough coming into the sport as it is

yes yoyr right about that ian, but i think our money could be better spent..........maybe on something which will benefit us like fighting the rspb/bops/hawks etc...

the only way is by making a advert for tv or radio and let the nation see what
goes on and what pleasures it brings by being involved in pigeons and what the pigeons are up against
when racing home . i think the best age group are the early retirements with time on the hands .
but tv and radio are the only way straight in to peoples homes .

DAVID wrote:

ian wrote:

yes it is theres few enough coming into the sport as it is

yes yoyr right about that ian, but i think our money could be better spent..........maybe on something which will benefit us like fighting the rspb/bops/hawks etc...

you know people go on about birds of prey but us pigeon fanciers cull more every year think about it

yes we CULL them not rip them apart and eat them alive
the hawks have been bread to live in places where not used to living in towns and citys .
there breeding places are suposed to on cliff egdes on the coast now there every where
the rspb tell lies every time when they spout the numbers of percy,s they always give false numbers never up to date figures they tell there members to put up bird tables but all there doing is feeding the hawks
if you have to feed the birds put your bird table out of the way so the hawks can,t get a clear strike on it
.

i dont think we the pigeon fancier and the rspb have a clue on how many sparrow hawks there are now, everyone has experrience some sort of attack and some more than others.............if you havnt your very lucky but im afraid you will soon enough.

Will have to just hope there arent many bop atacks for me......thats all I can do

Thanks for tips on the nest bowls I like to WISH MEMBERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Everyones pleased to help out mate Happy new year to you too

Got my combi rings today David....comparing them to a GB06 ring, The GB11's are more orangy gold coloured..

Ginger169 wrote:

The way you can help stop it is the way I have done for the last few years when i put my bowls in I get the round beer mates and put a few drops of criacyot if thats the you spell it to me it keeps moths and lice/mite out as well if your birds are doing that now its because they are sitting tight with the cold weather and its swet that dose it

Another thing that may helps the lice situation and this is only what i have heard is to place a peace of bitumin felt under the nesting bowls this helps stop lice also

Have seen it used but have not used it myself

every DEAD bird ov prey is a good one !

stu H wrote:

Thanks for tips on the nest bowls I like to WISH MEMBERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR

happy new year to you stuart, hope you have a good season in 2011 too...........

i have mine on the small plastic grills

glen have you paired up yet

ian wrote:

glen have you paired up yet

no starting tomorrow after iv finished jabbing my dads birds