Weaned a dozen.

The original 7.

looking nice there hal, both batches look spot on.........good luck racing them

very nice batches hal atb with them

Always nice to see well reared ybs Hal.

A nice looking bunch their hal well bread

Yeah all looking nice Hal, good luck with them mate.

Very nice indeed ,that's not a mealy hen in the middle is it lol

peel bros wrote:

Very nice indeed ,that's not a mealy hen in the middle is it lol

Following on from the banana trick looks like a black to me . But then !!!, I'm a Sunderland fan/surporter believe it or not & so maybe I can just use that as an excuse      if I'm wrong here .
*****

Mealy hen. Reds and mealies usually do well.

Inside this morning. They get to play in the snow!

halcanada wrote:

Inside this morning. They get to play in the snow!

Best you keep it all there Hal not my cup of tea type of thing .  

You ever seen snow where you are knackered

Lofty wrote:

You ever seen snow where you are knackered

Yes     snow flakes, maybe 2/3 times in my time etc on my little plot The snow nutters here have to travel about 2/3hrs etc in winter for the joy of playing in the slush here & I tried it once & once only & that was enough for me   .  

Thought it only snowed in Tasmania down your part of the planet

Your never a Sunderland fan knackered lol..if you were you'd be my friend for life x

peel bros wrote:

Your never a Sunderland fan knackered lol..if you were you'd be my friend for life x

True, what I say I like that under dog feeling ones has with them etc Ray when I look up there results each week down here.   XXX

halcanada very nice looking birds there

Lofty wrote:

Thought it only snowed in Tasmania down your part of the planet

No, no no . We actually have quite a large area that gets covered by snow Lofty in winter here. Around the 5000 feet mark in parts, can be a real killer on the north east track here when racing & the strong winds blow from the north       & the birds get pushed into the mountains & snow as such.

Weaned some more this morning. 28 over. 12 to go. Eggs out today for all others. Start racing May 6. 7 early ones strong on the wing time they get out. Weather has been just too bad. One year had them early but could not let them out, weather etc, until they were almost 3 months. They flew in to windows etc for the first day or so but then settled down. Few had a night out. Lost 1 that time. Not something I worry about. They are smart at times. Sunshine today but high winds. -9 C the high. Once above freezing snow in the lofts will melt then replace the wet shavings. By the weekend I hope. Thinking of darkening them soon as hours of light and dark will be equal in a few days. First time darkening.

halcanada wrote:

Weaned some more this morning. 28 over. 12 to go. Eggs out today for all others. Start racing May 6. 7 early ones strong on the wing time they get out. Weather has been just too bad. One year had them early but could not let them out, weather etc, until they were almost 3 months. They flew in to windows etc for the first day or so but then settled down. Few had a night out. Lost 1 that time. Not something I worry about. They are smart at times. Sunshine today but high winds. -9 C the high. Once above freezing snow in the lofts will melt then replace the wet shavings. By the weekend I hope. Thinking of darkening them soon as hours of light and dark will be equal in a few days. First time darkening.

28 & 12 = 40 & I didn't use a calculator either etc all in that one loft there Hal   . Sardines in a tin scenario by some people's standards I suspect.

Always seems to work out. 40 in a 8 x  8 footer. 1.6 feet each, floor space. front is 7.5 feet, back 6.6 feet high. Over 10 cubic feet air each. 50 perches. Lot of air flow as the snow attests to and that is with the loft semi-sealed with plastic.
Numbers go down with the usual attrition. Never get a 100% to race. Usually 35 to start then lose a few here and there. Ended up with a 100% last year. Why? Never raced them just trained to 40 miles. Gave 30 away and kept 20. Selected by eye. My eyes. Never a good thing! Performance is a better indicator.
Years ago put small ventilator fans in each loft. Ceiling height. Seldom used.
Shavings and Diatamaceous Earth mixed in. No smell.