Homing ability.

Was talking with a guy in British Columbia, West coast of Canada. He flies in the Vancouver Island club. He was telling me that in the last 5 years, birds are being hammered. Very few fanciers have 2 or 3 year old birds left. He figured it was a raptor problem. However, cannot see a population explosion of raptors occurring in the last 5 years. They fly through mountains and valleys and over open water. Short and long races are all being hit. They changed release points etc,. Same losses. Birds that have flown the course 5 years ago should produce young that would do the same. Apparently no influx of new pigeons from other sources. Brain teaser! However, a possible cause could be neonics. A pesticide widely used. Here and abroad. It has been proven to stop honey bee's getting back to the hive. Also screws up the orientation abilities of sparrows and finches. However, bees get it from the nectar. Birds from eating seeds, flax, canola, other oil seeds. The time those crops are ready to harvest, racing is over. So, probable cause (if it is neonics) is the feed one buys for pigeons contain contaminated seeds. It apparently only takes a few seeds to have this effect. Effects vary but it takes quite a while to get eliminated from the birds system. Many people feed oil seeds. Perhaps better to cut them out and add Cod liver Oil, or other oils to the feed? Just thought this may be of interest.

Thanks Hal, I must be feeding mine those contaminated seeds.

thanks hal wonder if the rape seed oil is contaminated to also hemp oil etc...etc...

I think its called NICO NEEM.
says on the tin it doesn't affect non target species...well it does iv seen bees days after fields have been sprayed semi paralysed its used on rape wheat and barley
than I know of so prob used on the lot....
I  think its banned for 2018 not 100% sure.
I got caught in a bit spray drift and made it home ok

thinking about it ...it must contaminate the oils to

Thinking we all worry to much with what we have no control of...
All crops a GM now just look at the lengh of straw on wheat and barley..much shorter to prevent wind and rain damage...

GMO modified crops are just the same as the originals. Only yield better. Hence the shorter straw. All goes to the grain, not the stalk. That inferior nutrition claim is bullshit. Now as for pigeons, any regular mix is fine. When one gets in to the oil seeds, one has to be careful. To replace Canola with oil is hard to do. It being 40%.
Sunflower, other oil seeds may be affected. Do not know. Peanuts I have to assume are the best bet. They do tend to get expensive. Fish oils are safe. But again, never having fed oil seeds specifically, do not know. Heck, years ago used Gold fish flakes. For the protein. Cheaper than legumes with high protein content. It really does not matter. I do have an advantage over a lot of fliers in the respect I can let the birds to field. They know better than what I do what they need. Today they got Broccoli, as they have not been out in a month or so. However, simple feeding, without exotic grains I find is best. I mean, any one can sprout pigeon feed. Just add water. For feeding young etc, it is really beneficial. Again, do not over do it. Long as their regular dry feed is there they are fine. But JMO.

fieldwalker wrote:

I think its called NICO NEEM.
says on the tin it doesn't affect non target species...well it does iv seen bees days after fields have been sprayed semi paralysed its used on rape wheat and barley
than I know of so prob used on the lot....
I  think its banned for 2018 not 100% sure.
I got caught in a bit spray drift and made it home ok

Wouldn't believe half of what the so called experts tell us Fieldwalker, about  what is safe. An expert told me once, I had nothing to worry about etc when I happened to get caught out a spray drift as such. Known as agent orange the best weed killer I have ever seen .

halcanada wrote:

GMO modified crops are just the same as the originals. Only yield better. Hence the shorter straw. All goes to the grain, not the stalk. That inferior nutrition claim is bullshit. Now as for pigeons, any regular mix is fine. When one gets in to the oil seeds, one has to be careful. To replace Canola with oil is hard to do. It being 40%.
Sunflower, other oil seeds may be affected. Do not know. Peanuts I have to assume are the best bet. They do tend to get expensive. Fish oils are safe. But again, never having fed oil seeds specifically, do not know.  Heck, years ago used Gold fish flakes. For the protein. Cheaper than legumes with high protein content. It really does not matter. I do have an advantage over a lot of fliers in the respect I can let the birds to field. They know better than what I do what they need. Today they got Broccoli, as they have not been out in a month or so. However, simple feeding, without exotic grains I find is best. I mean, any one can sprout pigeon feed. Just add water. For feeding young etc, it is really beneficial. Again, do not over do it. Long as their regular dry feed is there they are fine.  But JMO.

interesting paragraph hal...thanks

Knackered wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

I think its called NICO NEEM.
says on the tin it doesn't affect non target species...well it does iv seen bees days after fields have been sprayed semi paralysed its used on rape wheat and barley
than I know of so prob used on the lot....
I  think its banned for 2018 not 100% sure.
I got caught in a bit spray drift and made it home ok

Wouldn't believe half of what the so called experts tell us Fieldwalker, about  what is safe. An expert told me once, I had nothing to worry about etc when I happened to get caught out a spray drift as such. Known as agent orange the best weed killer I have ever seen .

no f....... wonder your user name is Knackered

Image result for effects of gm food
Starting in 1996, Americans have been eating genetically modified (GM) ingredients in most processed foods. ... In reality, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems.

GM foods. All plants do it over time. Sweet potatoes have genetically modified themselves for over a 10000 years! Different parts of the world different varieties.
http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/17/scientists-say-gmo-foods-are-safe-public-skepticism-remains/

fieldwalker wrote:

Knackered wrote:

fieldwalker wrote:

I think its called NICO NEEM.
says on the tin it doesn't affect non target species...well it does iv seen bees days after fields have been sprayed semi paralysed its used on rape wheat and barley
than I know of so prob used on the lot....
I  think its banned for 2018 not 100% sure.
I got caught in a bit spray drift and made it home ok

Wouldn't believe half of what the so called experts tell us Fieldwalker, about  what is safe. An expert told me once, I had nothing to worry about etc when I happened to get caught out a spray drift as such. Known as agent orange the best weed killer I have ever seen .

no f....... wonder your user name is Knackered

.

Good one fieldwalker! Explains a lot!

I am really glad i have found this forum, nice one folks.

Domzy wrote:

I am really  glad i have found this forum, nice one folks.

Welcome aboard here etc Domzy bunch of misfits here but we all get along OK on average I've found     & one can always find some thing to have a wee laugh about amongst the knowledge/wisdom given out here.
*****

Yes Welcome Domzy.

Can do with some new input.

As for the subject in question.

Ever since man attempted to improve anything created there has been consequences of a final detrimental nature.

Be it man or beast or vegetation.

The main beneficiaries being those pretending to find either cures or prevention.

Anyone heard of the Corona Virus ?.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

Yes Welcome Domzy.

Can do with some new input.

As for the subject in question.

Ever since man attempted to improve anything created there has been consequences of a final detrimental nature.

Be it man or beast or vegetation.

The main beneficiaries being those pretending to find either cures or prevention.

Anyone heard of the Corona Virus ?.

Regards.

Missed that one I'm Misty Corona virus, is that another injection I will have to give my birds now . & take care.

Domzy wrote:

I am really  glad i have found this forum, nice one folks.

welcome aboard ...you will fit in well here with a bunch of misfits here but it works well

Good one oldstrain.

Next competition.

Who is whom etc;

Regards.

well you got yours right misty do you read palms to

Domzy wrote:

I am really  glad i have found this forum, nice one folks.

Lol. thankful for small mercies eh!
Welcome aboard mucker.

Have all on reading the Dandy and Beano oldstrain.

Could tell you a few hair raising tails that would maybe explain my outlook on life.

Saving up to pay for a haircut once the lockdown is over.

Regards.

As well as a few TALES.

Regards.

oldstrain wrote:

Domzy wrote:

I am really  glad i have found this forum, nice one folks.

welcome aboard ...you will fit in well here with a bunch of misfits here but it works well

Cracker etc O/S described every one here to a tee I suggest . Now     back to that homing bit     my solution has always been here     send them to 600 odd miles as such, a simple test & you would be utterly amazed     come the end of the day, how many passed with flying colours so to speak    .